ALL THESE NOTES WERE WRITTEN OFF OF JOSH EHRLICH'S NOTES SO THANK HIM FOR IT
Nurse is closer with Juliet than with her parents
Women dressed (w/ high foreheads) to mimick Queen Elizabeth
Capulet tells Paris to wait a couple of years for Juliet’s marriage (possibly his own marriage is unhappy- because of response to "happy mothers made young")
Capulet & Monatague feud is incessant, started long ago, and is integrated onto everyone- even non-family members
Capulet and Montague- two important families
Shakespeare’s tragedies only deal with royalty- b/c royal kids’ decisions are most influencial è the fall of kings
Romeo and Juliet is unusual for Shakespeare- because there are 2 tragedy-stricken characteres. Romance and love are the theme.
So it’s written in all rhymes
Not "blank verse"
PROLOGUE è SCENE 1
"Star-crossed lovers"- actions of parents brought fate on Romeo and Juliet \
Sampson and Gregory are both on the Capulet side of the feud, discuss what they’ll do to the Montagues
When Montague Abram comes- Sampson provokes with the biting of the thumb
Everyone carried swords
Capulets are more violent than Montagues
Benvolio is the peacemaker of the Capulets
But Tybalt (Montague) provokes, leaves no choice but to fight
Everyone in town knows about Benvolio and Tybalt’s fight
Even Capulet wants to join, but his wife keeps him back (elderly)
Prince reprimands- 3 fights recently- over nothing (but wisely- separates enemies for personal discussion)
Threatens murder if peace isn’t kept
Juliet is closer with nurse than with her mother
Father is somewhat kind- unless he’s asking of her
Montague asks Benvolio what’s happened with the quarrel
Benvolio then asks Romeo what’s depressing him
Page 17- Benvoilio’s speech
Benvolio tells Mrs. Montague that he’d seen Romeo early in the morning. He says that Romeo had been walking by the west Sycamores, and that Benvolio had tried to talk to him, but…
Romeo goes out before dawn & hides during daylight- because of Rosaline- his lost love- b/c she became a nun- but where is Juliet? è Romeo’s character- emotional, attaching, hot-tempered, fickle w/ love, loving
Rosaline introduces Romeo’s character
Romeo uses contrastive oxymorons about love- because of his emotions and love- which are parydoxical
Speaks of Cupid and bow & arrow- about love
Elizebethians considered children important- but Rosaline doesn’t
Benvolio suggests Romeo to find another girl
MASKS- happy- worn by debutants at party- Capulet- but Romeo gets in- show beauty is inside
Romeo is superficial- falls in love based on beauty
Romeo’s depression over Rosaline quickly fades- finds other girl
Romeo and Juliet fall in love without knowledge of family background
Younger servants and generations keep battle- family feud going- not elders
Paris looking to suit Juliet- Capulet says too young- his marriage- Paris is unattractive character
Juliet is Capulet’s only child- cares for her
Tells Paris if Juliet likes him- they’ll marry
"earth-treading stars"- beautiful women- that’ll be at party
Capulet suggests maybe Paris’ll find other
Servingman’s speech
Foolish- can’t read list- can’t find people
Bumps Romeo and Benvolio
Romeo reads him list- Rosaline is going
Benvolio suggests Romeo will find another prettier-
Romeo says Rosaline is prettiest- goes to party only for her
Julet converses w/ nurse
Juliet calls her mother "madam"
Lady Capulet sends away nurse- then summons her back
Juliet is at "pretty age"- appropriate from marriage
Even though mother unhappy with early motherhood- she cares not for Juliet
Nurse’s own daughter had died
Nurse told to shut up after talking- rambling- by both Lady Capulet and Juliet
Lady Capulet- opens discussion of marriage
Juliet declines marriage- but speaks to mother with formal honor
