Theme Quotation Explanation Context
1. The Prologue being a sonnet, “death- 1. Explicit: A sonnet is a traditional love poem, 1. A typical Shakespearean sonnet,
Love mark’d love”. which quickly conveys to the audience the fact with the use of the violent semantic
2. “Thrust his maids to the wall” Act 1 that this play will be one about love. field possibly showing the fact that
Scene 1 Implicit: The actual content of the sonnet Shakespeare is conveying his own
“My naked weapon” shows that the idea of true love in Romeo and views on true love and how it isn’t
3. “Juliet is the sun” Act 2 Scene 2 Juliet’s situation cannot exist without hate, with easy, and how love and hate are
4. First meeting being a sonnet. “Good the violent semantic field juxtaposing the form. intertwined.
pilgrim” “Holy shrine” Act 1 Scene 5 2. Explicit: The servants are discussing how they 2. An Elizabethan Audience would
5. “love’s light wings” Act 2 Scene 2 wish to have sex with the Montagues wives in a not be surprised because women,
forceful way “thrust”. Double entendres are used especially in the upper class, were
to show the sexual love also. purely viewed as objects for men’s
Implicit: The men of the Capulet household sexual gratification and were shown
and many others only view love as a sexual act, very little emotive respect. A
rather than an emotive thing and therefore feel modern-day audience would find
as though they need to display their power over this very surprising and grotesque
women to gain that love (sex) and respect. Cold because it’s the first scene of the
also show the role of gender in the play as the play and also love in today’s society
women are being talked about like they are is more emotive and less about sex.
possessions “his”. Possessive pronoun 3. This would be a powerful
3. Explicit: Romeo is describing Juliet as if she moment for an Elizabethan
were the “light of his life” and how she has audience as it would be heartfelt
brought light into his darkened life. He is and full of the love of Romeo. This
professing his love in a hyperbolic way, by saying would also be heartfelt for a
that Juliet is the most beautiful woman he has modern audience, but also a bit out
ever seen. of the ordinary, given the fact that
Implicit: Romeo is professing his love in a very Romeo and Juliet have only just met
poetic way and Shakespeare is using the form of that night, and therefore they may
blazon, as he describes Juliet’s body as a variety be a bit more cynical about the
of grand metaphors. The use of this is probably outcome. An Elizabethan audience
used to show how the feelings Romeo has for would also recognise the use of
Juliet are so unrealistic and idealistic and suggest blason as it was commonly used,
,that Romeo is not in his right mind. whereas a modern audience would
4. Explicit: The first meeting between the two- not.
star cross’d lovers forms a sonnet to clearly 4. The Elizabethan audience would
convey that the two are destined to be in love be very happy and overjoyed with
and it is convey how it is clearly love at first sight- the fact that these two young
or is it infatuation. people have been able to find each
Implicit: The fact that Juliet’s rhymes answer other even when they were in
Romeos could convey that Juliet is not yet old darkness themselves and would be
enough to understand love and therefore copies a perfect way to end the first act to
what Romeo. It could just be completing the leave it on a happy note. However, a
Shakespearean sonnet. The use of religious modern audience would be
language throughout could show that it is like sceptical because Romeo and Juliet
they have found their divine happiness and are have known each other for 5
now in love. Specifically, the use of “pilgrim” and minutes, meaning they cannot be in
“shrine” link to the name of Romeo. Romeo love as they don’t know each other,
means a pilgrim, so the fact that Juliet is calling showing the childish nature of their
him “good pilgrim” could show that she is his relationship. The Modern audience
holy place and his place of pure love. It could also would be happy for them but would
convey the integral role of the church in many more likely be slightly wary of their
people’s life during the Elizabethan era and could “love” and believe that it is probably
convey that they have found their peace as such infatuation rather than true love
in one another. and they would more likely
5. Explicit: Romeo is explaining how his love is acknowledge the warning of the
the reason that he is there with Juliet and how prologue.
love carried him over the Capulet’s house walls 5. A modern audience would think
just to be with Juliet. that Romeo’s dedication to seeing
Implicit: This idea of Juliet being contained Juliet shows his sincerity towards his
within the walls of the Capulet house creates an love for Juliet and would have
image of Juliet being the one who is caged and empathy for the fact that they
Romeo being able to overcome the barriers cannot be together. An Elizabethan
between them through flight. The personification audience would be sympathetic also
of the love suggests that love is kind and giving- but questioning of Romeo’s honour
different to the love seen in later scenes with to his family, the fact that he risk his
, despair. This idea of Juliet being trapped could respect for his family to court the
link into the fact that she is subjects to the daughter of his family’s sworn
patriarchal society and the walls are a physical enemy.
manifestation of this fact and Capulet’s control
over Juliet. The danger that comes with the
meeting also links to the idea of love being
coupled with hate, due to the feud. The use of
natural imagery in the scene and comparisons to
astral bodies to convey the lofty feelings of love
and adoration between the two lovers.
1. “Now by the stock and honour of my 1. Explicit: Tybalt is swearing that by his family’s 1. An Elizabethan Audience would
Family (Honour) kin, to strike him dead, I hold it not a sin” honour, he will not allow Romeo to enter the not find this surprising as honour
Act 1 Scene 5 party and get off scot free, he is promising that was very important amongst the
2. “No, sir, I do not bit my thumb at you he will kill him. upper class and defending it was
sir” Act 1, Scene 1 Implicit: The reference to God in “sin” suggests even more important, even if
3. “Or I will drag you on a hurdle thither”. that this feud and honour in the family is older violence were the only way to
“Baggage” Act 3 Scene 5 that “sin” itself and therefore he does not view achieve it. A modern audience
4. “O calm, dishonourable, vile any protection of his family as a sin. Or the use of would see this as shocking as the
submission” Act 3 Scene 1 religious terminology could suggest that Tybalt idea of a dispute occurring at a
5. “He is a kinsman to the Montague” Act believes that God would allow the violence, as it public event would be shocking as
3 Scene 1 is to protect his family. The use of the violent honour doesn’t have as much place
vocabulary of “strike” suggests that violence is in society. It would also convey the
the only way to uphold honour and that he will masculinity of Tybalt, which would
not think twice about killing Romeo. This shows also be surprising as a man no
not only Tybalt’s character as one of violence but longer has to draw his sword to
also the obligation he feels to uphold his families show his dominance over people,
honour, and if the be through violence, so be it. arguments are usually resolved
He is also showing that he believes that the civilly. But this could link to the fact
honour and reputation of his family is less that there was never any civil
important than killing Romeo, possibly showing nature in this feud.
that his views aren’t in the best interest of his 2. .This would clearly show that
family. without masculine aggression,
2. Explicit: Sampson is mocking the Montague honour would not be achieve, an
, servants and making a clear insult towards them Elizabethan audience would find
by biting his thumb at them, which was a this entertaining to see the servants
common Elizabethan insult, which emasculated having a disagreement, but a
many men. modern audience would find it
Implicit: The servants are being pedantic with interesting to see the two
one another to prove a point to each other and households being so openly rude to
possibly start a fight. Could be sincere in order to one another.
avoid any conflict, but most likely trying to 3. A modern audience would be on
display that they are more superior to one Juliet’s side, and would think that
another. The sarcastic tone behind the use of Lord Capulet is being uncouth and
“sir” shows the mocking nature of the servants. irrational in the way that he is acting
The fact that this comes at the beginning of the towards his daughter and would be
play shows how deeply the feud between the disgusted at the threat of violence.
two family runs and how even the servants are A lower-class Elizabethan audience
involved. It shows how involved every aspect of would also be sympathetic to Juliet
the family is in the ancient grudge. as it was far more common to marry
3. Explicit: In this scene, Lord Capulet is explicitly for love rather than convenience in
threatening Juliet to marry Paris or he will the lower class. An upper-class
disown her and that he will drag her to the Elizabethan audience would be on
church if he has to. This directly shows his the side of Lord Capulet as marriage
aggression towards his own daughter just to was purely for convenience in the
protect his name and his families name. The upper classes to gain as much out of
money and stature is more important to him the marriage as possible.
than the stability and happiness of her daughter. 4. A modern audience would
Implicit: The use of the noun “hurdle” is a disagree with Mercutio’s insult of
reference to a carriage that a traitor would be Romeo as they know that Romeo
dragged away on through town. By using this love Juliet and that is the reason, he
noun, Shakespeare is showing that Lord Capulet is displaying how he loves Tybalt,
views Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris as traitorous but they would also be shocked at
and unacceptable. The use of the word baggage the quick change of Mercutio’s
could show that Juliet is worthless to Capulet if mood when it comes to fighting
she doesn’t marry, that she is only of use to him Tybalt. This could demonstrate that
if she provided him with stature and opportunity. the theme of hate throughout this
