Act 1, Scene 1: Interview with Romeo

Host: How do you feel about the Capulet and Montague fight recently?

Romeo: I think that the feud has been going on for too long and needs to stop. As the Prince said the feud has been getting out of control and the next time there is a fight he will start executing people.

Host: Who is currently your true love?

Romeo:  A beautiful young lady named Rosaline! She is the most beautiful lady of them all. I would do anything for her. She is all I think about.

Host: What are your feeling towards Tybalt?

Romeo: Honestly I feel like Tybalt likes to feel in charge and unintentionally starts drama.

Act 1, Scene 1: Interview

Host: Romeo, it's so nice to see you today! Can you tell me about the situation with the Montagues and Capulets?

Romeo: Oh, how I do wish we could all just get along. At least that is what Benvolio seems to think, he is quite the peacemaker.

Host: I see. And how are things with you personally?

Romeo: I must say, I am quite confused right now. I had my heart broken by my lady, Rosaline and for a while it was all I could think about. But then I went to a ball last night and met the most amazing Lady Juliet.

Host: Why don't you tell me about Juliet?

Romeo: Oh, she is so beautiful. The finest lady of all, as soon as I saw her I was deeply in love.

Host: Then what is the problem, Romeo?

Romeo: My beautiful Juliet is a capulet! I would never be able to be with her, with so much violence and hatred happening between our families. As much as I want to I don't know how any of my family or hers would accept it, I would be so frowned upon. But I love her like I have never loved anyone else, and somehow I know will find a way.

Act 1, Scene 1: Interview

The Authority 

Host: What are your thoughts on the fight?

Prince: I think it is complete nonsense! It seems that they can not co-exist without causing a big commotion. It feels like I receive news of their fighting every day! I will feel at ease when I finally do not get news of their arguments.

Host: In your opinion, is execution the right way to solve the dispute between the two rival families?

Prince: I have pardoned them for their previous fights, but we all can not live like this. They are always fighting and someone eventually gets hurt. If it has to go to this extreme, I am willing to execute people for causing a lot of chaos and disruption. Also, it would not be a drastic action because they are killing each other so my decisions would not be different from what they are doing.

Host: Do you think the two families will stop fighting?

Prince: I believe they will realize they should live in harmony when it is too late. At the moment, they are not thinking about the consequences their fighting will bring, but when they uncover the repercussions, they will understand that their bickering was not worth anything.

Act 1, Scene 1: Interview with the Prince

Prompt B: Interview

Host: Welcome, Prince Escalus. I am sorry to say that this meeting is tainted with the aftermath of the quarrel earlier today.
Prince: Thanks for having me. Unfortunately, those silly subjects of mine seemingly want to fight. This was the fourth time between those two families!
Host: What a shame... Might I ask, why do you think that these two families are such enemies?
Prince: I think it is because they are so alike. They both are rather wealthy, and very alike in manner. However, this likeness seems to breeds discontent and restlessness.
Host: Ah. So, because they are so alike, each family feels the need to assert themselves as the better of the pair?
Prince: Exactly. On top of that, the groups that are actually doing most of the fighting are teenagers, without a hair on their chins. You know how their minds work, they always want to fight!
Host: Very interesting. Thank you for your time, and I can only hope this problem ends soon.

Act 1 Scene 1: Quote From Romeo

Scene 1.1

"Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still,

Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will!

Where shall we dine?—O me! What fray was here?

Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.

Here’s much to do with hate but more with love.

Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate,
O anything of nothing first created!O heavy lightness, serious vanity,Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms!Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health,Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!This love feel I, that feel no love in this.Dost thou not laugh?"  


Romeo arrives after the fight between the Montagues and Capulets.  The line, "Here's much to do with hate but more to do with love" shows that Romeo prefers to believe that the fight between the two families was done out of devotion/love instead of out of hate.  This alludes to Romeo's personality; he is a romantic with uncontrolled emotions who prefers not to fight.  Later, he explains to Benvolio that he is the subject of unreciprocated love.  Shakespeare uses oxymorons like "brawling love" and "loving hate" to describe Romeo's internal conflict and maybe to suggest that he does not understand his own emotions. 

ACT 1 SCENE 1: Montague vs. Capulet

Host: Hello, Mr. Tybalt. Why did the Capulets and Montagues hate each other so much? and what made you, so wanted to fight?

Tybalt: Hello, Host. I am just defending family glory, I can not stand those Montagues humiliated my family!

Host: Mr. Benbolivo, how did the fight happen and we all heard that you are the peace keeper?

Benbolivo: Oh, Ok. So this is what happen, Tybalt was being triggered by one of our people, he drew his sword and saying "What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate word As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have the thee, cowards!" Then the fight begins, then later attracted Lord Capulet and Lord Montague into the fight, which eventually Prince come and broke up the fight. I am staying my position of peace between two families, but Tybalt states the fight must starts.

Host: Mr. Tybalt, you have any disagreement or other perspectives of how the fight starts?

Tybalt: I am seeing Montagues as enemies, there are no doubts of fighting those cowards, its for the glory of the Capulet. This is the action to stop those Montagues humiliates us and increase our reputation.

Benbolivo: I disagree with Tybalt's use on words, the Montagues are not cowards, we are not trying to run away from any type of fight. We just don't want to see civilians gets injured, so we try to make peace with the Capulets.

Host: Thank you for sharing the thoughts today with us.

Act 1 Scene 1: Montagues and Capulets Clash

The fight between Benvolio and Tybalt is reminiscent of what is happening with the world today with North Korea. Benvolio and Tybalt originally were only making lighthearted jokes, or so it seemed. This is like North Korea which recently tested a ballistic missile but was unsuccessful. However, the mere act of testing the missile caused the US to become even angrier than they already were at North Korea and made them conduct military exercises with South Korea. This response by the US is similar to Tybalt who took everything very seriously and turned the insults into a deathly fight. (Not to say testing a missile is not serious) Another aspect of this comes from the Pope, whose response to the missile testing was calling for international mediation, saying a war would "destroy a good part of humanity". The Pope wanting peace is like Benvolio who never wanted to fight, and thought that he and Tybalt weren't being completely serious. In both of these situations, actions that did not hurt anyone resulted in complete unrest and will likely lead to more lives lost in the future. 

ACT 1, SCENE 1: THE CAPULET'S AND MONTAGUE'S QUARREL

Questions for Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 1: Interview with a Civilian

Host: So what are your opinions on the resent quarrel between the two rival family's, Montague and Capulet?

Civilian: I think it is ridiculous! I mean, do they even know what they are fighting for? Both family's are fighting over small, and petty things. This has happened now three times between them and it is getting very out of hand. Both family's need to stop this fight among them, or it will not end well for both of them.

Host: I know you watched the quarrel happen, but I want to know, who do you think started the fight this time?

Civilian: Well, I think the Capulet's started the fight this time. The Capulet's ,unprovoked, started to say things to the Montague's. Then the Montague's did make a few jokes towards them but, Tybalt was way out of hand when he freaked out and started a fight between them. Which then caused the Prince to tell both family's that they will be executed if another fight happens in the streets.

Host: On the topic of the Prince, do you think what he told both family's was justified?

Civilian: To be honest, I think it was. The Prince mostly does things for the benefit of the city. So by telling both family's they will be executed for disturbing the streets again is a valid argument. Both family's in their foolish fights, have caused the civilians, such as myself, great harm in this quarrels for too long. So, yes I do believe that the Prince was not out of hand to tell the Montague's and Capulet's their fate if they do such actions again.

Act 1, Scene 1: War

The feud of the Montagues and the Capulets relates to the fighting of Americans against the people of Afghanistan. The Montagues and the Capulets have been fighting in scene 1 and later when the Prince tries to stop the fighting, he says that it will eventually lead to many deaths. In Afghanistan, the Americans have tried to fight against the people of Afghanistan even though many people disagree with the idea of fighting against them. They think that it will only lead to more deaths and violence. Other people think it is a good idea and it will solve many problems. This is also true in Romeo and Juliet because some people think it is necessary to fight.

Act I Scene I: Quote from the Prince

"Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbor-stainted steel" - This quote shows how the Prince feels about the Capulets and the Montagues fighting. His is also speaking in a way that makes him seem superior to others, helping him restore peace. If the Capulets or the Montagues felt that he was not superior and did not have power over them, they would not have listened to him and would have kept fighting. The way that the prince said this really surprised me because I would assume that he would quickly put a stop to this, but instead he had a whole speech that he said that stopped them. He also was very neutral in saying this because he did not favor either the Montagues or the Capulets.

Act 1 Scene 1: Forgotten Love

Act 1 Scene 1: Forgotten Love

Interview with Romeo

Host: Romeo, now that you have crossed paths with Juliet, do you still have feelings for Rosaline?

Romeo: Rosaline who? The amount of love I have for Juliet has surpassed any feelings I had for Rosaline. Anyways, she did not return my love. It was pointless for myself to pine over her when I knew I had no chance. 

Host: How do you feel that Juliet is Capulet, and your forbidden love?

Romeo: The fact that Juliet is a Capulet is the least of my worries. All that concerns me is if I will ever see her again. 

Host: Hypothetically, if Rosaline revealed that she had loved you the entire time, what would you do?

Romeo: Rosaline is a figure of my past, and the fact that I used to have feelings for her would not affect my decision at all, for Juliet is only love and soulmate. 

Act 1 Scene 1 prince mad

The prince was fed up with the Montagues and catapults because they were rival houses in the village and they have now had three bigs fights in the city in the past few weeks. The prince is not happy with what is going so he made a rule that the next house that gets in a major fight will end have their life's ended. He doesn't care who dies either.

Act 1, Scene 5: Tattle Tales

Act 1, Scene 1: Tattle Tales...
During the introduction of Romeo and Juliet, a Capulet party takes place which the Montagues were never invited to. Romeo and his friends such as Mercutio, decide it would be interesting to visit this party in order to add a little more excitement in their day. One of the Capulets is soon infuriated with how Romeo and his friends decided to arrive and attempts to warn Lord Capulet of their presence. Capulets and Montagues have a deep hatred towards one and another, which is the reason one of these Capulets was enraged with Romeo and his friends' presence at the party. This reminds me of my brother's behavior of both when he was younger and nowadays. My brother behaves like this Capulet, attempting to notify my parents of anything I have done wrong. Telling them would never benefit him in any way, but it just brought him some sort of joy to see me punished here and there. The Capulets and Montagues despise one and another the majority of the time, and my brother's relationship with me is a mix of love and hatred just like all other brothers.

Act 1, Scene 5: Fate Had Failed

An eclipse represents the relationship between Romeo and Juliet. Both, the moon and the sun, are important for our survival on Earth, while both Romeo and Juliet, are important characters in the story. The moon and the sun never cross unless there is an eclipse. This is similarly demonstrated in Romeo and Juliet because the star-crossed lovers are brought together by fate, but soon have to move on because of destiny. In this picture, there are two very different colors that are usually associated with different emotions. This signifies the difference between Juliet and Romeo because of their family's feud. On special occasions, the sun and the moon cross creating an eclipse, but time never works in their favor. Soon they continue on their separate, paved paths, never given a good enough chance to "be together" like Romeo and Juliet. 

Act 1 Scene 1 - Montague & Capulet Relationship

This is oil and water. Notice how the two do not mix, and therefore cannot cooperate well. This represents the relation between the two feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets. The two do not mix well, and they simply cannot be together. Oil and water are equivalent to the relationship of the Capulet and the Montagues families since they have a complicated relationship, and do not do well when near each other.

Act 1, Scene 1: Rosaline's Rejection

Host: So Benvolio, we spotted you and Romeo talking yesterday, what's up with that?

Benvolio: Romeo's just been upset recently, shutting himself out and all.

Host: And why is that? if I may ask.

Benvolio: Well, he fell in love with this girl, Rosaline- a CAPULET. Can you believe it?

Host: And?

Benvolio: Well she obviously rejected him- any Capulet would. Nobody wants to get in the middle of the struggle between the Montagues and the Capulets like that- it's a death wish.

Host: But it seems as though Romeo doesn't care. Why is that?

Benvolio: Romeo just follows his heart wherever it leads him, and doesn't care whether his parents don't approve. If Rosaline would have accepted him, I don't even want to imagine the mess THAT would make.

Host: And now? Why doesn't Romeo move on?

Benvolio: That's what I told him: "to examine other beauties", but he's completely lovesick and still hung up on Rosaline. He keeps making these crazy metaphors, "love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs"- it's terrible, I'm genuinely worried about him. Rosaline isn't the only woman in the world, and Romeo's still so young! He has the opportunity to meet someone who ACTUALLY loves him back, and who ISN'T a Capulet. But Romeo is so blinded by love, that he can't even understand what I've been trying to tell him.

Host: And, what do you think Romeo is doing now?

Benvolio: He's probably at home, locking his doors and blinding his windows, shutting himself out again. Speaking of which, I should go check on him...

Act I, Scene I: Chaos and Grief in Verona's Streets

I. Addressing the Montague and Capulet brawlers, the Prince shouts,"Profaners of this neighbor-stained steel... You men, you beasts, that quench the fire of your pernicious rage with purple fountains issuing from your veins...[have] cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate" (15).

Clearly, the Prince is upset (scornful and angry even) with the Montagues and Capulets because the fights that break out between them can be fatal to those that participate and also endanger the lives of bystanders. Their hatred for each other has spiraled out of control and blinded them, thus causing both sides to make irrational decisions out of pride and stubbornness. Evidently, the feud is being prolonged by people's inability to move past the rivalry and consider how their actions are affecting others. The Prince describes the brawlers as "profaners of this neighbor-stained steel" and "beasts" because their "pernicious rage" is a plague that's constantly encouraging others to abuse their weapons by inflicting unnecessary injuries.

II. When Benvolio asks Romeo about his melancholy mood, he replies,"Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears... A madness most discreet, a choking gall, and a preserving sweet" (23).

At the end of Scene I, Benvolio finds out that Romeo is inconsolable and heartbroken because Rosaline doesn't love him back. Pained by the woman's rejection, Romeo bitterly wishes things were different and contemplates the differing sides of love. Often times, people think love is easy bliss and joy; but, loving someone actually requires resilience/toughness because not everyone will experience their own "happily ever after" or "love at first sight." Examining Romeo's obsessiveness towards Rosaline, it's important to note that love is also about finding balance and being able to move on. Though it can be rewarding, it can also be a fleeting "smoke made with the fume of sighs" or even "a madness most discreet."

Act 1, Scene 1: I (the Prince) am Fed Up

Prompt F:

I am upset that the Montagues and Capulets cannot settle their differences and learn how to respect one another. Their fighting shows the levels of immaturity they have and their disobedience to me is extremely disrespectful. If only these two rivalry families could live in unison; it would make my life as Prince easier. However, this will not happen.  The only way to settle this is to threaten them with the consequence of an execution of them all if this kind of brawl occurs again.

Act 1 Scene 1: Vicious in Verona

Prompt A:

In this scene, a fight breaks out between the Capulets and the Montagues. Sampson really initiates it when he gives the Montagues their form of a middle finger: biting his thumb. Benvolio isn't able to calm them down, and this causes chaos. Romeo, on the other hand, is explaining to Benvolio how he loves a girl but she doesn't love him back. Everything is all happening at once, and it is a lot to take in. This reminds me of Draymond Green in the NBA. Draymond initiates fighting most of the time, and from there it escalates quickly. He is not a very well liked player by others in the league, as he now has the reputation of being annoying and starting brawls on the court. None of the conflict has to start in the first place, but like both scenarios, one action can start a whole chains of actions, eventually making war and fighting. The Capulets and Montagues need to find peace between each other, or else nothing will ever be worked out. In addition, Romeo needs to move on and find someone else, like how Draymond has to move on and not let things bother or distract him from playing.

Act 1, Scene 1: The Burning Feud

The Montagues and Capulets are like fire and gasoline: they are both already burning with
their hate for each other, but one or the other keeps pouring fuel, making the fire grow and grow.
Their despise for each other is a continuous fight that only hurts the people in each family. In act one, scene one,
men from each family start a fight on the street simply because they already hate each other. Sampson from the Capulets offends the Montagues, and Benvolio from the Montagues pulls out his sword. Tybalt from the Capulets then also pulls his sword, and attacks, starting a brawl. This is just one example of how these two families keep deepening their strong dislike for each other, making their hatred, or "fire," uncontrollable. Even the Prince could not stop the feud until many more people died. Until the families realize the damage they have caused, the fire keeps on growing. 

Questions for Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, scene 1: interview with Romeo

Host: How do you feel about the fights between the Capulets and the Montagues?

Romeo: I don't really know how to feel about that, I am very heartbroken right now and can't think about anything else then my one true love that does not feel the same way as I do. But to answer your question a little bit, I think these fights between the Capulets and the Montagues have been going on for too long and in the recent fight, the prince even told them that if they did it one more time he would start executing people.

Host: Who is your one true love? Do you think you will ever get over her and move on?

Romeo: Rosaline is my one true love! I can't love someone else, Rosaline is the most beautiful girl I have ever met and I will never love someone else. I can't think of anything else than my love for her. I would do anything for her.

Host: How do you feel about Benvolio and his love advice for you?

Romeo: I know Benvolio is just trying to help and I know he and my father are very worried about me but I can't stop thinking about Rosaline. I think Benvolio does not know what I am going through and therefore should not give me any advise

ACT 1, SCENE 1: An Unbalanced Relationship

In the first scene of Romeo and Juliet, we see a depressed version of Romeo. As the scene goes on, we learn that Romeo is in fact heartbroken. He is in love with Rosaline, and Rosaline doesn't seem to love him back. A reflection of almost every crush ever. The picture below shows an unbalanced scale, with Romeo on the left side and Rosaline on the right side. Romeo contributes a ton to the relationship, and Rosaline doesn't, leading the scale to be unbalanced and the relationship to not work. The fact that Romeo's plate on the scale is lower also shows the pit of depression that he falls into into when Rosaline rejects him and deosn't want to see him again.

Act 1, scene 1: interview with Romeo

Prompt B

Host: How do you feel Roseline treats you?
Romeo: She does not return my feelings for her.
Host: Have you talked to anyone about it?
Romeo: Yes, Benvolio.
Host: Did he convince you to do anything?
Romeo: Yes, he told me to find someone else and get over her
Host: Are you over her and do you think you will look for someone else?
Romeo: Not yet, I am not ready, but I am going to a ball soon.

Act I, Scene I: Childish Conflict

Act I, Scene I Quarreling and Insults. It seems like me and my sister constantly fight over little things, trying to prove ourselves better than the other. It is strikingly similar to how servants from the Montague and Capulet families bicker and fight over their differences. Like when me and my sister argue, it seems like they too are "biting their thumb" at each other simply to annoy one another.  Their actions are bellicose and encourage the other servants to lash out and attack the other, much like how me and my sister always seem to verbally dangle bait in an effort to provoke violence. While their differences lead to a city-wide brawl where many die as a result of just a few flared tempers, the same conclusion can be drawn as can be drawn from the arguments between me and my sister. If we both just cooled off and saw each other as humans, these issues would exist and everyone would be better for it. This same lessons can be applied to the politics of the real world, which have some of the biggest implications known to man. If North Korea were to realize that their constant aggression towards the U.S was simply just a waste of effort that could be concentrated on the well-being of their countless starving citizens, the world would be just that much more of a better place.

Reading Notes: Romeo & Juliet

Reading Notes: Romeo and Juliet

Showing your thinking and connections as you are reading the play.

For every reading assignment, create one post on our blog where you respond one of the possible prompts below. These should take you less than 30 minutes to complete.

TAG your post USING LABELS to the right with your name (same as your other posts) and RJ

Clearly title each post with the Acts and Scenes you are responding to. Add a creative title as well. E.g. ACT 1, SCENE 1: ROMEO ON THE REBOUND

Over the course of the play, respond to a variety of the prompts, so by the end, you will have answered each several times. In other words, do not choose the same prompts over and over.

PROMPT A

What is happening in the play that reminds you of something that is happening in your life, on TV, in the news, etc. Summarize the issue in the play and in your life in a minimum of 5 sentences.

Example:

Act I, Scene I Insults:   It seems like my brothers are constantly putting each other down. It reminds me of the way the Capulet and Montague servants are putting each other down in Act I, scene i. They are “biting their thumb” at each other and really just acting like little boys. My brothers do the same thing. It seems like they are always bragging about which one is better or how the other one isn’t as good as him at shooting baskets, or doing hw, or making friends. I get tired of hearing them fight all of the time, just like the prince gets tired of them fighting in the streets. Obviously, it’s a bigger deal in the play because people are dying, but what is it about guys that always seem to show off as to who has the most power, who is better, and so on? It’s tiring to hear boys/men fighting all of the time and when they get more power (think Kim Jong-un and nuclear weapons in North Korea) the results can be deadly.

PROMPT B

Pretend you are a host on a talk show interviewing one of the characters. Ask the character 3-5 questions, and then have the character answer how you predict that character would respond (note, writing in old English is optional!) Be sure to reveal some deeper aspects of the characters (don't just summarize!) At least 7 sentences.

Example student response

Questions for Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, scene 1: interview with Benvolio

Host: How did you feel about the fight that went down the other day with the Tybalt and the Capulets?

Benvolio: That was just crazy. I don't know how everything gets so out of hand with these guys so quickly! I mean, my friends were just walking along, joking and everything and then Tybalt just goes nuts!

Host: How do you feel about Tybalt?

Benvolio: That guy is just such a hot head. He just loves to fight. I tried to break it up, and he tells me, "look upon thy death." I mean, really. That's sort of rude, right? Plus, I think he means it! He just takes it up all the way to life and death and we were just joking around.

Host: What did you think of the Prince's response?

Benvolio: Honestly, I don't blame the prince. I mean, the guy is just doing his job. If I were in charge, I'd be tired of all of the fighting, too! I mean, enough is enough. No one remembers what this dumb feud is all about anyway. It's just crazy... and it's the little guys who are getting hurt, not Lord Montague or Lord Capulet. While the death penalty might be a little extreme, I do understand where the prince is coming from. I guess he has to make it a pretty strong penalty in order to get these guys to listen. I hope all of this fighting will stop.

PROMPT C

Quote lines from the scene that you enjoyed and comment on them (5-10 sentences). Again, here is an example post from a student reading Hamlet.

Example student response

Scene 1.1—Horatio says, “Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder.” This line really explains to us what all three of the guards are feeling when they see this ghost. They are all frightened by it, yet they wonder why it came to them and why it is dressed the way it is. It really sets the mood for the whole scene, because it lets us know that they are anxious. The first few lines of this scene shocked me, because we didn’t know anything about these characters and yet they were all so nervous and jumpy.

PROMPT D

Find an image *MUST BE FREE TO USE OR SHARE – CHECK GOOGLE SETTING (photograph, painting, etc.) online that you think is a good symbolic representation of the scene as a whole. Do not insert a picture of two people fighting and relate that to the Montagues and Capulets (that would be literal, not symbolic!) Instead, find an image that symbolically represents a relationship - like find an image of a lock and key and relate that to a specific character relationship. Insert the image and then discuss why you chose it and how it represents the scene. (5-10 sentences).

PROMPT E

Discuss the relationships between two or more characters. Assert an opinion about the relationship and back it up with some text evidence from the play. (5-10 sentences).

PROMPT F
Pretend you are a character in the scene. Get inside that character’s mind. Tell how the character feels about himself or herself.  How does he or she feel about the other characters? About the situation? Remember, you are pretending to BE this character. Write a brief paragraph/monologue in the character’s voice. Think Reality TV Confessional. (5-10 sentences). If you’re feeling brave, record it and post the video.