Romeo and Juliet Act 1

Benvolio

tries to get Romeo to "examine other beauties"

Tybalt

hates "Hell, all Montagues and [Benvolio]"

Lady Capulet

wants Juliet to marry Paris

Capulet

the host of the party

Lady Montague

holds Montague back from joining the fight

Montague

Lord Capulet's enemy

Romeo

in "love" twice in this act

Rosaline

Capulet's niece

Count Paris

wants to marry Juliet

Juliet

"dreams not" of the honor of marriage

Mercutio

"Oh, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you."

Nurse

"Go girl, seek happy nights to happy days."

The Prince

orders the families to end their feud

Chorus

"What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend."

Sampson and Gregory

servants to the Capulets

Abraham and Balthasar

servants to the house of Montague

Why do Sampson and Gregory (servants of the House of Capulet) fight with Montague's men?

Sampson bites his thumb at one of the Montagues, which is considered an insult

Benvolio (Montague) and Tybalt (Capulet) come upon the servants fighting. How do they react to the fight?

Benvolio wants to stop the fight, but Tybalt wants to get into the fight.

When Lords Montague and Capulet enter in Act I and see the disturbance, they want to fight, too. What do their wives say?

The old guys should stop all the fighting.

What ended the opening fight in Act I?

The Prince of Verona warned them they would be punished with death if they would fight.

Why is Romeo so sad in Act I?

Rosaline, the girl he loves, doesn't love him back.

In Act 1.2, Paris asks Capulet for Juliet's hand in marriage. What is Capulet's reply?

Paris should wait until Juliet is older.

Why does Romeo decide to go to the feast even though (being a Montague) he is not invited?

Rosaline, the girl he loves, will be at the party!

Romeo

Believes LOVE is wonderful, but it is doubtful he has really been in love before; he has lusted after Rosaline though.

Benvolio

He thinks his friend should find someone else, and get over Rosaline. Love can be a poison! Foil to Tybalt. Cousin to Romeo.

Lord Capulet

He doesn't want Juliet to grow up too fast, and is worried an early marriage may make her unhappy.

Paris

He has marriage on his mind! Age doesn't matter in a relationship! He is a relative to the Prince

Lady Capulet

Admits that Juliet is young but also says that there are girls younger than Juliet who are ready to get married.

Juliet

Never thinks of marriage, and doesn't want to marry unless she is in LOVE and her parents consent.

Benvolio

Part fools! Put up your swords . You know not what you do.

Tybalt

What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee, coward!

Prince

If ever you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.

Lady Montague

Right glad I am he was not at this fray.

Montague

Black and portentous must this humor prove, Unless good counsel may the cause remove.

Montague

Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow.
We would as willingly give cure as know.

Romeo

Not having that which, having, makes them short.

Benvolio

Alas, that love, so gentle in his view,
Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!

Romeo

O, teach me how I should forget to think!

Benvolio

By giving liberty unto thine eyes.
Examine other beauties.

Romeo

He that is strucken blind cannot forget
The precious treasure of his eyesight lost.

Capulet

But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart.

Capulet

This night I hold an old accustomed feast,

Servingman

But I am sent to find those persons whose names are here writ, and can never find what names the writing person hath here writ. I must to the learned in good time!

Benvolio

Go thither, and with unattainted eye
Compare her face with some that I shall show,
And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.

Romeo

I'll go along, no such sight to be shown,
But to rejoice in splendor of mine own.

Nurse

Susan and she—God rest all Christian souls!—
Were of an age. Well, Susan is with God.

Nurse

And then my husband—God be with his soul!
He was a merry man—took up the child.

Lady Capulet

Enough of this. I pray thee, hold thy peace.

Nurse

Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed.
An I might live to see thee married once,
I have my wish.

Nurse

A man, young lady! Lady, such a man
As all the world. Why, he's a man of wax.

Juliet

I'll look to like if looking liking move.
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.

Nurse

Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.

Romeo

Under love's heavy burden do I sink.

Mercutio

And to sink in it, should you burthen love—
Too great oppression for a tender thing.

Romeo

Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,
Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.

Romeo

And we mean well in going to this mask,
But 'tis no wit to go.

Romeo

I dreamt a dream tonight.

Mercutio

And in this state she gallops night by night
Through lovers' brains, and then they dream of love;

Romeo

I fear too early, for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars

Romeo

Of a despisèd life closed in my breast
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.

Capulet

Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet,
For you and I are past our dancing days.

Romeo

(to a SERVINGMAN) What lady is that which doth enrich the hand

Romeo

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.

Capulet

And, to say truth, Verona brags of him
To be a virtuous and well-governed youth.
I would not for the wealth of all the town
Here in my house do him disparagement.
Therefore be patient. Take no note of him.

Capulet

He shall not be endured.

Tybalt

I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall

Romeo

Is she a Capulet?
O dear account! My life is my foe's debt.

Juliet

Go ask his name.—If he be married.
My grave is like to be my wedding bed.