Romeo and Juliet Notes

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Context

Was written in 1595 but set in the 14th century
Shakespeare’s play’s had to be gory else the working-class members of the audience would riot
Polygamy and suicide were both seen as highly sinful to the highly religious Catholic society of Shakespeare’s day
People would have believed that good and bad fortune is part of God’s master plan for us all
Males were seen as weak if they didn’t use violence to defend their family name when necessary
Women were viewed as a possession
Arranged marriages were common

Deeper Meanings

Death and love are often mentioned in very close proximity to each other
The love of the members of each family for the other members of their own family leads to the hatred of the other family which results in the death of Romeo and Juliet
The Prologue spoils the ending so that the audience does not spend the play hoping for a happy resolution — Romeo and Juliet are victims of a series of unfortunate events that are outside of their control — the audience see all the events through the lens of the knowledge that Romeo and Juliet will fall in love and die because of their love
Foreshadowing reminds us that the events which unfold are inevitable and outside the control of the characters — at the time people believed that their destiny was in the hands of God
Romeo would rather blame fate than deal with his problems or take responsibility for his actions
Romeo and Juliets’ love for each other comes into conflict with their love for their families
Juliet is nearly 14 — she is too young to fully comprehend the consequences of her decisions
Juliet as being taken advantage of by the older Romeo
Juliet as taking advantage of the lovesick Romeo
It is hard to argue that the suicides were not a gross overreaction considering how quickly Romeo got over Rosaline and that Juliet has a nice sensible marriage to Paris lined up
Capulet’s fit of anger in response to Juliet refusing to marry Paris when earlier he said “my will to her consent is but a part” might be due to his anger over the death of Tybalt who he loved
God causes fate to cause Romeo and Juliet to fall in love and die as this ends the feud and also punishes both families for the feud — could have been avoided if the feud had been settled earlier

Messages

True love is a very powerful thing — it makes Romeo and Juliet die for each other rather than live without the other — sometimes it can be too powerful and cloud our judgement leading to us behaving recklessly and foolishly
Conflict never ends well
Romeo and Juliet's’ deaths are an inevitable consequence of their families’ feud — Romeo and Juliet as sacrifices for the greater good of the end of the feud

Which Character belongs to which Family?

Royal Family

Prince Escalus — Prince of Verona.
Paris — a kinsman (male relative) of the Prince — wishes to marry Juliet
Mercutio — a kinsman of the Prince — a friend of Romeo

Capulets

Capulet — head of the family
Lady Capulet — Capulet’s wife
Juliet — the 13-year-old daughter of Capulet
Tybalt — a cousin of Juliet and the nephew of Lady Capulet
Nurse — the person employed by the Capulets to look after Juliet from birth
Rosaline — Capulet's niece and the source of Romeo's lust at the beginning of the play

Montagues

Montague — head of the family
Lady Montague — Montague’s wife
Romeo — the son of Montague
Benvolio — Romeo's cousin and best friend

Quotes

“A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, Whose misadventured piteous overthrows doth with their death bury their parents' strife” — Prologue — their love is too powerful and so leads to the deaths of both of them but their love is also powerful enough to indirectly fix the feud
“death-marked love” — Prologue — their love is doomed from the beginning — they are just cogs in God’s master plan
“their parents' rage, Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove” — Prologue — the deaths of Romeo and Juliet as a tragically necessary sacrifice — part of God’s plan to end the feud
Do you bite your thumb at us sir? [...] Draw if you be men” — pg 5 — what starts off as a verbal brawl turns physical in about 15 lines
“Enter several of both houses who join the fray” — showing how easily violence can spill out of control — what was a private brawl ends up involving most of Verona
“Part fools! Put up your swords you know not what you do” — pg 5 — peace-loving Benvolio breaking up the fight — Jesus said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” on the cross
“What drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues and thee” — pg 6 — Tybalt acting as the stereotypical male of the time — religious significance of comparing “Montagues” to “hell”
“On pain of torture from those bloody hands throw your mistempered weapons to the ground” — pg 7 — Prince
“I drew to part them: in that instant came the fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared which as he breathed defiance to my ears he swung about his head” — pg 7 — Benvolio explaining to the prince what has happened — already Tybalt is established as hot headed and defiant
“O brawling love, O loving hate [...] O heavy lightness, serious vanity, misshapen chaos of well seeming forms, feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, still-waking sleep” — pg 10 — Romeo showing his internal conflict over Rosaline and how love which should bring him happiness is tearing him apart
“My child is yet a stranger in the world. Let two more summers wither in their pride then we may think her ripe to be a bride” — pg 13 — Capulet being overprotective over Juliet — most people would be married by her age (13 nearly 14) back then but Capulet wants to wait a little longer before proceeding with her arranged marriage to Paris
“Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she; she is the hopeful lady of my earth” — pg 13 — Capulet values Juliet as all his other children have died
“My will to her consent is but a part” — pg 13 — Capulet suggesting that Juliet has an element of choice over whether she marries Paris
“I will make thee think thy swan a crow” — pg 16 — Benvolio telling Romeo he can find prettier girls than Rosaline if he goes to the Capulet’s ball — Juliet is later described as “a snowy dove trooping with crows”
“Susan is with God she was too good for me” — pg 18 — the Nurse lost her child hence why she had breast milk to feed Juliet with
“It is an honour I dream not of” — pg 19 — Juliet being positive about marriage but admitting she hasn’t thought about it much
“But no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives strength to make it fly” — pg 20 — Juliet being obedient and saying she won’t be any more promiscuous towards Paris than her mother allows — Romeo’s love will change her
“Under love’s heavy burden I do sink” — Romeo’s love for Rosaline has become a burden
“My mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars” — pg 24 — Romeo foreshadowing that something ultimately bad will happen at the ball he is about to enter
“he that hath the steerage of my course, Direct my sail” — pg 25 — Romeo showing the belief that God controls your fate
“Come musicians play. A hall, a hall, give room! And foot it, girls. More light, you knaves and turn the tables up and quench the fire, the room is grown too hot!” — pg 26 — Capulet using lots of imperatives to show his authority
“O she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night; As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear: So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows” — pg 27 — Romeo upon seeing Juliet for the first time — Juliet’s beauty contrasts against the darkness of night
“Did my heart love till now? Foreswear it sight” — pg 27 — Romeo upon seeing Juliet for the first time —introduces doubt into the minds of the audience as to whether Romeo’s love for Juliet comes from his heart or his eyes
“That by his voice, should be a Montague; Fetch me my rapier boy. [...] Now by the stock and honour of my kin, To strike him dead I hold it not a sin” — pg 27 — Tybalt upon hearing Romeo’s voice
“Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone [...] Verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well-governed youth. I would not for the wealth of all this town here in my house do him disparagement; therefore be patient take no note of him” — pg 27 — Capulet trying to stop Tybalt from attacking Romeo
“He shall be endured”, “Am I the master here or you? Go to!” — pg 28 — Capulet after Tybalt disobeys his orders to calm down
“My life is my foe’s debt” — pg 29 — Romeo reflecting on how his life is now in the hands of his enemies upon learning that Juliet is a Capulet
“My only love sprung from my only hate!” — pg 29 — Juliet upon learning that Romeo is a Montague
“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, Or if thou wilt not, I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” — pg 34 — Juliet telling Romeo to abandon his family name or alternatively she can abandon her family name — their love makes them forget about their family honour and identity
“With love’s light wings I did overperch these walls, For stony limits cannot hold love out” — pg 37 — love has driven Romeo to go to the house of Juliet even though he will be killed if any of her kinsmen see him
“Was thou with Rosaline?” — pg 43 — the Friar knows about Rosaline when Romeo’s own parents don’t and Mercutio (Romeo’s best friend) only just found out — the Friar has a lot of power in Verona due to his religious significance and Romeo clearly trusts him
“Romeo: With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No, I have forgotten that name and that name’s woe Friar: Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts but in their eyes” — pg 44 — is Romeo’s love for Juliet from his heart or his eyes? (probably easiest to go with whichever suits the question the best)
“This alliance may so happy prove to turn your households' rancour to pure love” — pg 44 — the Friar agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet because their love might be powerful enough to fix the hatred between the Montagues and the Capulets
“Love devouring death do what he dare” — pg 56 — Romeo practically tempting fate — audience have heard the prologue — dramatic irony
“These violent delights have violent ends” — pg 56 — Friar foreshadowing
“I pray thee good Mercutio let’s retire the day is hot, the Capels are abroad and if we meet we shall not scape a brawl” — pg 59 — Benvolio suggesting that Mercutio goes inside, capels=Capulets abroad=outside scape=escape
“I was hurt under your arm” — pg 63 — Mercutio is not afraid to directly blame Romeo
“I am hurt, a plague on both your houses! They have made worms meat of me” — pg 63 — Mercutio blaming both the Capulets and the Montagues upon being fatally wounded in a duel with Tybalt — does not blame fate — this is a turning point in the play as this causes Romeo to kill Tybalt which leads to Romeo’s banishment and Capulet’s haste in marrying Juliet which together lead to Juliet taking the potion and once Juliet has taken the potion the audience can guess roughly what is going to happen
“O sweet Juliet. Thy beauty hath made me effeminate” — pg 63 — Romeo saying his love for Juliet has weakened him — love as being too powerful
“Oh, I am fortune’s fool!” — pg 64 — Romeo blaming fate after he kills Tybalt — he doesn’t want to take responsibility for the mess he has got himself into — contrast to Mercutio who pins the blame for his own death squarely on Romeo
“O serpent heart hid with a flowering face; Did dragon ever keep so fair a cave; Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical; A dammed saint an honourable villain” — pg 69 — Juliet is in conflict upon learning that her husband Romeo has killed her cousin Tybalt — similar to Romeo’s use of oxymorons about Rosaline — symbiotic
“Ha banishment? Be merciful, say death for exile hath more terror in his look” — pg 72 — Romeo telling Friar how being banished for killing Tybalt is a worse punishment than death — he will later act on this feeling that death is better than living without Juliet
“Tis [Banishment is] torture [...] Heaven is here, Where Juliet lives” — pg 72 — Romeo to Friar — “torture” as a contrast to heaven conjures up imagery of hell — if he is going to experience hell on earth he might as well take the risk of going to hell for committing suicide
“Hadst thou no poison mixed, no sharp-ground knife, no sudden means of death” — pg 73 — Romeo asking the Friar for a method of suicide — suicide goes against religious beliefs of the time
“Juliet: It is not yet near day [...] Believe me love it was the nightingale. Romeo: It was the lark [...] I must be gone and live or stay and die Juliet: Yond light is not daylight, it is some meteor” — pg 79 — Juliet is in denial that it is the morning as that means Romeo must leave to Mantua (where he has been banished to)
“More light and light, more dark and dark our woes” — pg 80 — Romeo summing up how every time Romeo and Juliet meet it is under the cover of darkness — their love is forbidden
“Methinks I see thee now, thou art so low as one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Either my eyesight fails or thou look’st pale” — pg 82 — Juliet foreshadowing while saying goodbye to Romeo for the foreseeable future due to his exile
“Mary my child, early next Thursday morn” — pg 84 — Juliet’s parents now want her to marry immediately — what happened to “let two more summers wither in her pride, then we may think her ripe to be a bride”?
“He [Paris] shall not make me there [Saint Peter’s Church] a joyful bride” — pg 84 — Juliet going against her father by refusing to marry Paris — change from her obedience earlier — her love for Romeo has changed her — Romeo as a negative influence on her?
“Go with Paris to Saint Peter’s church or I will drag thee on a hurdle tither” — pg 85 — Capulet in a fit of rage following Juliet’s defiance, hurdle=the wooden frame which people condemned to death were taken around the streets on prior to their execution, tither=there — semantic field of death
“Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch” — pg 86 — baggage suggests she is an unwanted burden — “hang” links to “hurdle”
“My fingers itch. Wife, we thought us blest that God had lent us but this one child but now I see this one is too much and that we have a curse in having her” — pg 86 — Capulet would rather Juliet died with the rest of her siblings — his anger is making him just as irrational as Juliet’s love has made her — suggests God made a mistake — shocking to religious society of the time
“hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, I’ll ne'er acknowledge thee, Nor what is mine shall never do thee good.” — pg 87 — Capulet threatens to disown Juliet
“I’ll to the friar to know his remedy’; if all else fails, I myself have power to die” — pg 88 — Juliet resolving to die if the Friar has no solution to her scheduled marriage to Pairs — doing a similar thing to Romeo’s “Hadst thou no poison mixed, no sharp-ground knife, no sudden means of death” earlier — symbiotic
“O bid me leap rather than marry Paris from off the battlements of any tower” — pg 91 — Juliet telling the Friar how desperate she feels
“What if it be a poison which the Friar subtly hath administered to have me dead” — pg 96 — Juliet becoming paranoid about the Friar’s potion — but she still takes it due to the power of her love for Romeo
“I defy thee stars [...] Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight” — Romeo monologuing after learning Juliet is (supposedly) dead — pg 105 — love has made him irrational — he thinks his suicide is him defying fate but we know from the Prologue that this is what he is meant to do — we cannot escape God’s plan for us
“Unhappy fortune” — pg 109 — Friar upon learning that his letter has not reached Romeo — showing belief in God-driven fate
“Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man [...] A madman’s mercy bid thee run away” — pg 112 — Romeo to Paris when they are both at Juliet’s tomb — Romeo admits that he is not acting rationally
“Thy drugs are quick! Thus, with a kiss I die” — pg 114 — Romeo after swallowing his poison
“A greater power than we can contradict hath thwarted our intents” — pg 115 — as a holy man the Friar unsurprisingly believes that the death of Romeo is down to God driven fate and that they cannot attempt to go against God driven fate
“O happy dagger Taking Romeo’s dagger this is thy sheath stabs herself there rust and let me die” — pg 116 — Juliet takes the manly way out — we would expect Romeo to stab himself and Juliet to use poison — Romeo is a coward
“My wife is dead tonight, grief of my son’s exile hath stopped her breath” — pg 118 — Lady Montague has died because of the exile of Romeo — death breeds death
“Capulet! Montague! See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!” — pg 120 — Prince after finding out what has happened
“Poor sacrifices of our enmity” — pg 121 — Capulet talking to Montague after they find out about all that has happened, enmity=feud