Act 2 – Prologue and Scene 1

Romeo and Juliet

The Play – Prologue and Scene 1As SlideShare charges a fee for video

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The Chorus highlights and reminds us about how the increasing hatred and resent between the Capulets and Montagues causes the gap between Romeo and Juliet to grow wider.

But their determination (trait: stubbornness etc.) would not allow such obstacles to stop them – alas, the power of love has the ability to make us supersede our loyalties, families and friends, eluding all obstacles to allow the passion to grow. The theme in question here is the forcefulness of love.

The Prologue

“Alike bewitched by the charm of looks…” – will a relationship be successful if it’s based only on the physical aspects of love?

The Prologue (continued)

“Can I go forward when my heart is here?” – this quote emphasizes on the amount of affection that Romeo has for Juliet.

Paying close attention and comparing what Benvolio and Mercutio both said to Romeo, it is obvious that the former displays more care and concern for his cousin than Mercutio, who simply busies himself with mocking and taunting his friend.

Act 2, Scene 1

Also, Mercutio’s a character who strikes across as an overly and excessively crude person (sexually). Reading through the first scene of Act 2 and counting the amount of sexual references and innuendo he made while taunting Romeo, I have to say it was disgusting.

“Blind is his love, and best befits the dark.” – Benvolio says this of Romeo’s relationship with Rosaline because he realizes that it was strictly physical, and that it wasn’t going to enjoy a long and prosperous future. But of course, he says this unaware of Romeo’s transformation.

Act 2, Scene 1 (continued)

This scene probably epitomizes the physical and sexual side of the play Romeo and Juliet – Mercutio’s nasty and embarrassing sexual taunts to his friend was downright insulting and humiliating, but “he jests at a scar that never felt a wound.”

It was also something like an epiphany for Romeo, where he slowly matures and realizes the other aspects of love (i.e. emotional, inspirational) besides whatever is physical.

Summary

Thus, it slowly becomes clear that the gap between Romeo and Juliet – though ever-widening because of the enmity and hatred between their households – will never be an obstacle for the couple as they taste the success and extreme rewards of their passion for each other. Him climbing over the wall was one symbol.

Summary (continued)

BBC, 1978, Romeo and Juliet (Act 2, Prologue, Scene 1)

BBC, 2012, English Literature, Romeo and Juliet

SparkNotes, Literature, Romeo and JulietNo Fear Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Sources