LOVE, WAR, AND BANISHMENT: THE IMPORTANCE OF 1.2 IN SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO AND JULIET

LOVE, WAR, AND BANISHMENT: THE IMPORTANCE OF 1.2 IN SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO AND JULIET



Act 1, Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet functions as one of the most significant scenes of the play. Scene 2 holds an important place in the plot construction of the play as a whole as it functions as a catalyst for future events which lead to a tragic outcome. In this scene, Romeo is asked to read an invitation list by an illiterate servant of the Capulet’s. It is fate that Romeo is the one whom the servant asks because this one action sets off a chain of 3 events that ultimately lead to a tragic end. Because Romeo has done the servant the favour of reading the list, he is invited to the feast. It is at this feast that the first event in a series of three events occurs: Romeo meets and falls in love with Juliet. This is an important development as the play is based on Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other. Second, another important event takes place at the masquerade ...