Act 1 Scene 1 introduces the readers to the main characters-Capulet’s wife, the Nurse, and Juliet- and their relationships through the conversation between the three. Juliet, at this early stage in the play, is shown as an immature girl; she is naïve and unknowledgeable in the ways of love and the world. The Nurse refers to Juliet as, “what a lamb, what lady bird,” (1.3, line 3) for Juliet is far away from being a woman.
This quote, in another perspective, also gives clues about the intimidate relationship between the two characters, since the Nurse was the person who brought Juliet up. “And since that time it is eleven years,” (1.3, line 37) the Nurse said; this provides contrast between a caring, friendly position the Nurse has with Capulet’s wife formality towards Juliet. Their distant feelings are already portrayed for the obedient Juliet responses politely- “Madam, I am here, what is your will?” (1,3, line 7)-a cold response when compared to the Nurse’s bawdiness.
This first glimpse of their deteriorating relationship sets a scene for the upcoming acts, in which Juliet will have more problems with her family. However, the cause of this problem lies in Lady Capulet herself, for she endeavors to push Juliet into a marriage with Paris-what she wants-but this contradicts with the portrayal of Juliet as an immature character. These relationships add more complexity to this scene, which is an exposition to the play, since in the next scenes, we will be able to observe changes in Juliet, when she severs the bonds with her family.
Furthermore, Shakespeare also introduces and reinforces various themes and motifs, mostly related to love, into this scene. A recurring motif, which is found again in 1.4, is the idea of “dreams”. Juliet replies to her mother, “[marriage] is an honor I dream not of.” (1.3, line 68), while in Romeo’s speech that precedes Mercutio’s description of Queen Mab, he said, “[he] dreamt a dream tonight,” (1.4, line 48).
When connected with Queen Mab, dreams convey the fact that everyone has hidden thoughts inside their minds-“they dream of love,” (1.4, line 69), “dreams he of cutting foreign throats,” (1.4, line 81)-but since dreams are non-substantial, they contradict with society’s views on a predetermined life (e.g. arranged marriages), which in turn brings us to a wider theme of the individual (i.e. Romeo and Juliet) versus the society (i.e. their family and the feud).
Aside from dreams, another recurring idea of the different “definitions of love” is discussed to a great extent. This theme is significant for each character has their own meaning of love. Currently, Juliet shows a misunderstanding of love; she simply agrees to her mother in trying to love Paris-“I’ll look to like, if looking liking move.” (1.3, line 99); this is a result of the society that tried to brainwash young girls and boys into marrying for wealth and honor, not true love. Capulet’s wife, as a traditionalist, is a representative of the Elizabethan society as a whole; she believes that “So shall you share all he doth possess, | By having him, making yourself no less.” (1.3, lines 95-96).
This attitude is possibly a motive that brings Juliet to love Romeo, since a resistance to her mother’s command is austerely the nature of what teenagers like to do. The Nurse, on the other hand, gives another definition of love; she thinks love and marriage as a game of sexual passion and a required bondage for women as “No less, nay, bigger-women grow by men.” (1.3, line 97). She repeats the line “Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit,” (1.3, line 44) many times; this phrase encourages sexual intercourse as a part of growing up, then again rectified in “Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age.” (1.3, line 58)
This also reflects the Nurse’s identity as a bawdy, comic character, seeing that she lost her virginity at the young age of twelve (“Now by my maidenhead at twelve year old.” (1.3, line 2). These radical ideas on a single theme, love, when combined with the feud, will derive a conflict between Juliet and the Capulets, and Romeo and the Montagues.
Moreover, a few dramatic techniques are seen in 1.3, most significantly being foreshadowing. “Well, Susan is with God; | She was too good for me.” (1.3, lines 21-22); since Susan and Juliet were born on the same day, their fates are inevitably linked, and this passage reminds the readers of the ultimate tragedy that will soon follow. Once again, this can be connected to the theme of fate as a commander of life; Juliet’s death is inevitable and so is everything else in the play.
Furthermore, the extensive usage of metaphors and wordplay conveys the thoughts of these characters and perhaps, Shakespeare himself. “The fish lives in the sea, and ’tis much pride” (1.3, line 71), emphasizes Capulet’s wife idea of marriage being a part of life, since fish is to sea as in people is to marriage. Moreover, the unclear social position of the nurse, whether as friend, advisor or servant, is shown by the mixed usage of verse and prose form in her dialogue. Albeit being a minor character whose purpose is to create comic relief, the character of the Nurse can be divided into many complex layers, depending on the role she is playing at each instance
The usages of literary techniques create confusion as well, since some phrases can be interpreted in different ways, for instance, the line, “As all the world-why, he’s a man of wax.” (1.3, line 78) shows Paris as a young, good looking perfect man but in another perspective, wax is wax, it does not contain feelings, which means that all Paris can give is physical pleasure, a sweet candy for the eyes, but he cannot give Juliet love, for he is merely a statue.
This line, said by the Nurse, further exemplifies her standing on the definition of love, since all she truly cares of is sex and handsomeness. On the other hand, Capulet’s wife compares Paris to a flower in “Verona’s summer hath not such a flower,” (1.3, line 79) which can be interpreted as Paris will only give Juliet wealth, pleasure, and honor now, but love is fragile and Paris will one day no more than a wilted flower.
If taking this interpretation to a greater extent, it is possible that this line expresses Lady Capulet’s disappointment in life as she most likely married Lord Capulet at her parents’ consent and not by her own will of love. These ideas are, however, assumptions, which are why this scene alone can be analyzed in various ways, but all of which concentrates on the idea of love and each character’s definition of this theme.
