Act 1 Scene 2 Line 39
The ironic event is between Capulet and the Serving man. Capulet gives the Serving man a list of names of people that are invited to his party. Capulet instructs the Serving man to tell the people on the list to come to his party. The irony is that Capulet doesn’t know that the Serving man is illiterate. The Serving man can’t read, so he can’t tell anyone on the list about the party. This ironic event actually leads to another ironic event.
Act 1 Scene 2 Line 61
After the one previously mentioned: The Serving man doesn’t know what to do.
He has to give the list to someone who can read and have him or her read it to him. That is when Romeo and Benvolio stroll in. In desperate need of help, the Serving man gives them the list. The irony is that Romeo is a Montague, an enemy of the Capulets. This event also helps to progress the story. Romeo finds out that Rosaline, his one true love is going to attend that party. So he decides to crash the party in order to meet her. Irony is being used as a way to progress the story.
Act 1 Scene 5 Line 48 (falls in love w/Juliet here)
Romeo is in love with Rosaline at the opening of the story. He sees Juliet at a party and falls in love with her. Benvolio is unaware of this. An example of dramatic irony.
Act 1 Scene 5 Line 51
In this scene, Romeo falls in love with Juliet when he first sees her. The irony is that he came her to see his “true love” Rosaline, yet he fell in love with another girl. Also, Romeo says many times that Rosaline would be his only love, yet on line 60, he complete disregards his love for Rosaline.
He says,” For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night. ” He’s saying that he has not seen true beauty before, until he saw Juliet. This is also an important event because this is where Romeo and Juliet’s relationship starts.
Act 1 Scene 5 Line 148
“Go ask his name: if he be married. My grave is like to be my wedding bed. ” This is said by Juliet to the nurse in regard to Romeo after first meeting him. She is stating that if he is married or unavailable to her, than she would just die in anguish because she has fallen completely and utterly in love with him.
This is ironic because although she does not know it, Juliet will die if she DOES marry him. The audience are aware of this because the prologue states that they will both die- we have an insight into the ending of the play. This increases the irony and also touches on the idea of ‘fate’ which plays a huge part in the play and in Elizabethan times. We know what is to happen, we can do nothing to change that. This creates numerous opportunities for dramatic irony as shown throughout the play.
