Discussion Topic
Events at the Capulets' ball in Romeo and Juliet
Summary:
At the Capulets' ball, Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time and instantly fall in love, unaware of each other's family identities. Tybalt recognizes Romeo and wants to confront him, but is restrained by Lord Capulet, who wishes to avoid conflict at the event. This encounter sets the stage for the ensuing tragedy between the Montagues and Capulets.
In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, what happens at the Capulets' ball?
In Act I, Scene IV of William Shakespeare’s tragedyRomeo and Juliet, Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio are discussing their plan to attend the ball at the Capulets’ estate, a proposition for which Romeo holds serious reservations. Shakespeare’s play opens with a confrontation between the Capulets and Montagues in the streets of Verona, and tensions remain high. Romeo’s infatuation with Rosaline, a Capulet, and the cousin of the girl for whom he would subsequently fall, provides the motivation for this foolhardy act, but Mercutio and Benvolio in particular are keen to proceed with their plan. Mercutio technically has little to fear, as, despite being Romeo’s closest friend, he is not a blood relative of any Montague and is related to Prince Escalus, thereby inoculating him against the worst impulses of the Capulets. In any event, the three sneak into the costume ball, wearing masks to disguise their identities. While...
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Romeo’s focus is on spying Rosaline, it is at the Capulet Ball where he spots Juliet for the first time. The 13-year-old girl is intent on wedding CountParis, a prominent figure in Verona and a relative of Prince Escalus, but Romeo is smitten, inquiring of a servant, “What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand Of yonder knight?” Romeo’s voice is correctly identified by a Capulet, Tybalt, a particularly hateful figure with respect to the feud between the two families: “’Tis he, that villain Romeo.” Capulet intervenes, however, and Tybalt is left angered by the unwelcome intrusion of a Montague. Juliet, in the meantime, plays to Count Paris, but is as smitten by Romeo’s introduction as Romeo is by her. Juliet’s nurse, however, knowing of Romeo’s identity, warns Juliet of the perils of falling for this young man: “His name is Romeo, and a Montague; The only son of your great enemy,” prompting Juliet’s observation:
“My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy”
The scene ends, the two protagonists having met and fallen immediately in love with each other.
What events take place during the ball in Romeo and Juliet?
Romeo's friends, Mercutio and Benvolio, are worried because Romeo is lovesick—pining for a young woman, Rosaline, who doesn't return his love. They therefore urge him to go with them to the Capulet masquerade ball, which they are crashing in disguise, in the hopes that he'll meet another girl.
Romeo unwillingly agrees to go. He insists it's not a good idea because he had a bad dream about it, and also, more importantly, because there could never be another girl he could love better than Rosaline.
Of course, the minute Romeo arrives at the ball and lays eyes on Juliet, not even knowing who she is, he falls head over heels in love with her beauty. She shines out like a radiant jewel against every other person in the room. Rosaline is instantly forgotten.
If this were a comedy, we might laugh at the Romeo's lightning change of allegiance. As it happens, he and Juliet dance and feel a deep, passionate connection with one another. The ball does what his friends had hoped, causing Romeo to forget Rosaline. However, neither of his friends know that Romeo has found a new love interest, nor the extent to which he is deeply in love with her.