Act I, Prologue: The prologue to Act I is written in the form of a sonnet and provides a clear, concise summary of the play. Romeo and Juliet will fall in love but their fate is death. The feuding of their families is at fault. Only the deaths of their children will bring peace and cleanse Verona of its sin.
Act I, Scene 1: The scene opens in the streets of Verona. Gregory and Sampson, servants of the house of Capulet, are discussing their enemies, the Montagues, when two of the Montague servants, Abram and Balthasar, enter. The four servants promptly begin to quarrel. Benvolio, of the house of Montague, enters and is attempting to break up the fight when Tybalt, a Capulet, enters. Tybalt mistakenly assumes that Benvolio has drawn his sword on the Capulet servants and challenges him to a duel. Benvolio tries to resist but is drawn into the fight. The Capulets and Montagues are drawn into the streets by the noise. Capulet calls for his sword to join in the fray but is instead taunted by his wife because of his old age. The Prince Escalus is also drawn to the scene. The Prince is angry, as the feuding families have previously disturbed the peace in the streets. He threatens death to anyone who creates a problem again. Everyone exits except for Montague, his wife, and Benvolio. Montague questions Benvolio as to the cause of the fight. His wife then asks about the whereabouts of their son, Romeo. Benvolio reports that he has seen Romeo walking around alone and unwilling to socialize with anyone. Montague confirms this and Benvolio asks what the cause is of Romeo's melancholy attitude. Montague says that Romeo refuses to discuss his problem. Just then, Romeo enters and Benvolio determines to find out what is wrong. He discovers that Romeo is in love with a girl who will not respond to his advances. Benvolio advises him to forget her and to look elsewhere for someone better but Romeo swears that no one will surpass her in beauty and his favor.
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Romeo and Juliet: Novel Summary: Act I, Prologue-Act I, Scene 1
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