The scene starts on a cheery note as Capulet offers a tedious welcome to his guests (lines 15-32). He invites guests to dance teasing the women that if they do not, he will proclaim that they have corns, then sits down with an aged cousin to watch the fun and recollect past memories of when they were younger.
Romeo's response to Juliet's beauty is instant: she literally dazzles him and it is revealed in his language (lines 44-9). By chance Tybalt overhears Romeo's remarks and reacts ferociously.His response to Romeo's presence is very important in the overall context of the play, as is the stinging rebuke he receives from Capulet. He is obliged to leave the ball, swearing for revenge. Romeo and Juliet's first meeting is handled most unusually. They take to the floor for a dance and it their opening words they share a sonnet (lines 93-106).
It is a suitable and unique choice of words: the Prologue to the play has employed the same device. Apart for a few moments at the end of the scene, the two lovers expose to us their reactions to the meeting.The first reason is that Act 1 Scene 5 is the climax for Act 1 and is right at the end of the act. It seems to show what happens when the people that have been shown on their own finally meet, for example; Romeo and Juliet. The next reason is, as I've already explained, the audience finally gets to see the first meeting between Romeo and Juliet after a long build up.
The build up shows them separately and shows what they were like before their meeting. This meeting of the lovers has to be sensational. Shakespeare conveys their opening words to each other in the form of a sonnet, which they share and form.This sonnet has a beauty and formality, which perfectly capture the awkwardness yet, irresistibility of the moment. The central image - of a pilgrim worshipping at a shrine - underlines the profundity and purity of their love. Shakespeare uses religious symbols in the lovers' sonnet to show that their love is pure and genuine.
The audience can also tell that their love is doomed, there is a grim truth in Juliet's view that her 'grave is like to be [her] wedding bed' (line 135). Juliet's indirectness in telling the Nurse which man interests her displays her youth and shyness.This is related over and over again during the rest of the play, from her Nurse and later even from Lady Capulet. The third reason is that he audience finally gets to see the characters of Tybalt and Capulet's true nature and their potentials.
Capulet, as the head of the house, is used to getting what he wants and does not tolerate anyone annoying him or ruining something he is enjoying in anyway. Capulet isn't too happy with Romeo's arrival at the ball, but he still doesn't let Tybalt fight him.He tells Tybalt to calm himself down and leave Romeo alone. He goes on to say that 'Verona brags of him' and he is a 'well governed youth. This suggests that Capulet is not automatically assuming that Romeo is bad, and is giving him the benefit of the doubt. Capulet is acting like this because he doesn't want his ball ruined by a fight, or maybe because he is feeling very friendly.
Also, the Montagues are his guests, so he has a duty to protect them anyway. Capulet starts to get angry about arguing with Tybalt, he starts to talk in a hushed voice, '-You are a princox go: be quiet or-' he is about to threaten Tybalt, showing that he can be just as angry as Tybalt can get, but he still has to attend to his guests.Tybalt does not like being embarrassed in front of his friends and family so he simply postpones vengeance and the audience anticipates that he will later clash with Romeo. Tybalt thinks the only reason Romeo has came to the ball is to mock the Capulet's efforts, this fuels his hatred for Romeo, urging him on to fight.
Tybalt uses words, which show hate, like 'villain' many times. This shows he thinks Romeo an enemy. This contrasts with Romeo's little speech, as he used words that showed love and affection, Tybalt's words show hate and loathing.There is also betrayal by Capulet who doesn't support Tybalt in trying to reveal Romeo at the party and fight him.
This scene also reveals Romeo's biggest flaw that he falls in love too easily and is ruled by his emotions. Another reason for this scene being so important is that the scene is leading up to the point were Romeo and Juliet find out that they are from opposing families. This comes across as a huge shock for the lovers however the audience already knew that their families were enemies from the prologue.This gives a sense of dramatic irony, as the audience knows something the characters do not Scene 5 deepens the note of foreboding. The audience is painfully aware of the hostility and resentment surrounding Romeo and Juliet.
The audience can see the anger emitting from Capulet and Tybalt. Romeo and Juliet's first encounter is thus fraught with the potential for tragedy. Shakespeare successfully uses dramatical devises in Act 1 Scene 5 to inform the audience of some of the events and tragedy to come. This makes Act 1 Scene 5 a very important scene in the play.
