Romeo and Juliet Act 1

Benvolio

tries to get Romeo to "examine other beauties

Tybalt

hates "Hell, all Montagues and [Benvolio]

Lady Capulet

wants Juliet to marry Paris

Capulet

the host of the party

Lady Montague

holds Montague back from joining the fight

Montague

Lord Capulet's enemy

Romeo

in "love" twice in this act

Rosaline

Capulet's niece

Count Paris

wants to marry Juliet

Juliet

dreams not" of the honor of marriage

Mercutio

Oh, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you.

Nurse

Go girl, seek happy nights to happy days.

The Prince

orders the families to end their feud

Chorus

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Sampson and Gregory

servants to the Capulets

Abraham and Balthasar

servants to the house of Montague

Why do Sampson and Gregory (servants of the House of Capulet) fight with Montague's men?

Sampson bites his thumb at one of the Montagues, which is considered an insult

Benvolio (Montague) and Tybalt (Capulet) come upon the servants fighting. How do they react to the fight?

Benvolio wants to stop the fight, but Tybalt wants to get into the fight.

When Lords Montague and Capulet enter in Act I and see the disturbance, they want to fight, too. What do their wives say?

The old guys should stop all the fighting.

What ended the opening fight in Act I?

The Prince of Verona warned them they would be punished with death if they would fight.

Why is Romeo so sad in Act I?

Rosaline, the girl he loves, doesn't love him back.

In Act 1.2, Paris asks Capulet for Juliet's hand in marriage. What is Capulet's reply?

Paris should wait until Juliet is older.

Why does Romeo decide to go to the feast even though (being a Montague) he is not invited?

Rosaline, the girl he loves, will be at the party!

Romeo

Believes LOVE is wonderful, but it is doubtful he has really been in love before; he has lusted after Rosaline though.

Benvolio

He thinks his friend should find someone else, and get over Rosaline. Love can be a poison! Foil to Tybalt. Cousin to Romeo.

Lord Capulet

He doesn't want Juliet to grow up too fast, and is worried an early marriage may make her unhappy.

Paris

He has marriage on his mind! Age doesn't matter in a relationship! He is a relative to the Prince

Lady Capulet

Admits that Juliet is young but also says that there are girls younger than Juliet who are ready to get married.

Juliet

Never thinks of marriage, and doesn't want to marry unless she is in LOVE and her parents consent.