5.25.16

Summarize Act. 1, Sn.2-- Lord Capulet and Paris are discussing their plan to marry Juliet off to Paris. It’s obvious they’ve talked of this before, and Lord Capulet’s worry is that Juliet’s age is “too pretty” or that she’s too young. He asks that Paris wait two years until she’s about sixteen. His response: “Younger than she are happy mothers made”. Lord Capulet responds with a speech about how much he loves his daughter and how he cares what’s in her heart too, so he cautions Paris to “woo her gently” and invites him to a party at his mansion that night suggesting that among many lovely ladies, Juliet might not be as desirous. Then, he sends a servingman out with a list of people to invite to the party. The servingman runs off, and runs into Romeo and Benvolio. Benvolio is giving Romeo advice about how to get over Rosaline (train your eyes on someone new) but Romeo says nay. The servingman interrupts them and asked if they can read (haha irony of Capulet giving a servingman a list to read when he can’t). They can and they help him. In response he says, unless you’re of the Montague house, come to the party! Benvolio says yes, Rosaline will be there, so you can see she’s just a girl since so many other pretty ladies will be there. Romeo says, yes, Rosaline might be there!

WU: Fate or Free-Will? Discussion

When something good happens to me, I earned it or there is a reason it was given to me.

When something good happens to me, I got lucky.

Things happen for a reason--there’s a plan for us.

We have choice and control over the way things turn out. If something good or bad happens to me, I am responsible for the cause.

I think dreams have some meaning in my life. I try to figure out what dreams mean.

Dreams are just related to brain activity while sleeping.

I am superstitious or have items, places, or people I think are lucky for me.

Events are fated to happen.

I can change my own fate.

Read: Act. 1, Sn. 4--Queen Mab scene

Ideas to discuss:

Romeo and Mercutio's differing ideas about dreams: Romeo thinks they represent "truth" and trusts in the dream he has that foreshadows his death and Mercutio calls dreamers/dreams liars/lies that are born of "vain fantasy" rather than reality. Effectively, he feels that dreams are the byproduct of desire which is not "truth" and can therefore be dangerous. This philosophy works on deeper levels to reveal that human desires can be dangerous. For example, this feud is born of "vain fantasy" to some degree; it lacks substance and meaning much in the same way that dreams do, yet the Montagues and Capulets (and many others) seem to be ruled by it. Mercutio's mercurial nature is highlighted in this speech as it works to expose this truth.

Fate vs. Free-will: Mercutio's Queen Mab speech in comparison with Romeo's discussion of the "consequence yet hanging in the stars" reveals an important duality that Shakespeare explores in his play. He questions what we are ruled by, fate or free-will. To what degree do Romeo and Juliet (or any of us) determine our future?

Treatment of love: Romeo is ruled by love, and not shy about expressing how love has been "rough with him". Mercutio challenges this notion of love, stating that Romeo should "be rough with love" if "love be rough with [him]". Again, Mercutio is presenting a philosophy that works as a foil to Romeo's understanding of the world.

Key quotes: **Romeo:** Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace! Thou talk’st of nothing.

**Mercutio:** True, I talk of dreams, Which are the children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain fantasy, Which is as thin of substance as the air And more inconstant than the wind, who woos Even now the frozen bosom of the north, And, being angered, puffs away from thence, Turning his face to the dew-dropping south.

**Benvolio:** (We’re late, let’s go to the party!)

Some consequence yet hanging in the stars Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night’s revels, and expire the term Of a despisèd life closed in my breast By some vile forfeit of untimely death. But he that hath the steerage of my course, Direct my sail...
 * Romeo: ** I fear too early, for my mind misgives

Read: Act 1, Sn. 5 Romeo and Juliet meet, and fall in love... Pay attention to:
 * imagery around lightness and darkness
 * religious imagery/figurative language
 * balance
 * animal imagery
 * foreshadowing

HW: In your packet for //Romeo and Juliet//, complete the annotation for the balcony scene. Read it through and annotate for literary devices and questions. What is this conversation really about? Be ready to discuss this next class. Here's a copy of the passage: The second page includes a "translation" of the passage. It's okay to use, it but give it a shot without the first go around. https://docs.google.com/document/d/12B_IOcrKwvyuluwKen5lwegn31jUPhGQRSMyRm0Ntc8/edit?usp=sharing

Additionally, by the end of today's reading, we've read all the sections in the Love Connection Assignment. Fill out the analysis of the quotes by character.