Act 1 Scene 5 Romeo & Juliet's first kiss

Act 1 Scene 5 Romeo & Juliet's first kiss

1. Sex vs Religion

   • Religion
     • Romeo talks to Juliet as though she is divine
       • "This holy shrine"
         • In a religious society, would this be acceptable to refer to Juliet in this way?
           • Juliet calls Romeo "God of my idolatry"
             • Would this be considered blasphemous?
   • Sex
     • "Let lips do what hands do"

2. Body vs Spirit

   • Spirit
     • The religious language could represent that Shakespeare thought of love as a spiritual, holy experience
       • "If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss"
         • Translation: kissing you would be a religious experience
   • Body
     • The two lovers are expressing their lust for each other
       • Could we question whether their love is only based on this? Considering that until very recently Romeo was infatuated with Rosaline
       • They do seem to be aware that family and religion would come in the way of their sexual desire for each other
         • At the time, sex before marriage was considered a sin. Religion was needed to bless the marriage before consumation could take place

3. Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love, then kiss each other without knowing which families they come from

4. When Romeo first sees Juliet, he says "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty until this night"

   • How seriously can we take this comment? What about his love for Rosaline?
     • LOVE

5. Juliet says to Romeo "You kiss by the book"

   • This could link to the idea that previously, Romeo's idea of love has come from reading love poetry

6. When Juliet realises that Romeo is a Montague she says ...

   • "My only love sprung from my only hate!"
     • Love vs Hate
       • Would their love be as intense if they were not from opposing families?

7. Romeo and Juliet speak to each other in a sonnet

   • This could symbolise the two of them gradually falling into sync with each other
     • The rhyming couplet at the end reflects their shared attraction and love
   • They use lots of religious language and language about the body
     • "Lips" "Palms"
     • "Pilgrim" "Holy shrine"