Romeo & Juliet, Act I Prologue
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,
A pair of star‑crossed lovers take their life,
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Doth, with their death, bury their parents’ strife.
The fearful passage of their death‑marked love
And the continuance of their parents’ rage —
Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove —
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
The which, if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
What the Prologue Tells Us
The opening lines set the scene for a tragedy that will unfold over two hours. Shakespeare tells us that in Verona there are two great families – the Capulets and the Montagues – who have been feuding for generations. Their feud has turned ordinary citizens into blood‑thirsty warriors, creating the backdrop for the love story of Romeo and Juliet.
Shakespeare also introduces the idea that the lovers are “star‑crossed.” In his time, stars were thought to control destiny; by calling them star‑crossed he signals that their fate is sealed from the moment they meet. The prologue ends with a warning: even if we listen carefully, the story will still be full of sorrow and loss.
Key Literary Devices
- Iambic Pentameter: Each line has ten syllables, with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one. This rhythm gives the speech a musical quality that draws listeners in.
- Rhyme Scheme (Shakespearean Sonnet): The pattern ABAB CDCD EFEF GG ties the poem together and creates a sense of order amid the chaos described.
- Alliteration: Repeating initial consonant sounds, such as in “From forth the fatal loins,” heighten the dramatic feel.
- Assonance & Consonance: Repeated vowel and consonant sounds create musicality and reinforce themes of fate and conflict.
- Metaphor & Symbolism: “Star‑crossed lovers” is a metaphor for destiny; the stars symbolize an unchangeable future. The phrase “civil blood makes civil hands unclean” shows how violence corrupts even those who are supposed to be honorable.
- Enjambment: Lines flow into one another without pause, mirroring the relentless progression of events in Verona.
- Oxymoron: Phrases like “civil blood” juxtapose peace and violence, underscoring the tragedy’s irony.
How Each Part Builds the Central Message
- Opening Lines (1‑4): Establish the setting and the feud. The diction is formal, hinting at the high stakes involved in a family conflict that has become a citywide war.
- Lines 5‑6: Introduce Romeo and Juliet as “star‑crossed lovers.” This immediately signals that their romance will be doomed by forces beyond their control.
- Lines 7‑8: Show the consequences of the feud: the lovers’ deaths will end the conflict, but only after they have already caused great sorrow. The enjambment here keeps the reader moving forward, just as fate pushes them toward tragedy.
- Lines 9‑10: Emphasize that even though their love is powerful, it also brings destruction. The repetition of “death‑marked” and “rage” ties personal passion to communal violence.
- Final Couplets (11‑14): Offer a warning and an invitation to listen carefully. Shakespeare reminds us that the story will be full of sorrow, but it is still worth hearing because it reveals deeper truths about love, fate, and human conflict.
Why This Prologue Matters for Students
When you read this short poem, think about how Shakespeare uses language to create a world that feels both grand and intimate. Notice the rhythm, the rhyme, and the images he paints with words. These techniques help us understand why the story of Romeo and Juliet continues to resonate: it is not just a tale of young love but also a meditation on how our choices, our families, and even the stars can shape our destinies.