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Romeo and JulietConsider the balance of tragedy and comedy in Act one, concluding whether it is on the whole humorous of tragic.
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The Prologue includes phrases like 'death-marked love' and 'fatal loins'. From this we might think that Romeo and Juliet is an unrelenting tragedy. Yet the first Act has many humorous moments. Consider the balance of tragedy and comedy in Act one, concluding whether it is on the whole humorous of tragic. As defined by Aristotle, 'tragedy evokes pity and fear in the audience.' On the other hand, comedy evokes pleasure and laughter. Act One is highly comical with absurd characters, and humorous language. However from the outset, the audience is on notice that the play is a tragedy, not least because the play begins with a dark and tragic Prologue. The Prologue contains dark imagery such as 'civil blood makes civil hands unclean,' and,'from ancient grudge break to new mutiny'. It also describes a 'pair of star crossed lovers' who, 'with their death bury their parents strife'. This creates dramatic irony...
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