2007-05-30 22:20:19 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
The servants are less important characters, so Sampson and Gregory's language will not be as refined as other Capulet's. In response to what they are talking about, Shakespeare is having some fun, punning on the words 'coals', 'colliers' and 'choler' in the first three lines, and setting them up to be buffoons so when the confrontation happens with the Montagues later the audience will be amused.
The talk of love also gives a perspective for events later in the play, like the prologue this counts as a nrrative signpost and allows us (the audience) to get an idea of contemporary values and what esteem Romeo will be seen in by his peers when he falls for a) Rosaline and b) Juliet. The conflict between the houses is also mentioned here to. It's a good set up job really.
Hope that helped.
2007-05-30 22:27:33 · answer #1 · answered by Andy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember, the servants are talking about sex, not love. They are two different things. Shakespeare has the servants do this to point out the supposed difference in social class and to get the attention of the uneducated, but sexually experienced members of his audience.
Also, just about everybody else in the play is sexually experienced, but Juliet is not. Shakespeare uses the servant's conversation, and the nurse's graphic description of what will happen to Juliet on her wedding night to contrast the "adult" world to Juliet's. She was only about 13 and about to marry a man her father chose for her, and she was about to lose her virginity to a man not of her choosing. This contrasts with her love for Romeo and how sex would follow love in this relationship, but love would follow sex if she were to marry Paris. This shows the purity of the love between Romeo and Juliet.
2007-06-03 17:53:39 · answer #2 · answered by jack of all trades 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All valid answers, but if I was awarding I'd give the 10 to Pete. Sucinct.
Certainly the emphasis was intended to portray servants at a lower station in life than the two families, but don't for a moment believe that in REAL LIFE 600 years ago, people of culture didn't know or use vulgarities. They just checked them, most especially "publically"
Steven Wolf
2007-05-31 00:39:17 · answer #3 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They're supposed to be the lads...
Think teenage boys being dicks and talking about which bird has the best tis, and who you would want to get a good shag to...
Trying to make out they're hot blooded males full of testosterone so more likley to get into fights
Its good to see the Baz Lurman version to help understanding in a modern setting.
Bit like say in Greese the tell me more song when the guys are all.
Did you give her a grin, what she let you do etc.
then when you have Romeo and Juliet its all soppy lovely dovey
2007-06-03 21:35:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably to contrast it with the more esoteric words of love that Romeo and Juliet use later in the play. Ever heard of 'the sacred and the profane'?
2007-05-30 22:25:47 · answer #5 · answered by Roxy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gregory and Sampson are the Capulet servants who started the fight in act one, scene one.
2016-05-17 10:59:32 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply because they are servants and it is a device to emphasis to the audience the gulf in class between them and their masters
2007-05-30 22:54:45 · answer #7 · answered by Pete H 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The servants are but little people who ape their social betters.
Sounds like it, huh?
2007-06-02 15:26:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because that's the way people spoke about these things way back when. You cannot truly expeience shakespeare if he's censored!
2007-05-30 22:25:05 · answer #9 · answered by theunknownstuntman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋