The first act of Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet” is a dramatic act, which immediately captures the audience's attention. It is also significant in terms of themes and characters. The first act prefigures the end of the opera and introduces destiny, conflict and love as themes. The first act introduces Romeo and Juliet as central characters, but also the Nurse, Benvollio, Mercutio and Tybalt as key characters of the play. The language and imagery bring both the themes and characters to life. Act 1, scene 1, contains much dramatic significance as the feud between the two families, the Capulets and the Montagues, is conveyed immediately. The scene also introduces conflict, while also containing comedy. The act begins with Sampson and Gregory, servants of the Capulet family, engaging in stereotypical male banter. Shakespeare makes it funny, through his use of sexual innuendo. Sampson states that he will "be cruel to the maids" of the Montague family and will cut off their "virgins". This refers to taking their virginity. This demonstrates the character's disrespectful use of humor and is also very violent and dark. Members of the Montague family then enter and the dramatic action begins. It begins with Sampson "biting his thumb", an obscene gesture for the time; this is dramatically significant because it shows aggression and high emotionality towards the Capulet family. This is ridiculous when presented to the public because the idea of ​​family hatred that has been going on for years is not explained. This aggression is exposed when Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, says "I hate the word peace as I hate hell, all the Montagues and you." This demonstrates much of the unnecessary hatred between families. This also expresses that Tybalt is an angry and fiery character... middle of paper... the second time Juliet is the aggressor, and in a conversation she is suddenly mature enough to understand what she wants. This is illustrated by his statement, “Then my lips have the sin they have taken.” While the sonnet is beautiful, it also has a darker purpose. The prologue is also a sonnet that shares the same rhyme scheme as Romeo and Juliet's shared sonnet. This brings up again the themes of love and destiny and the foreshadowing of their untimely death. Shakespeare uses language brilliantly to express perfect love and connect it to tragic fate, which has great dramatic significance. In conclusion, Act 1 is designed to set up the tragedy that follows. The audience is aware from the beginning that Romeo and Juliet are doomed and therefore can see the dramatic significance of the characters and events described in the first act..