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I will push Montague’s men from the wall and thrust his maids to the wall
Act 1, Scene 1 opens with a rapidly escalating encounter between representatives of the feuding families on the streets of Verona. In this quote, the foolish and headstrong Capulet servant Sampson makes a rude boast that explicitly connects violence with sex. The coupling of sex and violence will be a recurring theme throughout the play. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Theme: The Connection Between Passion and Violence (the first quote).
My naked weapon is out. Quarrel, I will back thee.
Shortly after the previous quote, Sampson again ties together violent aggression with sexual imagery in the above lines. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Theme: The Connection Between Passion and Violence (the second quote).
SAMPSON: Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. (bites his thumb)
Later in the scene, Sampson initiates the confrontation with Montague servants with a wordless but aggressive act of thumb-biting. Read more about this quote and about the symbolic practice of thumb-biting in Quotes by Symbol: Thumb-biting (the first quote).
ABRAM: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
SAMPSON: (aside to GREGORY) Is the law of our side if I say “ay”?
GREGORY: (aside to SAMPSON) No.
SAMPSON: No, sir. I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.
The incident continues when the Montague servant Abram responds to Sampson’s thumb-biting gesture. Sampson’s aggression is momentarily in Quotes by Symbol: Thumb-biting (the second quote).
SAMPSON: But if you do, sir, I am for you. I serve as good a man as you.
ABRAM: No better.
SAMPSON: Well, sir.
GREGORY (aside to SAMPSON): Say “better.” Here comes one of my master’s kinsmen.
SAMPSON: (to ABRAM) Yes, better, sir.
ABRAM: You lie.
SAMPSON: Draw, if you be men.
The childishness of the thumb-biting and of the feud that it represents is exemplified by this juvenile exchange that precipitates the street brawl in Act 1, Scene 1. Read more about this exchange in Quotes by Symbol: Thumb-biting (the third quote).
Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets
And made Verona’s ancient citizens
Cast by their grave-beseeming ornaments
To wield old partisans in hands as old,
Cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate.
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
In response to the battle on the streets of Verona in Act 1, Scene 1, Prince Escalus sternly warns the families to avoid further fighting by threatening death for the combatants. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Setting: Verona (the second quote).
Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still,
Should without eyes see pathways to his will
In the latter part of Act 1, Scene 1, after the street brawl and the Prince’s decree, Romeo makes his initial appearance when he encounters his friend Benvolio on the street. At this point, Romeo has not yet met Juliet and is preoccupied with an immature infatuation with Rosaline, which he alludes to here. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Theme: The Forcefulness of Love (the first quote).
O me, what fray was here?
Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.
Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love.
In his conversation with Benvolio in Act 1, Scene 1, Romeo makes this comment expressing his weariness with the feud between the Capulets and his own family, the Montagues. Read more about his statement in Quotes by Character: Romeo (the first quote).
Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs;
Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes;
Being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears.
What is it else? A madness most discreet,
A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.
Speaking to Benvolio in Act 1, Scene 1 and heartsick over his unrequited love for Rosaline, Romeo describes love in a series of metaphors. Most famously calling it smoke arising from the sighs of lovers, he implies that while love can be beautiful, it can also be elusive and ultimately suffocating. He then goes on in quick succession to compare love to an ocean of tear, madness, and a sweet candy lozenge that you could choke on—extending the suffocation idea.
She’ll not be hit
With Cupid’s arrow. She hath Dian’s wit.
And, in strong proof of chastity well armed,
From love’s weak childish bow, she lives uncharmed.
Near the end of Act 1, Scene 1, Romeo compares Rosaline to the virgin Roman goddess Diana. In Romeo and Juliet, whenever love is discussed, some mention or reference to sex is usually not too far behind. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Theme: The Complex Relationship Between Love and Sex (the first quote).
