Romeo and Juliet “Do you bite your thumb” scene
I’m unsure which one we analyse but this analysis is for the 1968 Franco Zeffirelli
Basically the setting is in a market area where the two Capulets are talking to one another, meanwhile the Montagues walk up to them and ask “Do you bite your thumb at us sir”. The Capulet answers back “No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir,” This technique is called a pun where the phrase has two different meanings. The Capulet’s response was witty and was intended to act smart to the Montagues. This shows the audience that they do not like one another, also their costuming and body language indicates they are of a higher class then the normal townspeople around them. While the townspeople wear torn clothes and dim and gloomy colours, the Montague’s and Capulet’s both wear vivid and clean clothing. They speak formally and they stand upright looking stiff to show their higher status then the rest.
Respect and pride is an important value in this scene, because it adds to the meaning of the text by identifying the pride they both have that is very high and the respect they demand from everyone. The two sides begin to fight each other to protect their pride and gain more respect by defeating their enemy and allowing the townspeople to watch and cower. These values are intended to make the scene more serious about how respect and pride is everything. Another value is teamwork and friendship because when the Capulets get attacked for pushing the priest into