Borrow Cupid's Wings!

Romeo heads off to the Capulet ball on Mercutio's goading, and though he says he has a premonition that someone will die as a consequence of their actions this night, the audience understands that what he says is true. Dramatic irony like this is what makes the play riviting, even though the audience already knows the outcome.


So our young lover has "borrowed Cupid's wings" and soared over his fears, so to speak. As scene five opens, the servants are bustling around, preparing for the guests. Lord Capulet is coaxing the ladies out onto the dance floor. He threatens to tell the ladies that if they don't dance, they must have corns.



For further understanding of the setting (and our enjoyment) we'll visit the American Ballet Company's site and view a Renaissance dance. If you're not willing to try it out, you must have corns, too!