In the opening scene of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Gregory and Sampson of the Capulet House are belittling the Montagues with jokes on how Sampson would take their “maidenheads” and push the men from the wall. Sampson is the one leading the conversation and remarks about the Montagues, while Gregory is elaborating on with him. Gregory asks questions such as, “Their maiden-heads?” when Sampson jests about it. This shows a dynamic between the two friends with the innocence in Gregory and the bluntness of Sampson. Their conversation conveys the hatred the Capulets have for the Montagues and the rivalry between them. When Abram, a member of the Montague house arrives on scene the two mock him by biting their thumbs; an act of defiance.
