How does Shakespeare create dramatic tension in Act 3 scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet? Explain and comment on Shakespeare’s use of language, the varying thoughts and feelings of the characters and show an appreciation of the social and historical context

        At the beginning of scene five the atmosphere is quiet and calm as Romeo and Juliet have just consummated their marriage. Although there is happiness in this scene the intense joy experienced by Romeo and Juliet together the happiness is tinged with sadness. The lovers must separate, so shortly after their marriage and its consummation. The total commitment of the lovers to each other is very evident in this scene. They are faced with huge amount of problems but gain strength from their love. At beginning of the scene Juliet’s youthful desire to keep Romeo by her side for a few minutes more is replaced by a mature realisation of the consequences if Romeo is taken. Juliet wants to savour the moment and believes that the bird is a nightingale not a lark but Romeo knows it is a lark and is fearing that he may die if he does not leave ‘it was the lark, the herald of the morn’ Romeo uses a pun in this line. Morn can mean two things the morning and also when you morn for someone death. He then goes on to say ‘night’s candles are burnt out’. This is a metaphor he has used to show that their passion has gone like the candles and so it is time for him to go. He also tell Juliet that he has very bleak choices ‘I must be gone and live, or stay and die’ he is trying to show Juliet that he has a no win situation.

 Juliet is still convinced that it is a nightingale and is arguing with Romeo ‘it is some meteor that the sun exhales’ Juliet is saying to Romeo that it is not daylight but something in the atmosphere. As the audience we are drawn into the intimacy but also we are on edge as we don’t know for sure if Romeo is going to go or will stay and also we don’t know if its daylight or nightime. Romeo is acting reckless and may die if he lingers and stays with Juliet. He also begins to believe what Juliet said and is sarcastic towards her. ‘I’ll say yon grey is not the morning’s eye, tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia’s brow’ Cynthia is goddess of the moon’ so he telling Juliet that it is the reflection of the moon not the sun shining Romeo would like to stay a little longer but can’t ‘I have more care to stay than will go’ he is putting his romantic thoughts before his life being irrational. Juliet’s mood quickly changes she begins to panic and fear for Romeo ‘this doth not so, for divideth us:’ Juliet is saying that it is not good for us because it divides us like it divides night and day. At the moment the conversation between Romeo and Juliet is dramatic as the atmosphere is tense and fearful for Romeo. Juliet’s tone in speech changes and also is disjointed. Her punctuality has frequent pauses. This reveals Juliet’s anxiety and uses Animal imagery to emphasise the separation of the lovers. ‘Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes,’ she wants the lark to change voices like the toad changes eyes so she wont know when its day. She then goes on to say ‘Hunting thee hence with hunts-up the day’ Romeo is being hunted by the lark and death. The larks voice is hunting Romeo and is making Romeo relentless. Juliet’s at this stage wants Romeo to go and he echoes her words ‘more light and light, more dark and dark our woes!’ he contrasts light and dark as light increases a darkness overshadows their happiness.