How does Shakespeare get the attention of the audience in the early part of Romeo and Juliet?

The first 200 words of this essay...

How does Shakespeare get the attention of the audience in the early part of Romeo and Juliet?

A playwright wants the start of their play to catch the attention of the audience and make them want to keep watching the rest of the play to find out what happens. To do this they might start with something funny and humorous to make the audience laugh, or they might create a dramatic atmosphere to keep the audience on the edge of their seat. A playwright might also make the opening scene as action packed as possible to make the audience want more. Any of these ideas would achieve the aim of involving the audience.

Shakespeare begins all of his plays differently but with something to get the audience hooked on the play. The way Shakespeare starts Macbeth is mysterious and very atmospheric, with something spooky and supernatural, but rather short and so the result is that the audience are left guessing, and the only way to find out what is going on is to watch the rest of the play.

However he begins the tempest with an action paced ship wreck to instantly draw the attention of the audience