What are the factors that contribute to the 'Pathos' of the last scene of 'Romeo and Juliet'.

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Hayley Tomkins                                                                            7th February 2002

WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE ‘PATHOS’ OF THE LAST SCENE OF ‘ROMEO AND JULIET’

Romeo and Juliet has always been known as one of Shakespeare’s most popular and tragic love story plays.  It is known for its dramatic ending love scene and tale of twisted fate.  

This essay is based upon the pathos of the last scene of Romeo and Juliet.  Pathos is a quality that arouses emotions such as pity, sympathy or despair.  This is therefore why the essay is based upon the last scene as it is the most tragic and dramatic scene in the play

which successfully arouses   sympathy in the reader due to the tragic atmosphere created by Shakespeare.

 The atmosphere is created in Act 5 by Shakespeare’s gift of writing that effectively arouses emotions and passions in the reader.  For example, Romeo’s death was unnecessary as Juliet was merely sleeping which Romeo was unaware of.  Shakespeare  increases the feeling of pathos in the audience by the dramatic use of irony - as the audience know that Juliet is alive - therefore there is an alternative ending possible - however Romeo is convinced of her death and with a broken heart takes his own life - leaving the audience feeling a sense of despair at this unnecessary tragedy.  Another example of dramatic irony is shown in the quote:

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thou art not conquer’d beauty’s ensign yet Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, And death’s pale flag is not advanced there..”

Here Romeo is distraught that she is dead and is saying she’s looking beautiful, how can she be dead.  Of course she isn’t dead, merely sleeping, and the audience painfully know this.  This then increases the feeling of pathos with the use of dramatic irony.

‘O my love, my wife, Death, that hath suck’d the honey of thy breath..’ the language used in this section is beautiful and very dramatic, the deep, in depth ...

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