Act 4 scene 3 of “Romeo and Juliet” is very emotional and dramatic. Write about what happens in this scene and how it fits in with the rest of the play.

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Act 4 scene 3 of "Romeo and Juliet" is very emotional and dramatic. Write about what happens in this scene and how it fits in with the rest of the play.

In my essay, I shall write about certain features of the performance "Romeo and Juliet" by the distinguished dramatist William Shakespeare. "Romeo and Juliet" falls into one of three main categories of Shakespeare's plays, as it is a tragedy. A tragedy is a play with an unhappy ending usually due to a fatal flaw in the main character(s). This in turn leads to a final catastrophe, which brings the tragedy to an end. In particular, I shall focus on Act 4 Scene 3, which is a very dramatic and emotional scene. I shall state the ways in which this is achieved and the ways in which the play is effective as a tragedy. Additionally, I shall cross-reference this scene with other events in the play to show how they contribute to the emotion and drama of Act 4 Scene 3 and in doing so I shall write about the ways in which this scene fits in with the rest of the play. Lastly, I shall try and direct Act 4 Scene 3 with the intention of showing the ways in which this scene is emotional and dramatic and attempt to make it even more gripping for any potential audience.

The first thing to understand when writing my essay is the actual plot of "Romeo and Juliet." "Romeo and Juliet" takes place in the Italian City of Verona, where two star-crossed lovers meet. Romeo and his friends gatecrash at Capulet's feast, where Romeo and Juliet meet. They are prevented from being together by the fact that they belong to two quarrelling families; Juliet is a Capulet whereas Romeo is a Montague. Romeo and Juliet, however, decide to get secretly married. Juliet confides in her faithful nurse and Romeo in Friar Laurence, the marriage performer. Their married bliss is cut short when on the same day, Romeo's friend Mercutio is slain in a challenge by Juliet's cousin Tybalt. Full of grief and anger, Romeo seeks vengeance and goes after Tybalt subsequently killing him. The Prince of Verona punishes Romeo by banishing him to Mantua. Juliet is pushed to the limit with the death of her beloved cousin and the banishment of her newly wedded husband. Furthermore, her father is adamant she marries an honourable nobleman, Paris. Juliet visits the Friar where she is presented with a potion, which will make her appear dead. That evening, after great deliberation, Juliet consumes the potion and is discovered the next morning as 'dead.' Romeo hears of Juliet's 'death,' unaware of the Friar's plan. He purchases some poison from a local apothecary and heads for Verona where he vows to kill himself by his wife's grave. Romeo encounters Paris by Juliet's tomb and kills him. Next, Romeo swallows the poison, killing himself. Juliet awakens and discovers that Romeo is dead, and so she commits suicide with Romeo's dagger. Friar Laurence, the Prince and Romeo and Juliet's parents arrive on the scene greeted with terrible commotion. The Friar explains everything that had happened in the past few days. Capulet and Montague reunite, aware of the high price they have had to pay in order to gain this.

The events immediately before Act 4 Scene 3 were very tense. Without Romeo by her side, Juliet was put under immense emotional strain. Previously, the audience learn of the plan the Friar has devised to prevent Juliet being forced to wed Paris. During Act 4 Scene 1, the friar presents Juliet with a "distilled liquor." He tells Juliet to "go home, be merry" and "give consent to marry Paris." That evening, she is to go to sleep, making sure that the nurse is not present and she is to then consume the potion. This potion will make Juliet appear "cold and drowsy" with "no warmth" and "no breath." The potion will deprive her of any "supple government." (I.e. she will not be moving). The friar explains that she will remain in this state for "two and forty hours." (42 hours). On appearing dead, a funeral will be organised and she will be placed in the family vault. Juliet is to sleep until Romeo arrives from Mantua to rescue her. Then, on awakening, Romeo will take Juliet to reside in Mantua in secret. The friar, however, also warns that his plan is not foolproof and it is quite possible that things could still go wrong. When Juliet returns home, she puts the plan into action. She approaches her father and begs for forgiveness. She uses several exaggerated phrases including "henceforth I am ever rul'd by you" and "beg your pardon. Pardon, I beseech you!". Juliet attempts to assure her father she will be obedient and puts on a very convincing performance. This is known as dramatic irony and indicates that the audience is more aware of the real situation in comparison to other characters; Juliet says she will marry Paris but the audience is aware of the friar's plan whereas the other characters are not. This is not the first time Juliet has made use of dramatic irony. Previously, when conversing with her mother on Romeo's banishment, Juliet stated that she rather marry Romeo than marry Paris, which is ironic, as that is exactly what has happened. Ironically, Juliet is so convincing, Lord Capulet arranges for have the wedding to be bought forward by one day to the next day, Wednesday, since he thinks Juliet is genuinely in love with Paris. Due to the fact that the wedding has been bought forward, it gives Juliet less time to consider what she is going to put herself through. This means that the next scene, (Act 4 Scene 3) will be emotional and dramatic as Juliet has less time to think everything through.
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It is important to make clear the amount Juliet has been through in such a small period of time. Juliet has encountered love, experienced her marriage ceremony, grieved for her deceased cousin and has had to chose between loyalty to her husband and loyalty to her family. She had been tested numerously and has had to find the courage to do all this. Juliet realises she is playing with her future. On top of this, she is still only 13 years old and this, in consideration with other factors puts her in a very distressed emotional state.

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