Before Act 1 Scene 3, Romeo and Juliet got married in private, as their two families had been rivals for years. If the families had found out about this secret arrangement, both Romeo and Juliet would have been disowned.

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Before Act 1 Scene 3, Romeo and Juliet got married in private, as their two families had been rivals for years. If the families had found out about this secret arrangement, both Romeo and Juliet would have been disowned. This is an example of Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony because in the play only the audience, along with two other characters – the friar and the nurse – knew that they were married.

In Act 3 scene 1, Benvolio and Mercutio were in the public place in Verona. Benvolio tried to convince Mercutio to go home but he refused adamantly. Benvolio wanted to leave before Tybalt and the Capulets arrive but Mercutio refused. The Capulets arrived and Tybalt confronted Mercutio. But Tybalt did not intentionally seek Mercutio to quarrel with him; he wanted Romeo as he gatecrashed the Capulets’ party. Romeo arrived and saw Mercutio arguing with Tybalt. Romeo tried to keep the peace but Tybalt attacked him. Mercutio jumped in and started a fight with Tybalt. Romeo again tried to intervene but was not successful and Tybalt accidentally stabbed Mercutio and died. Tybalt, horrified at what he had done, ran off with the rest of the Capulets and Romeo gave chase. Romeo caught up with Tybalt and both of them had a duel. Romeo slayed Tybalt. Realizing what he had done, Romeo ran to the church where friar Lawrence consoled him. In the Town Square however, all the officials and the families of the deceased gathered together and the final judgement of the prince was to banish Romeo.

In the play, this scene is a turning point, as the banishment of Romeo created a need for Juliet to escape Verona by the mock death plot in which Juliet would take a concoction that would intoxicate her and cause her to sleep for some days. Her parents would think her dead and bury her and when she awoke she would go and find Romeo. However, it was unsuccessful because the distance created a breakdown in the communication between the lovers because Romeo did not receive Juliet’s letter explaining her plan. The rumour spread and Romeo heard that Juliet was dead he believed it and poisoned himself, by her side.  

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In the play, many of the characters are portrayed differently. Benvolio is portrayed as a pacifist who tries to keep the peace. We know this because in the film, when the Montague servants encounter the Capulet boys, and start a brawl, Benvolio tries to keep the peace. “I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword, or manage it to part these men with me”. Tybalt on the other hand is often presented as an aggressive person for example in Act 1 Scene 1, his response to Benvolio’s plea to help stop the servants fighting is, “What… talk ...

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