Consider the dramatic impact of Act 3 Scene 5 in Shakespeare's play 'Romeo and Juliet.'

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GCSE Literature Coursework on Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Consider the dramatic impact of Act 3 Scene 5 in Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet.’

The scene begins just after Romeo and Juliet have been married by Friar Lawrence. Romeo has just fought a duel with Tybalt (who slew Mecrutio) and emerged the victor, slaying Tybalt and being banished from Verona. This is a very important scene in the play as it is where the whole tragedy of it begins. It is a very dramatic scene as it shows development of both plot and character and uses a variety of language. It starts with Romeo leaving Juliet’s room in the morning, the last time the two lovers see each other alive.

        In this scene we see great maturity in Juliet. She seems to have grown up several years in just a few minutes. She is so in love with Romeo that she would do anything for him. At the start of the scene, the two lovers have a playful argument about whether Rome should stay or go, trying to extend the last moments that they have together. It isn’t a serious argument and Juliet soon gives in, realising what the consequences could be if Romeo remained in Verona, all she cares about is Romeo’s safety and wellbeing. As she watches him leave, her happiness disappears and she becomes miserable. As he vanishes into the garden, she has a vision of Romeo in a grave, she thinks that she may never see him again.

Juliet now has to lie to her parents, she pretends to still be grieving about the death of Tybalt, but really, her sadness is due to Romeo’s departure. Lady Capulet enters the room and gives Juliet the news about the arranged marriage with Paris, thinking that this would cheer up Juliet immensely, but it has the completely opposite effect. With this news, Juliet becomes all emotional and drops the façade. She screams at her mother:

        “Now by St Peter’s church, and Peter too, he shall not make me there a joyful bride.”

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Lady Capulet does not like to hear this at all but does not strike out, she just tells Juliet to give this news to her father.

        Lord Capulet enters the room at first showing great sympathy and kindness to Juliet, comparing her to a small boat in a storm.

        “Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is

         Sailing in this salt flood; the winds, thy sighs”

His temperament soon changes as he discovers how Juliet took his decree. At first he is disbelieving of this, asking whether she is not proud. Juliet tries to ...

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