Discuss how Shakespeare uses dramatic techniques to build up tension and creates sympathy for Juliet in act 3 scene 5

Juliet has directly challenged her parents and gone against their will. When Juliet receives news form her mother. Her Mother just thinks that Juliet is shocked and tries to reassure her by saying “thou hast a careful father child.” Her main priority is to please her husband, Lord Capulet by making sure that Juliet agrees to marry Paris. However lady Capulet’s actions have just added to the chain of events that will unfold. In the Elizabethan era men as rich and powerful as Capulet would have been feared and respected even by there own family. Both Juliet and Lady Capulet seem to be frightened of Lord Capulet they treat him with respect, Juliet refers to him as “my lord and father.” Lord Capulet is a powerful but short tempered and stubborn man. He is used to getting his own way and is extremely strong-minded. He expects his daughter to be obedient. In this scene Shakespeare has structured the plot so we see Juliet being thrown into an impossible marriage against her will. Shakespeare has created a situation in where Juliet appears helpless, what can she do? She is already legally married to Romeo! Being an only child her parents are concentrating just on her. She is very young to be married in today’s society but in Elizabethan times age fourteen was acceptable. Shakespeare has created an atmosphere or fear and panic in this scene, Juliet is overtaken by shock at their news of her arranged marriage to Paris, it is something she never expected. She probably thought that eventually the family would learn of her secret marriage to Romeo and even accept it eventually. Juliet has shown a strong sense of mind. She married Romeo for love, despite the circumstances, she knows now nothing can make her marry another person “saint peters church and Peter to, he shall not make me there a joyful bride” this shows Juliet’s despair. Even the intervention or Saint Peter could not change the fact that she is already a married woman and unable to obey her parents. Shakespeare’s characterization of lord Capulet as a powerful man perhaps capable of violence and extreme anger is a good contrast to the gentle, child-like Juliet. Lord Capulet is outraged when Juliet is rejects his plan to marry Paris there is good use of dramatic irony and double meanings at this point when Juliet states “I will not marry yet and when I do I swear it shall be Romeo” she leads her parents to believe that she would rather marry the son of a hated enemy than marry Paris. Lord Capulet reaction is so aggressive it  creates more sympathy for the helpless powerless Juliet. The atmosphere in this scene is also very sad and emotional, there is a lot of sorrow, when Capulet enters he makes an opening speech in which there are many references to tears. The language used adds to the atmosphere of distress “Raging with thy tears”, “ebb and flow with tears”, and “still in tears”. Capulet then sees that Juliet is crying, as soon as he finds out that she will not marry Paris he is furious. The language changes to match his mood, he calls Juliet “disobedient wretch!”. He also bullies her by shouting “never look me in the face speak not, reply not.” Shakespeare has made Capulet emotionally very, very powerful and Juliet very, very weak. At the end of act three scene five Shakespeare adds to the sense of sympathy by leaving her with nobody to turn to. Her mother gives her very little support and agrees with her father. Capulet, her own father threatens to disown her. Even her loving nurse advises her to just marry Paris because it its easier. Shakespeare has completely isolated the character of Juliet, she is left physically alone on stage and with no one to turn to for emotional support. Set apart from everyone she loves she is simply grieving alone and is in deep despair. We feel an enormous amount of sympathy when she delivers an extremely powerful soliloquy on stage. She claims she is prepared to commit suicide “ if all else fail myself have the power to die.” This is a very dramatic moment and a high point of tension in the play. The audience feel complete sympathy for Juliet and anxiously await the conclusion.