Discuss the dramatic significance of Act 3 Scene 1 in reflection to the whole play.

Ben Rand – 5th December 2004

ROMEO AND JULIET

Act 3 Scene 1

Act 3 scene 1 has a dramatic significance in the following acts of the play. It was the fight in this scene that caused Mercutio and Tybalt’s deaths. It also resulted in Romeo to be banished from Verona.

There was a fued going back centuries between the two main families of Verona, the Montagues and the Capulets. Summer afternoons are always hot and this was no exception in the town of Verona. A few of the young men of the Montague family were sitting around in the shade when Tybalt and a couple of other Capulets approached. Tybalt was looking to duel Romeo because Romeo had been at a Capulet party and, as a Montague, he shouldn’t have been there. Meanwhile, Romeo was secretly marrying Juliet, a Capulet.

Mercutio, defending Romeo’s honour, begins to trade insults and make fun of Tybalt. For example, Tybalt says “a word with one of you”, Mercutio replies with “and but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a word and a blow”. He is questioning Tybalt’s sexuality. The insults continue and then Romeo appears. This is dramatic irony as the audience know that Romeo is a Montague but also married into the Capulet family so by fighting Tybalt, he would be fighting his family.

When Tybalt asked Romeo to “turn and draw”, Romeo starts ...

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When Tybalt asked Romeo to “turn and draw”, Romeo starts his reply with “I do protest”. Mercutio is shocked that Romeo won’t fight and when Tybalt draws his sword, Mercutio takes up the challenge on behalf of Romeo. This is to defend Romeo’s honour. He feels that if a man challenges Romeo, Romeo should accept. Romeo comes between the men to prevent the fight. Mercutio, being unaware of the reason of Romeo’s actions, is confused and caught off guard by Tybalt and stabbed.

Romeo sees Mercutio is hurt and tries to boost Mercutio’s morale by saying “courage, man; the hurt cannot be much”. Mercutio knows it is a fatal wound and tells Romeo “it’s not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door; but ‘tis enough to kill. Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find a grave man. I am finished.” Mercutio is using the word ‘grave’ as a play on words, in one sense he is saying that tomorrow you shall find him a serious man but in the other sense he is saying that tomorrow he will find him dead, in a grave.

Romeo now realises the seriousness of the injury and that Mercutio will die. Romeo states his anger by saying “this days black fate on mo days doth depend; this but begins the woe others must end”. By this he meant that he will kill Tybalt to avenge Mercutio’s death. His attitude and language has changed towards Tybalt. Earlier in the scene he was reluctant to fight Tybalt but now he is after him.

When Prince Escalus arrives on the scene, Tybalt is lying at Romeo’s feet and Romeo has a bloodstained sword in his hand. Benvolio explains the situation. The Prince then listens to both Lady Capulet and Old Montague but he has no choice but to banish Romeo from Verona.

This scene changes the whole play from changing the genre from love to hate. The scene also reminds you of the first scene in the play where the hate is also present.