Discuss the dramatic significance of Act III Scene I - Romeo and Juliet.

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Janine Slater                2nd Draft

 Discuss the dramatic significance of Act III Scene I.        

Discuss the dramatic significance of Act III Scene I.

“Romeo and Juliet”.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ is one of the best Tragic Love stories ever written. The play, which William Shakespeare wrote in 1595, still captures the minds and imaginations of many today.  The aim of this essay is to show the dramatic significance of this story.  I intend to present and show in this essay all the aspects in which Shakespeare used to add drama and suspense to his plays, especially in this ‘Romeo and Juliet’.  Act III scene I turns the whole performance around, no longer will Romeo and Juliet be the lovers they planed to live like. This scene contains the highest dramatic points of the play and it provides huge amounts of anticipation to the audiences’ minds in the actions following.  

The scene, in which I am about to analyse, occurs immediately after Romeo and Juliet exchange their vows in marriage. This explains actions following later in the scene, the friendliness that Romeo shows Tybalt.  The general contrast of love and hate in the play is explicit in this scene.  Another theme of the play that is strong in this scene is the idea that we are not in control of our lives, and yet another theme that appear are the feuds and how they harm innocent lives. Here Mercutio curses the feuding families: “A plague on both your houses!” By this he is trying to say that both families should pay for the damage they are doing to the people and city of Verona. Later Paris, will also die because of the feud, as well as the young lovers who belong to the feuding families but have wanted not to be part of the quarrel.

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The scene begins in a public place. Benvolio and Mercutio are waiting around for the Capulets, Mercutio has plans to trade insults with Tybalt a Capulet.  Benvolio is nervy and tense; he doesn’t wish to get his master into bother as he knows of what the Prince said in earlier dates…

“…If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.”

…Mercutio the man that he is (arrogant and determined) refuses to listen to Benvolio’s warnings and processed with his plans to wait for the Capulets.  When the Capulets confront the Montague boys ...

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