When Tybalt arrives the audience is affected, making them feel uncomfortable, it may also be exiting because there isn't much doubt that there will be a fight. The arrival of Tybalt affects the characters in that scene because is makes it a tense environment. All the characters are worried because they know Tybalt means business. Mercutio's language increases the tension because he intimidates Tybalt and he provokes him. Page 93, lines 34-35 "And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something, make it a word and a blow."
When Romeo arrives on the scene it is exciting because as we know Romeo is the one Tybalt is after, all the attention turns on him. "Well, peace be with you, sir, here comes my man"- Page 93 lines 49.
The fact that Tybalt ignores Mercutio and turns to Romeo proves his intentions to fight Romeo are genuine and aren’t just a hoax to scare them. This creates a stressed atmosphere. Romeo has different intentions as he has just married Juliet, Tybalt's cousin. The last thing he wants is a fight between the two rival families, so on this note he tries to make peace with Tybalt, page 93 line 55-58 " Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee, doth much excuse the appertaining rage, to such a greeting. Villain am I none; therefore farewell, I see thou knowest me not." This not only draws in the audience's attention but it also affects the characters in the scene. Romeo's friends are slightly shocked and confused as to why Romeo doesn't want to fight. On the other hand Tybalt doesn't like Romeo's actions he finds it slightly intimidating. He doesn't listen to what he is saying as he is too annoyed by Romeo turning up to the Capulet ball page 93 lines 59-60 "Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me, therefore turn and draw." This tells us he is still angry.
From this point, the scene speeds up as the fight breaks out. This also has a tense dramatic effect. At this point I imagine that the audience would be feeling excited, nervous and a bit scared, this is dramatically effective because they would then be drawn in by the scene and would probably want to carry on reading the play and be more and more anxious.
There is a sudden break in the action when Mercutio is injured. This could make the audience even more excited to see whats going to happen next. The characters might be wondering what is going to happen next and they are probably feeling a bit foolish for getting into a fight, now that someone has been hurt, especially as they weren't sure if it was serious, and also fighting on the streets of Verona is band. We can sense the tension when Mercutio speaks. His language indicates that he is very angry and it shows that Romeo has hurt his feelings, page 95 line 82 "A plague a'both your houses!" We know Mercutio is injured but he tries to hide his pain, he also hides his anger by almost joking around, page 95 line 89 "Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man." This is a pun, as 'grave' has two meanings, one being a grave where you are buried and grave can also mean serious. I think Shakespeare uses puns here to make light of the situation and to keep the audience interested as if it became too serious and depressing too early in the play, the audience may be upset or distracted and may not want to carry on with the play.
When Mercutio dies it may affect the audience because Tybalt, the trouble maker has got revenge by killing Romeo's best friend. As Tybalt is the ‘baddie’, the audience probably would not like this. Romeo is very upset at this point and extremely angry, so angry that he wants to kill Tybalt. His language at this point is very vengeful and full of hatred upon Tybalt, although at this point they are cousins.
The scene reaches a high point when Romeo kills Tybalt. It is obvious what Romeo thinks 'O, I am but fortunes fool' because he realises how in careful he had been, he now knows he will be in serious trouble and he is probably worried about what Juliet will say now that Romeo has killed her cousin, this leads to confusion. In this scene people have different opinions on what has happend. For example Benvolio says on lines 143-166 pages 99-100 "Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay…" etc and Lady Capulet has a different point of view. These conflicting emotions create an uneasy atmosphere. The involvement of the Prince changes this atmosphere by making it more uncomfortable to read, as the audience knows Romeo might not be able to see Juliet anymore. When the Prince decides to banish Romeo, the audience may get sad as well as the characters in the play. I think the things that help to make this scene great to read are, the amounts of dramatic irony, tension and emotion.
