More importantly to Romeo and Juliet’s relationship, Romeo is exiled from Verona under the pain of death, making it impossible for their relationship to continue as it has.
This scene has a shocking impact on the audience and also fills them with more tension and intrigue as to what would happen next.
Many characters and previous incidents contributed to the fight between Mercutio, Romeo and Tybalt in act 3, scene 1.
First and foremost, it was because of the significant feuding between the two families. In fact this is mentioned in the prologue of the play where it says,
“From ancient grudge break to new mutiny” (line 3), this shows that the root of the conflict happened a long time ago; however following generations continued to feel hatred and rage for each other, hence further friction is seen between the characters- this is shown in the prologue as “new mutiny” .
The first fight in the play and Prince Escalus’s warnings to the two families also show that Capulets and Montagues have been and continued to be foes.
In addition, at the time this play was written feuding and duelling was not unexpected. This highlights the considerable extent to how severe their feud must have been for the Prince Escalus to get involved. Consequently we can assume that the fight in act 3, scene 1 was partly as a result of the grudge between the two families.
Secondly, the characteristics of the characters contributed to the fight greatly.
Mercutio is a short-tempered, reckless young man, which is suggested when Mercutio makes Tybalt angry by saying, “make it a word and a blow” (line 35). This aggravates Tybalt as he is challenged by Mercutio before he has given him any particular reason to do so. This also shows that Mercutio looks for trouble and fights unprovoked, thus leading to the fight in act 3, scene 1.
Similarly, Tybalt is challenging and shows a lot of pride through the way he chooses to speak and act. This is shown when he says “therefore turn and draw” (line 60).
From this I can tell that Tybalt is very proud and commanding. Therefore, Tybalt’s pride is responsible to an extent for the fight in act 3, scene 1 as he challenged Romeo (for coming to the Capulet’s household) but ended up killing Mercutio.
Conversely, Romeo avoids fights even with those who challenge him. Fro example he says to Tybalt, “Tybalt, the reason that I love thee/ Doth much excuse the appertaining rage…” (lines 55 and 56). This shows that despite Tybalt’s evident disrespect, Romeo refuses to fight him. However it is this calm and peaceful behaviour that led to Mercutio becoming furious and to challenge Tybalt.
Moreover, it is indicated in the play that Romeo is partly to blame for Mercutio’s death when Mercutio says “Why the dev’l came you between us?”(line 93). From this I can infer that Mercutio was upset by Romeo’s interference to stop the fight, as it led to his death. It is also shown that Romeo is partly to blame for the fight happening when Mercutio says “A plague a’ both houses” (line 84) which suggests both families are to blame for that fight as a result of Romeo’s actions.
Dramatic tension, created by the prologue, contributed to the expectation of misfortune; in this case a fight. This expectation causes tension because the audience await something bad to happen.
The prologue creates this tension by referring to fate. For example “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life” (line 6 of prologue) suggests that Romeo and Juliet are destined to be together and take advantage of their life. However the ninth line:
“The fearful passage of their death mark’d love” suggests that their relationship will be affected by death. This creates tension by causing curiosity of what might take place for Romeo and Juliet, especially knowing from “fearful passage” that it will not be good.
Another hint in the prologue that there will be a fight is, “Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” (line 4 of prologue). This suggests that there will be bloodshed; which civilians will be responsible for.
The type of stage in Shakespeare’s time was very open and there was enough space for many people (audience) to stand around the stage. This meant that they could watch the fight from numerous angles which presumably means that the fight in act 3, scene 1 was particularly exciting and tense for them to watch. In fact the stage had only three entrances and were the only part of the stage could not be seen.
Furthermore, those who could afford better view would sit around the stage, thus creating awe and excitement on a larger scale.
Even so, they did not have the special effects that exist today and therefore the only way the audience could be kept interested throughout the play was to use dynamics such as pace. That is why act 3, scene 1 has a good impact, since everything preceding it is casual and steady as well as positive.
The fight in act 3, scene 1 led to Romeo being exiled from Verona by the Prince because he killed Tybalt. This means that he would not be able to continue his relationship with his newly wedded wife, Juliet. This also suggests that the two families will be in even more disagreement with each other. Whereas at the start of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship, there was a hint of hope for resolving the issue between the two families.
In even more effect to Romeo and Juliet’s relationship, Lord Capulet decides to move Juliet’s marriage with Count Paris forward- after Tybalt’s death. Because of this Juliet is in trouble of loosing Romeo and so falls in a miserable and upset mood; as opposed to her previous state in which she was happy and cheerful.
Also, Juliet has to decide between her family and Romeo as a result of the fight in act 3, scene 1. This causes further problems for her, especially since she is young and mostly inexperienced.
To conclude, act 3, scene 1 changes everything because up until then, the relationship of Romeo and Juliet had developed steadily; meanwhile celebrations and cheerful events had taken place. However in act 3, scene 1, the tragic deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt take place –in which Romeo is banished from Verona and hope fades for his relationship with Juliet. What’s more the Capulet and Montague family relationship is further damaged by this. This is typical of the structure of Shakespeare’s tragedies. That is because he had always created a situation onto which a complication is added to excite the audience. After the complication, the rest of the play is how things are unravelled or come down to.
