There is a significance of the ball being a masked ball. This is because if it was not a masked ball, Romeo would not be allowed in as he is a Montague. This adds to the atmosphere of tension as Romeo is somewhere that he should not be. This also adds to the atmosphere of tension, as the audience is anxious for the characters’ true identities to be revealed.
When Romeo spots Juliet he speaks a soliloquy. Romeo’s soliloquy has a huge contrast with the previous lines as the previous lines were much more intense and violent whereas Romeo’s soliloquy talks of love. This creates a change of atmosphere. When Tybalt interrupts Romeo’s words, there is another change of atmosphere from deep love to deep hatred, as Romeo says, “For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night”, and then Tybalt interrupts, “Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave come hither”. This shows the audience how angry Tybalt is and it also shows how powerful he is. This makes the audience care more for Romeo, as they would want him to leave the ball.
Capulet’s words with Tybalt have great effect on Tybalt and on the audience. He stops Tybalt from ruining the party and shows him that he is in control, “He shall be endured”. Capulet also compliments Romeo by saying that he is a good boy, “And to say truth, Verona brags of him To be a virtuous and well governed youth”. This increases the audience’s opinion of Romeo.
Romeo and Juliet use different imagery and language when they first meet. Romeo uses animal imagery saying that Juliet is a white dove and compared to her, every other girl is a black crow, “So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows”. They also use very religious and cultural language as Romeo says that his lips are the pilgrim and that Juliet’s lips are the holy place and that their lips should be together, “My lips two blushing pilgrims ready to stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss”. This creates tension, as the audience knows that Romeo is a Montague and that Juliet is a Capulet and that it is dangerous for them to be together.
When Romeo and Juliet discover who they are, they are both stunned, and they feel a sense of doom. They also feel a sense of despair and disappointment. This juxtaposition of their feelings is engaging for the audience, as they feel love for each other, but at the same time they feel hate at the fact that they come from two rival families.
There are many emotions displayed in this scene. These emotions are tension, love, hate, shock, comedy, devastation, conflict and aggression. These emotions affect the audience in many ways as it helps the audience feel the tension.
The social historical content affects a modern audience in many ways. This is because in the time of when the play was set, people got married at a very young age and they had no say in who they married, as it was all engineered by the parents.
Before Act 3 Scene 5, the audience already know that Romeo and Juliet are already married. They also know that Romeo is risking a huge danger by staying in Verona and that a marriage has been arranged between Juliet and Paris.
The scene begins with a romantic atmosphere. The audience would be frightened for Romeo, as they realise that he must leave now. Romeo and Juliet use rhyming couplets, “die…I”, “day…away” and “grows…woes”. This shows that they are together. Romeo uses metaphors and personification. He says that the sun’s rays are envious of their love and so the rays cut through the clouds to separate Romeo and Juliet, “Look love, what envious streaks Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east”.
When the nurse interrupts them, the atmosphere changes from calm to tense. It also shows how much Juliet has matured and grown up as Juliet and the nurse address each other very formally, “Madam…Nurse”. This changes the audience’s perception of her.
Lady Capulet and Capulet think that Juliet is upset because of Tybalt’s death, however, the things that Juliet says have double meanings. When Juliet says, “With Romeo, till I behold him-dead-Is my poor heart so for a kinsman vexed”, Lady Capulet takes her to mean that she will never be satisfied until she has Romeo dead. However, what Juliet actually means is that she will never be satisfied until she holds Romeo.
Juliet uses several prophetic statements during this scene. “Methinks I see thee now thou art so low, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Either my eyesight fails, or thoukest pale”. This is prophetic of when Romeo dies in the tomb. Lady Capulet says, “Shall give him such and unaccustomed dram, That he shall soon keep Tybalt company”. This is prophetic of when Romeo drinks the poison and ends up dying where Tybalt is. Juliet also says, “Or if you do not, make the bridal bed In that dim monument where Tybalt lies”. This is prophetic of Juliet killing herself. This creates tension as the audience is given hints as to what might happen in the play.
Capulet uses different imagery to describe Juliet. He describes her as a hussy, “Mistress minion you”. He also uses animal imagery where he compares her to a horse and a cow, “But fettle your fine joints…Graze where you will”. This makes the audience feel sympathy for Juliet.
The social historical context affects this scene tremendously. This is because in the days when the play was set, it would have been a mortal sin to marry when already married.
To summarise, Shakespeare uses many different and many effective ways to create an atmosphere of tension in Act 1 Scene 5 and Act 3 Scene 5.
