This then creates tension and also worries the audience as Romeo is angering Tybalt who is a very nasty character that fights at any opportunity so this creates more tension by worrying the audience that Tybalt might do something against Romeo that might destroy Romeo’s and Juliet’s new found marriage.
The second way Shakespeare creates tension in the scene is through his choice of language.
At the beginning of the scene Benvolio says “I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire: the day is hot, the Capulets abroad, and if we meet we shall not escape a brawl.” What he means by this is that he has a bad feeling that something bad might happen next and asks that they leave. This creates tension as Benvolio is fore-shadowing something bad will happen, which makes us anticipate what might happen next in the scene.
Continuing from language Shakespeare also creates tension by using stage directions to keep uncertain as to what is going to happen. This is very strange for Shakespeare as he hardly ever uses stage directions in his plays so this suggests he is trying to create tension.
An example of this is just after Mercutio is wounded. Just before he goes off stage he says “ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch” which makes us think that he isn’t hurt seriously otherwise he would have said so, however he then goes on to curse both of them for what has happened; “a plague o’ both your houses!” which then builds tension as we start to wonder if maybe he isn’t alright. Then finally on top of all the tension so far, Shakespeare directs his and Benvolio character off stage leaving the audience in suspense of what might happen to Mercutio.
Another example of tension through language is just after Romeo hears of Mercutio’s death that he has a dark vision of what has to happen from now on.
He says “This but begins the woe, others must end.” What he means by this is that what has happened has set forward a motion of events that can now only end worse than how they started.
This creates tension as it makes us wonder what is going to happen in the next couple of scenes as there are many tragic things that could happen as a result of this, such as Juliet leaving Romeo for what he has done or the Prince executing Romeo as he promised in the first act for anyone that starts another brawl in the streets. So it builds tension and suspense as we wonder as to what is going to happen to Romeo and Juliet in the future. Also as it was harder to act out a convincing death scene that was believable and created tension in the audience in the 1600s, it was more effect to direct the character off-stage where the audience wouldn’t know what was occurring.
Also just after Tybalt killed Mercutio he fled the scene but then returns shortly after which makes us question why and if he is showing his sympathy as he feels guilty or has come back for more trouble. But his return definitely creates tension as now Romeo the once loved-up-teen is now filled with rage and anger which is a sudden change in his personality and it starts to worry the audience as you wonder whether he will act on his emotions and do something towards Tybalt. So this also creates tension.
Another way Shakespeare creates tension is through honour.
Throughout the play there is a continuing feud between the two families, Montague and Capulet, and it has been going on for as long as they can remember. However the audience does not learn of this reason why the two houses fight but can assume that it definitely concerns honour in one way or another. If honour is what they fight for then dishonour must be a way that creates tension that could lead to a fight.
One way that this is portrayed is in the lines before the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt where he says “O calm, dishonourable, vile submission.” He says this because Romeo, who refuses to fight Tybalt because of their new family connection, is walking away from the fight, however Mercutio does not know of his new marriage to Juliet and his new connection to Tybalt so becomes frustrated by the fact that he refuses, and thinks it’s a dishonour to the family name Montague. As a result he takes the situation into his own hands and challenges Tybalt, but as we know, this then leads to his death. So through honour Shakespeare is able to create a clever sense of tension in this scene.
Near the end of the scene the Montague’s and Capulet’s are arguing there cases to the prince after the death of Tybalt and Mercutio. Throughout the play there is an ongoing fight between the two families. They are always trying to get one over on each other no matter what. This makes the audience always look for where the next comeback or insult will come from, which creates an uneasy uncertainty which in turn builds tension in the scene, act and play. However at the near the end of the scene you can really see how the two families really want to be on top of each other.
After Romeo had fled and left Tybalt dead the prince then arrives and demands to know what has happened here. Benvolio then starts to explain but then Lady Capulet stops him and accuses him of being biased as he is a Montague, “…He is a kinsman to the Montague; affection makes him false; he speaks not true.” Even though Benvolio is a very honest character she doesn’t want the prince to reason with him and go easy on the punishment of Romeo as the last blood shed was Capulet they feel that Montague has the upper hand even though they also lost a fellow kinsman. For this reason lady Capulet tries reasoning with the prince by saying “…I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give; Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.” She does not take into account that Tybalt slew Mercutio.
This builds up tension because we then wonder what is going to happen to Romeos fate, as the prince said earlier in the play that anyone that causes trouble in the streets of Verona again will be punishable by death, but it is a tough decision because of the circumstances as Romeo was only getting revenge for Mercutio but then that just means there would be no end to the revenge as it would continue and continue if Capulet killed Romeo. Then the prince gives his punishment for Romeo and bans him to Mantua which leaves the question of what is going to happen to his and Juliet’s relationship. So this effectively creates tension as we are kept on the edge and are always questioning what is going to happen.
In conclusion Shakespeare creates an effective sense of tension throughout the scene and play in a variety of different ways. His choice of language can build up tension or the different types of irony used can create it. As this is one of the most important acts of the play it is key that the drama that occurs in this scene is presented well and then follows on for the rest of the play. Shakespeare manages to do this as Romeo and Juliet is definitely regarded as a tragic play. But before people can feel tragic about the play they first feel tension as emotions start to rise. An example of this is just before Tybalt fights Mercutio, where Tybalt confronts Romeo. Romeo is feeling all loved up and this makes the emotions around this scene very happy but then he lets these emotions get in the way when Tybalt challenges him which only angers him more, so then we feel the tension start to rise and then this continues rising even at the end of the scene. Shakespeare creates Tension by using dramatic devices, foreboding, language/symbolism, foreshadowing and Dramatic irony. When he does this the scene becomes more emotional, the relationships are more obvious and the audience feel more involved when dramatic irony is used as they feel they know something even the characters don’t know.
