How does Shakespeare dramatically present the importance of Act3 scene1 in which Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo kills Tybalt?

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Romeo And Juliet English course work.

How does Shakespeare dramatically present the importance of Act3 scene1 in which Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo kills Tybalt?

Shakespeare made the previous scene (Act2 Scene6) a happy and joyful scene in which Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet. However, within this scene there are some warnings of something bad happening such as when Friar Lawrence says to them “these violent delights come to violent ends”. He is saying everything should be taken in moderation including love or else something bad will almost certainly happen.

One of the first things said in the scene by Benvolio is “if we meet we shall not scape a brawl”. He is playing his normal role as peacekeeper trying to convince Mercutio to return home and prevent the possible fight. He is afraid of getting into a fight in the streets with the Capulets because of the prince’s warning “if ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of peace”.

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Shakespeare dramatically presents this scene by changing the tension from happy and joyful in the previous scene, to Benvolio worrying about getting into a fight. This brings the tension sharply up; when Mercutio starts being humorous such as when he replies to Benvolios “by my head hear come the Capulets” with “by my heel I care not”. The tension is then lowered again. When Romeo does not react to Tybalts challenge this is probably the second tensest point in the whole play. The only scene with more tension is when Romeo is seen at the Capulets banquet. We know ...

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