How does Shakespeare gain the audience's sympathy for Juliet in Act 3, Scene 5

How does Shakespeare gain the audience’s sympathy for Juliet in Act 3, Scene 5

I am going to be analysing the Act 3, scene 5, paying particular attention to the ways that Shakespeare engages or stimulates the audience to have sympathy for Juliet, through the structure of the scene and the language used.

Romeo and Juliet is relating to two teenage lovers whose families are at war. However Juliet and Romeo get secretly married and only Juliet’s Nurse and Romeo’s good friend Friar Lawrence, who married them, know their secret. They spend a night together, where Romeo quickly leaves, because of fear of being caught by Juliet’s parents, who at the moment are very miserable and angry for the reason that a Montague had recently killed a member of the Capulet’s, this being Romeo killing Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin.

At the start of the scene, we see the dramatic situation of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet is trying to persuade Romeo to stay. He says he must go or else he will be captures and put to death. They are in a desperate situation. Romeo is so desperate his thoughts are turned into death; he says “let me be put to death” and “come, death and welcome.” Once Juliet realises the danger he is in, she too urges him to go, and says, “O now be gone, more light and light grows.” The way in which Romeo and Juliet see their own predicament helps the audience to appreciate their feelings and the nature of their tragedy.

When the nurse announces the arrival of Lady Capulet, the speed of events quickens. Suddenly, the lovers are concerned about when and if they will meet again. The knowledge that Juliet’s mother is coming means things need to be rushed. The speed of events increases the audience’s understanding of the characters’ dilemma. This sense of urgency also makes the audience more anxious about the lovers’ fate, especially when Lady Capulet calls out before entering.

The misunderstanding increases the dramatic tension. Lady Capulet misunderstands Juliet’s reaction. The misunderstanding increases because Juliet cannot say what she really thinks. When Lady Capulet calls Romeo “villain’’, Juliet can speak her true feelings only as an aside.

“Thou hast a careful father, child: One who, to put thee from thy heaviness, Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy…Marry, my child early next Thursday morn The gallant, young and noble gentleman, The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride”. Here Lady Capulet first tells her daughter about the marriage Juliet’s Father has sorted out for her. And we see a dramatic change in mood when Lady Capulet switches the topic of conversation to marriage.

We then recognize Juliet is already suspicious of her parents’ arrangement of marriage to Paris therefore says to her Mother “He shall not make me a joyful bride…” Juliet says what she really feels. Of course Juliet doesn’t wish to marry Paris, and carries on asking her mother, “I pray you tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet,” in addition to make it clear that she would not marry Paris she says “… and when I do I swear it shall be Romeo…” Shows that Juliet cannot hold back her true feelings any longer.

...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Lord Capulet, who, still does not know his daughter, refuses to marry Paris, says, “How now a conduit girl? What, still in tears? Evermore showering? In one little body” showing that he cares and loves his little daughter. However when Capulet’s wife informs Capulet that his daughter refuses the marriage he arranged for her when saying, “Ay, sir; but she will none, she gives you thanks. I wish the fool were married to her grave” at the moment showing she is infuriated with Juliet, she wishes Juliet were dead. Shakespeare uses very strong language for Lady Capulet referring to her daughter, having us feel sympathy for Juliet, because for her own mother to wish her dead, should really hurt Juliet feelings.

“How, will she none? Doth she not give us thank?” Here we see how the Father changes his mind of Juliet and becomes also infuriated. After Juliet tries to explain to him “Proud I can never be of what I hate”. When Capulet criticises Juliet for her ungrateful attitude, she decides to go on the attack by throwing his words (‘Is she not proud?) back at him.

Capulet with out care of what his daughter feels declares “… how? Chop-logic” meaning he believes she is speaking nonsense “And yet ‘not proud’, mistress minion you?” calling her a spoilt brat “But fettle your fine joints ‘against Thursday next To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church,” notifying her, she should get up in addition go to marry Paris next Thursday “Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither” or he would get her there him self. Our sympathy grows for Juliet as she is clearly shown that she has no choices in her life and she must do what her parents say, no matter if she will be happy or miserable.

The insults towards Juliet continue as Capulet calls her “green-sickness carrion, you baggage, tallow face,” having her feel inferior and unloved. Therefore Juliet gets down on her knees begging him to hear what she has to say, “ Good father, I beseech on my knees, Hear me with patience but to speak a word” here we see Juliet is desperate for her father to listen to her, showing as how a child has to beg and plead for her father to come to reason with her. However still ignoring the pleading of his daughter continues “Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch” in addition to warning her if she wouldn’t marry Paris “or never after look me in the face again”.

Therefore Juliet is now depending on the Nurse. The Nurse does try to be on Juliet side and declares, “You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so” however, Lord Capulet responded to her “Peace, you mumbling fool”.

Lord Capulet leaves, however the Nurse still tries to win back the trust of her lord, and says to Juliet, “…I think it best you marry with the County. O, he is a lovely gentleman: Romeo’s a dish clout to him.” Therefore Juliet response is “Well, thou hast comforted me much”. Juliet’s ironic response to the Nurse shows how deeply she is hurt by her old friend’s lack of support. As we see Juliet is rejected in turn by her father, mother and then finally the Nurse, making as feel sorry for Juliet as no one supports her, making Juliet feel that everyone has betrayed her and are against her decisions and therefore she states, “If all else fail, myself have power to die.” Here we feel compassion for Juliet, because she does no longer care or have the strength anymore to fight for what she wants but to just leave as that and rather die, Juliet must feel very disappointed and depressed.

We learn about the character of Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet of just caring of the goodness they both can receive out of this arrange marriage of their daughter, Juliet and the County, Paris. Creating more pity for Juliet, as her parents do not concerned of their daughters welfare, but of their own.

We learn that the Nurse is Fickle, she changes her mind on what she believes is right, that she should do or say, to get the approval from who she will receive benefits form. This is seen, when at first she accepts and permits Romeo and Juliet to be together and covers and hides their relationship for them when they are together. For example on the last night Juliet and Romeo are together the Nurse helps Romeo by not getting caught by warning Juliet “Madam… your lady mother is coming to you chamber.” This way she informs them that Lady Capulet is coming, giving them time for Romeo to get away.

However after the Nurse says to Lord Capulet that it is his fault for the reason that Juliet does not want to marry Paris, she then tries to win back the trust of her Lord Capulet and she says, “Romeo’s dish clout to him.” Referring to Paris.

As one by one, starting with Lady Capulet, followed by Lord Capulet and finally the Nurse, leave the room and leave Juliet by her self in her room, giving an effect that she cannot depend on anyone else. As Juliet says, “If all else fail, myself have power to die.” We see the irony of her words predicting her own future.

This Scene also tells us about the role of a daughter and a mother in Elizabethan times was different. In Elizabethan times the mother would not breast-feed their baby or child as it was considered as dirty and a job for the under class. Therefore a women from the under class would then become the Nurse and bring up the baby. However an Elizabethan audience even though they would most probably arrange marriages for the children, they would still sympathise with Juliet, because of the dramatic predicament and the betray ness off her parents and her old friend the Nurse.

In the film version of “Romeo and Juliet” by Zeffirelli in act 3 scene 5, when Romeo and Juliet has nearly finished the last night together we can see the youth and beauty between the two lovers, we notice that the sheets make the scene seem blurry like a dream and with everything around to look like Heaven.

The departure of Romeo is included because this engages our sympathy for Juliet as her beloved husband drifts away and she never sees him again. As Juliet goes back to her bedroom, it is as if she is back to reality and once her mother walks in, it is as if she would interrupt Juliet’s dream and walks all over it.

We can see Juliet is wearing white to make her appear innocent, however for the parents they are dressed in black making them appear malicious and evil. At the same time as Juliet is enlighten of the arranged marriage with Paris, we can see Juliet tightly embrace the pillow, most probably because Romeo laid his head on it and now it has his scent.

However afterwards Lord Capulet does not care of his daughter thoughts towards the marriage to Paris, he insults her and threats her to marry Paris. Whilst she pleads her father to listen to her and falls to the floor and grabs his gown he simply walks away betraying her. Therefore Juliet goes to the next closest person to her, who is her mother and beseeches “O sweet mother, cast me not away: Delay this marriage for a month, a week;” however no matter how distressed her daughter is she still reply with “Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word:” After firstly her father betrays her followed by her mother, she move towards her nurse.

However the nurse also now believes the best thing for Juliet is to marry Paris and forget Romeo. As a result of the nurse saying this to Juliet, she then straight into the camera, this called a slam shot, in this occasion meaning accusation that now also the nurse has betrayed her.

Juliet is also in the background making her appear smaller and with the white robe she has on it makes her look like she is floating in the background like a ghost, as if her soul was taken out of her. However then Juliet tells the nurse “Well, thou hast comforted me marvellous much.” whilst not being very sincere she sarcastically assures the nurse she will marry Paris. I believe Zeffirelli has been very successful in conveying Shakespeare’s message in this scene. However if I was the director I would of made the nurse seem guiltier for advising Juliet to forget about her husband Romeo.