The next section of the scene that follows Romeo’s entrance is very important because this is where dramatic irony comes into play. It is a very effective way of creating a dramatic environment. Shakespeare has only used this technique at this point in the play, which shows how important the scene is and it also has a great effect on us. One of the first things that Tybalt says to Romeo is ‘thou art a villain.’ and yet it does not seem to affect him as it might have before he wed Juliet. At this point on time, a villain means a lowborn person or peasant and is therefore very insulting to someone of Romeo’s status and wealth. He replies by telling Tybalt, ‘the reason I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting’ which shows us that Romeo is uninfluenced and prepared to be civil to Tybalt because of his love and respect for Juliet, despite being ridiculed, and even if it means being seen as pathetic and weak by the Capulets and his friends. At this point, only the reader understands Romeo’s behaviour and know he will not fight Tybalt because they are, unbeknown to Tybalt, cousins, but it just seems agitate Tybalt more because he is urging for a fight and does not know why Romeo is backing down to him and it is a puzzle to Romeo’s friends too. This is dramatically effective and it makes the reader feel part of the play because they know something very important that the other characters do not. We also do not want to see Romeo injured or even killed and not retaliating for love so it creates anxiety as we read on to find out what happens next. When Tybalt proposes that Romeo draw his sword, it must be terribly hard for Romeo because Renaissance ideas of masculinity mean that Romeo must respond to Tybalt’s abuse by fighting him in order to retain his honour, reputation and pride, but instead he decided to walk away but Tybalt will not let it slip. This is effective because we know that Tybalt is getting angrier as Romeo resists fighting him and we know that they will end up fighting whether Romeo defends himself or not.
When Romeo says ‘good Capulet, which name I tender as dearly as mine own, be satisfied’, Tybalt and Romeo’s friends are shocked and puzzled because they do not know why Romeo suddenly values Tybalt’s name as much as his own. It is foolish of Romeo to think that Tybalt will be satisfied as it just makes him more bloodthirsty. This is dramatically effective because it again shows irony and creates tension as it leaves us thinking how long can Romeo’s short temper last before he gives up and fights Tybalt? Mercutio is appalled at Romeo and is humiliated by him because he is seen to be acting like a coward: ‘O calm, dishonourable, vile submission’. The major word her is ‘dishonourable’. Romeo is not acting like a respectable man. Consequently, Mercutio feels it is his duty to defend his friend’s ‘honour’ and confronts Tybalt instead. Here Shakespeare shows us the seriousness of the situation, how aggravated and impatient Tybalt is becoming and the extent of Mercutio’s loyalty to his friend Romeo.
Romeo, not expecting Mercutio to risk his life for him, comes between the two fighting men and Tybalt’s sword cuts Mercutio under Romeo’s arm. The men stop and Tybalt and his men flee not knowing the extent of the injury caused. Covering his wound, Mercutio truthfully tells them ‘I am hurt’. Initially, there is a point of anxiety as bewildered Romeo and the others try to figure out if he is actually hurt or not. Mercutio curses both the Montagues and Capulets as he feels that Tybalt and Romeo are to blame for his deathly wound which also means a plague on both Romeo and Juliet and they do subsequently die in the end, ‘A plague a’both your houses’ but when asked if he is hurt, follows by saying that it is nothing to worry about: ’Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch . . . fetch a surgeon’. At this point, unbeknown to the men the true level of pain Mercutio is dealing with, they think that he is, as usual, being light hearted and only teasing them. They will not fetch a surgeon and no matter what Mercutio says they still think he is just entertaining them, even when he tells them: ‘Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man’. This part of the scene is very upsetting and rather disturbing because we are witnessing a man who is dying who knows his ill fate and who nobody is taking his pleas seriously, another effective example of dramatic irony. It affects the reader because we are helpless in Mercutio’s dying moments. His death is quite a shock because we do not expect a good-natured character to die and in such a cruel way but also with such courage and dignity. It makes a real impact on the reader because he has provided humour throughout the play and he has done no harm to anyone and yet he is violently killed. Mercutio’s death is also quite ironic because he died as a consequence of Romeo’s love to Juliet when he is always teasing Romeo about it and never seems to be in love himself.
When his good friend dies, it is only then that Romeo realises the intensity of the situation and that Mercutio might still have been alive if he had not have intervened, ‘My very friend, hath got his moral hurt in my behalf’. He also realises that due to his love for Juliet, he has not acted the way he should have done. ‘O sweet Juliet, thy beauty hath made me effeminate, and in my temper soften’d valour’s steel.’ Romeo is overcome with grief, rage, guilt and anger and when Tybalt returns again, Romeo forgets his commitment to Juliet and challenges Tybalt to a fight to justify and gain revenge for his good friend’s death either by killing Tybalt or dying himself in a fair fight. His unswerving behaviour has disappeared and Romeo is not afraid of losing his own life for Mercutio as Mercutio was not for Romeo: ’for Mercutio’s soul is but a little way above our head, staying for thine or to keep him company: either thou or I, or both, must go with him.’
The fight is dramatic but over quickly and as Romeo predicted, one of them, Tybalt, is murdered. Romeo again feels he has done the wrong thing. He has killed his wife’s cousin. How will she react? Another reason Romeo has to worry is because he does not know how the Prince is going to punish him for killing Tybalt. Will he be sentenced to death? Benvolio advises Romeo to flee because ‘the prince will doom thee death if thou art taken’. The citizens of Verona rush to the scene of the incident and once again Prince Escales appears and tries to enforce peace. The first time we saw this (Act1, scene1) the intervention came before any harm was done. This time it is too late. Prince Escales hears of the sequence of events from Benvolio’s mouth, and he listens to the pleas of Lady Capulet and Old Montague, who speak as representatives of the warring families. Escales promises strict justice, and his first ruling is to banish Romeo from Verona: ‘Let Romeo hence in haste, else, when he is found, that hour is his last’. As Benvolio explains to the prince what he saw, giving a fairly balanced version of events, furious and grief-stricken Lady Capulet intervenes, demanding revenge and justice for her relation Tybalt, which is ironic because Romeo is actually also related to her, he’s her son-in-law: ‘I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give: Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.’ But Tybalt ‘slew’ Mercutio so surely Tybalt should not have lived? Lady Capulet is just being biased. Shakespeare makes this part of the scene dramatically effective because from line 136 onwards, the characters speak in rhyming couplets to add rhythm, interest and emotion to the end of the scene. The scene is nearly over as Lady Capulet and Old Mercutio battle it out over Romeo’s future.
Finally, the scene ends with the Prince’s decision: Romeo’s life will not be taken s he was provoked by the death of Mercutio. Instead he will be banished but will he ever see Juliet again? What will happen to their relationship? How will they cope apart? This concerning and dramatic scene leaves readers with many questions and eager to know what will happen next.
Overall I think this is the most effectively dramatic scene in the play because it expresses a variety of emotions from Mercutio’s witty comments to the excitement of the fights and also the sadness of the outcomes. The range of mood can go from high to low in a matter of lines and there is a strong atmosphere throughout. The dramatic irony used makes you feel part of the play itself and you do feel for the characters as though they were real.
