He’s trying to say that Benvolio is a hypocrite to talk about being a trouble maker, so he lists random things that Benvolio “supposedly” has quarrelled about. These characters hint that trouble is only around the corner by making the characters which are against each other be in the same place, we learn that these characters are humorous; comedians of the play.
The romance of the previous scene; Romeo and Juliet’s marriage, makes this scene even more tragic because Romeo, after just marrying Juliet, feels that Tybalt is now apart of his family, he tries to hint this to him;
“Thou shalt know the reason of my love. And so good Capulet, which name I tender, as dearly as my own, be satisfied”
He is trying to say to Tybalt that he doesn’t want to argue or fight, he wants Tybalt to know that he cherishes the name `Capulet` as dearly as his own name, `Montague`. Then having Mercutio die makes Romeo forget about whether or not Tybalt is Juliet’s relative, he has a raging fire within him, and he kills Tybalt; so much for happy endings.
This scene links into the other events in the play because; right from the start all the Capulet's and Montague's despised each other. Going back to Act 1, Scene 1 when the servants start the feud in the streets of Verona, causing anarchy pandemonium, and warning both families;
“If you ever disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. For this time all the rest depart away”
He states to both families that if these `feuds` continue they’ll be executed; to bring peace back into Verona. The audience would have believed the Prince-not democratic-capital punishment.
The dramatic irony that Shakespeare uses, for Romeo, makes the play more interesting for the audience because the audience know something (and possibly some characters) that one or more characters don’t. In this case we know that Romeo and Juliet are married (from the previous scene) but Tybalt doesn’t know that, so when Romeo tells Tybalt that he loves him, he is saying it because Tybalt is Juliet’s cousin, and they’re practically family. So he is stating that Tybalt’s name is as dear as his own;
“So good Capulet, which name I tender, as dearly as my own”
He’s trying to hint it out to Tybalt but we, as the audience already know more than the characters on the stage. This would affect the audience, in a way that they feel they can relate to certain characters, because they know more about their situation than the characters do.
The conflict between some of the characters, for example Tybalt and Romeo would shock the audience because by Act 3, Scene the audience already know about Romeo and Juliet’s “secret” engagement, so they are most likely to be keen on the two putting past feuds behind them. Unfortunately Tybalt’s conceit turns into anger which leads to his death; audience would be stunned at this point.
The conflict between Mercutio and Tybalt would also confound to the audience because Mercutio was only defending Romeo’s honour by cursing Tybalt and fighting him;
“Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?”
At this point, Mercutio is drawing for his sword, declaring a fight from Tybalt, and of course because Tybalt has a lot of pride, he doesn’t back down, he takes on the challenge. Mercutio still continues to mock him;
“Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you shall use me hereafter, dry beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pitcher by the ears?”
At this moment, Mercutio continues to ridicule him, the audience’s reaction to this would be one that is happy, the audience could feel, once again a relation to the character, Mercutio, and be glad that he’s mocking Tybalt because he forbade Juliet to ever go near any of the Montague’s.
The dramatic impact of the entrances that took place at the time in which the death of Mercutio took place was when; Tybalt, after killing Mercutio, enters the stage. At this point the audience is probably thinking he is a coward. Once Tybalt is on stage, Romeo then enters. The atmosphere is very tense and the apprehension is running high, Romeo’s adrenaline pumping, he kills Tybalt, exits as quickly as possible. Shortly after the prince enters (not too happy to hear about the bloodbath that has taken place) sends people out to find Romeo and warns all people in Verona that he’s banished from Verona, and if he is found in Verona he will be executed. The impact that this entire scene has put on the audience is bound to play a massive part, because at this point in time, they are hooked.
Will Romeo and Juliet be together? Will Romeo get executed? Will Romeo leave Verona, and leave Juliet alone, and heartbroken?
Benvolio’s narrative and his role in the play are crucial because he is the closest character to Romeo, his best friend, and a good adviser for Romeo. He knows what’s best for Romeo and he knows him better than anyone else. In the beginning of the scene, Benvolio urges caution, and advocates Romeo to flee. "I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire: The day is hot, the Capulets abroad. And, if we meet, we shall not ‘scape a brawl"
In the beginning of the scene, the audience will automatically sense his personality, and the type of person he is; the adviser. He pleads for Mercutio to go home, but Mercutio, being Mercutio doesn’t listen at all.
The line that Mercutio says right before he dies or is pronounced dead is;
“A plague on both your houses”
This line that he says overall describes Mercutio’s personality; summing him up to be the humorous character in the play. When Mercutio says this line, whilst dying, he curses upon both families that are feuding, the Capulet’s and the Montague’s.
The audience would question this line; they may believe in curses and believe what Mercutio is saying, after all no character in the play has had much luck.
Overall this is such as dramatic, crucial scene because the scene affects the audience, making them gain all interest in the play because the scene’s events were memorable and melodramatic; so much tragedy in one scene.
Act 3, Scene 1 is the turning point in the play because before the scene, for Romeo and Juliet everything was going well; they were happy, about to get married, what more could they want? The Act 3, Scene 1’s events take place and all hell broke loose for them. Two people they each loved dearly, slaughtered. All because of a petty feud; a feud that shouldn’t have began. The events then turn Romeo and Juliet’s world upside down and they are now unable to see each other because Romeo is banished and Juliet promised her father she’d marry Paris.
At the end of the scene, when the Prince is proclaiming banishment upon Romeo the audience seemed more involved and interested because they have to figure out how Romeo will be able to see Juliet, so they are even more anxious to find out what will happen to him.
Act 3, Scene 1 is the critical scene in the play, Romeo and Juliet. It’s the scene where Romeo and Juliet have to finally decide if they’d choose love over their families, which makes the play (overall) much more exciting.
I think that this scene is the best scene in the play; it’s filled with a variety of factors such as; twists, tragedy, love, honour, humour all in one, which makes me like it even more.
