How does Shakespeare prepare the audience for the ending of Romeo and Juliet

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How does Shakespeare prepare the audience for the ending for Romeo and Juliet?

Shakespeare prepares the audience for the ending of Romeo and Juliet in a number of a ways. His clever use of language and dramatic devices and structures help prepare the audience for what is to come.

        The prologue at the beginning is vital in setting the tone for the whole play, as the audience are told what is about to happen. ‘From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,/ A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;’ This quote from the prologue, in Romeo & Juliet, is said by the chorus, which evokes a feeling of tragedy as choruses were always associated with Tragedy’s, ever since they were first used by Ancient Greeks. The quote also gives us the context of the play, the hatred and the disrespect the Capulet’s and the Montague’s have for each other. It also reveals the end of the play by telling us that both the lovers will die eventually. The prologue is also in sonnet form, which brings to mind the fact that the play is associated with love, and that this leads them to their death.

        At the time that Romeo & Juliet was written and performed, in the 16th century, the most popular genre of play was ‘Revenger’s Tragedy’. This genre is mainly about revenge, death and bloodshed. Most popular plays were of this genre, and people went into the play expecting violence, especially at the climax. Another important characteristic of this genre is that all the characters speak in an extremely portentous manner, and the audience can very easily sense the tragic ending, even from the beginning of the play.

Before entering the Capulet’s ball, Romeo is uncertain whether or not he should attend, as he has sense of foreboding. ‘I fear, too early; for my mind misgives, Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, / By some vile forfeit of untimely death’ Romeo’s speech evokes mystery and instils a sense of tension in the audience. He thinks something life-changing might occur, and that everything that is about to happen is in his destiny. Romeo also says that this might lead to death, which increases the tension as death has already been mentioned a few times.

Shakespeare uses dramatic structures extremely well to heighten the tension during the play, for example the way he changes from comedy to romance to violence in the space of just a few scenes. For example, up until Act 3, Scene 1, the play has been funny and romantic, with the previous scene being the one in which Romeo and Juliet get married. However after Act 3, Scene 1, the play becomes very tragic, as both Tybalt and Mercutio die in this scene and as a consequence Romeo is banished from Verona, and with this change comes a change in Romeo’s character, from a light-hearted lover to a much more serious person, to bring into context the enormity of the situation.

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Shakespeare also uses dramatic irony to heighten the tension within the audience, and a prime example of this would be when Tybalt doesn’t know that Romeo is married to his cousin Juliet. Romeo then goes on to kill Tybalt, Juliet’s beloved cousin on her wedding night, and is therefore banished, leaving her heart-broken on her wedding night itself, making the audience feel sympathetic towards her, and prepares them for the ending, as in the end the audience are left feeling sympathy to both Romeo and Juliet; and also the fact that death is involved, as Romeo kills his brother-in-law, even ...

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