How does Shakespeare use dramatic devices in act 3 scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet in order to make it such an interesting, exciting and important scene?
How does Shakespeare use dramatic devices in act 3 scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet in order to make it such an interesting, exciting and important scene?
Romeo and Juliet deals with two star crossed lovers who can't be with each other because they are from the two noble families of Verona, the Capulets and the Montagues, that have feuded for generations. Even though they are destined to be together the play ends with the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet both dying for love.
To begin with Benvolio and Mercutio enter on stage, through the dialogue Shakespeare is able to establish the tense atmosphere because Benvolio is worried about meeting the Capulets.' 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'. This creates anticipation for the audience, as they now expect a brawl to happen because heat makes people restless and agitated. Shakespeare does not want to climax to soon he builds it up slowly by using humor to stop it from going to quick and the audience getting bored.
Mercutio is the joker in the play and gives witty comical remarks to Benvolio, as he is scared. Mercutio mocks him with playful words, 'Thou! why,
thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, or a hair less, in his beard'. Shakespeare's role of Mercutio is to make the audience laugh and keep them amused and interested.
Just as the audience is laughing and relaxed this gets interrupted with the arrival of Tybalt, ' Follow me close, for I will speak to them. Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you'. This introduces the audience to rivalry and conflict between the two families, which has been happening over many generations.
The dialogue again creates tension, which builds particularly when Mercutio plays with words, 'but I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery: marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower; your worship in that sense may call him man'. Sexual ...
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Just as the audience is laughing and relaxed this gets interrupted with the arrival of Tybalt, ' Follow me close, for I will speak to them. Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you'. This introduces the audience to rivalry and conflict between the two families, which has been happening over many generations.
The dialogue again creates tension, which builds particularly when Mercutio plays with words, 'but I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery: marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower; your worship in that sense may call him man'. Sexual innuendo is used when Mercutio mocks Tybalt's masculinity. During Shakespeare's time, to mock a man's masculinity was awful so only resulted in a feud to prove that they are man enough. This makes the audience automatically think there will be a fight between Mercutio and Tybalt.
Shakespeare instead teases the audience as the entrance of Romeo interrupts the fight, 'Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford no better term than this,--thou art a villain'. Through Tybalt's actions Shakespeare shows here to families that detest each other.
Shakespeare makes the play dramatic for the audience, as we know Romeo has just married Juliet in 2:6. The audience naturally empathizes with Romeo, as they want Romeo and Juliet to live happily ever after. However just as the prologue predicted, 'A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; whole misadventured piteous overthrows do with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love'. Romeo's death is unstoppable but the audience doesn't know this as they sit in suspense waiting to find out if he is going to die.
Romeo is in love with Juliet and he refuses to fight Tybalt as Mercutio wont let him stand there and mock his friend he decides to fight Tybalt,' Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting: villain am I none'. For it is as Romeo steps in between Mercutio and Tybalt that Tybalt delivers the fatal blow.' Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch', this shows that Mercutio is playing down what has happened to make him look brave and fearless. Romeo like the audience is confused as Mercutio tires to underplay the situation but the truth is revealed to Romeo and the audience when he says, 'No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but 'tis enough,'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man'. It becomes clear to all that he is dieing.
With Mercutio know dead Romeo goes against his word and fights Tybalt, 'Is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company: either thou, or I, or both, must go with him'. Tybalt being the extrovert he is he does not die quietly; Shakespeare keeps the audience guessing the true existence of his wound. Benvolio being so caring about Romeo he tells, 'Romeo, away, be gone! The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death'.
At this point, the mood of the scene and the pace changes from being action packed and exciting too remorseful and depressing as Mercutio asks Romeo, 'Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm'. At this stage the audience feels compassion and sympathy for Mercutio and Romeo, this is the consequence of the scene becoming clear.
Mercutio's death in this scene provides the catalyst for Romeo's revenge hence Tybalt's death. This scene is the pivotal point of the play from which everything changes and becomes clearer to the audience that the fate of Romeo and Juliet is doomed,' O, I am fortune's fool!'. As they will never be able to be together as he has been sent away and if he comes back he will be killed.
Throughout this scene Shakespeare has created a roller coaster of emotions, which at this point the audience might be in shock at the turn of events. In order to clarify any confusion for the audience the scene ends with Benvolio's monologue. Here Benvolio acts, as a narrator summarizing to the Capulet's and Montague's his version of events. However his speech also helps to keep the audience informed of the seriousness of what has happened. At the end of the scene the prince informs everyone that Romeo is never aloud to return and if, ' he's found, that hour is his last. Bear hence this body and attend our will: Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill'.
In conclusion Shakespeare uses many techniques to keep the audience excited and entertained through out 3:1. For instance: stage fighting to excite them; the use of strong characterization to create empathy; the use of murder to shock the audience and finally the use of language to create tension and humor thus entertaining the audience.
