He uses the same technique when he juxtaposes Romeo and Tybalt, because Romeo is a lover and Tybalt is a fighter. This is shown when Tybalt says Boy; this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me therefore turn and draw. Romeo replies with I do protest I never injured thee but love thee better than thou canst devise. These quotes would excite the audience, as they will want to know what Tybalt will do next.
Another device that Shakespeare uses is extended metaphors. This is used when Tybalt asks thou consort with Romeo meaning has he been with Romeo but Mercutio takes the word to mean something else and extends the metaphor by saying Consort? What dost thou make us minstrels? This then takes the meaning that they are going out. This will intrigue the audience and keep their interest.
Shakespeare also plays around with masculinity and how since Romeo has been in love with Juliet he has become effeminate. By having Romeo say O sweet Juliet thy beauty hath made me effeminate in his soliloquy, Shakespeare makes the audience pity Romeo, therefore making the play fit into Aristotle’s theory of tragedy. This fits into the rule of the audience pitying the suffering hero and will attract the audiences attention.
Another device that Shakespeare uses are rhyming couplets. An example of this is in Romeo’s line this day’s black fate on more days doth depend; this but begins the woe, others must end. Another example of this is in Montague’s line Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio’s friend; his fault concludes but what the law should end. By using rhyming couplets, the line is remembered more and once again interests the audience.
Shakespeare uses Mercutio as a dramatic device. He does this by making the character repeat the curse A plague a’ both your houses three times. The saying is if a curse is repeated three times it becomes true. This will excite the audience as they will want to know what will happen next.
This is also quite important because this scene determines the rest of the play. When Romeo and Juliet die, the audience will assume that it was Mercutio’s curse that killed them. It will also make the audience fear for the two families especially Romeo and Juliet because they are the main characters. This also falls into Aristotle’s theory of tragedy as the audience will pity Romeo as his best friend has just cursed him. This creates interest and excitement for the audience.
Another device Shakespeare uses to add more interest is by using Benvolio as a narrator. Shakespeare does this at the beginning of the scene when he reminds Mercutio and Tybalt of the Princes threat. He does this by making Benvolio say We talk here in the public haunt of men: either withdraw unto some private place or reason coldly of your grievances, or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us. Later in the scene, Benvolio says O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead. This informs both the audience and Romeo of Mercutio’s death. When Benvolio says this it keeps the play moving swiftly on and doesn’t stop like if an actual narrator had said it. This keeps the audiences interest. It also keeps the excitement of the scene.
Shakespeare also uses a lot of irony in the scene, including dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is used when Romeo says to Tybalt But love thee better than thou canst devise…… and so, good Capulet – which name I tender as dearly as my own. This is dramatic irony because Tybalt doesn’t know that they are now in-laws but the audience does. This involves the audience and again keeps their interest.
There is more irony later in the scene but this is cruel and bitter irony. It is when Romeo says I thought all for the best just after Mercutio is stabbed. It is cruel, bitter irony because Romeo was trying to stop them fighting but ends up killing his best friend. This helps fit the tragic genre as the audience pity Romeo for his loss. This is important for the play, as it will keep interest.
Overall, this scene interests and excites the audience through Shakespeare’s dramatic devises of contrast, dramatic and cruel, irony, characters and language. This scene is also a turning point in the play because it depicts the rest of play. Without the scene, the two main characters would not die and the play would not fit into the tragic genre. This scene decides the ending of the play and is therefore interesting, exciting and important.
