Act 3 Scene 1 is the pivotal scene in ‘Romeo and Juliet’, as this is where things start to go downhill for the young lovers. Before the scene starts, we are drawn into a false sense of security about what will happen. The scene before this, Act 2 Scene 6 Shakespeare sets a mood of love and happiness. Romeo and Juliet here marry in secret under Friar Laurence. He persuades Romeo to be patient, and warns the couple of troubles to come, just as the prologue also warns. The Friar says, “So smile the heavens upon this holy act”. This shows the happiness in the scene and the word “happiness” links back to the prologue and “star-crossed lovers”. This builds on the fact that Romeo and Juliet are meant to be together. The audience think that the play may have a happy ending here but they know that it will not. This scene is great contrast with Act 3 Scene 1, which draws the audience in and adds to the dramatic impact of Act 3 Scene 1. As Friar Laurence is a member of the church, the audience will respect his opinion on Romeo and Juliet’s marriage. He says, “These violent delights have violent ends”. This oxymoron sums up the whole scene as it is full of contrast. ‘Violent’ is a harsh and strong word whereas ‘delights’ is a happy and gentle word.
The scene after Act 3 Scene 1 is also in direct contrast with it. This scene is very quiet and thoughtful while Act 3 Scene 1 is very violent and action packed. Juliet discovers that her cousin Tybalt has been slain by her husband Romeo, who has consequently been banished. She is hurt and feels betrayed that Romeo would slay Tybalt even though they are now family. She is emotionally confused and not sure where her loyalties lie, with her family or her husband.
The audience know that ‘Romeo and Juliet’ will not have a happy ending due to the prologue. It says, “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life”. The words “star-crossed” show that Romeo and Juliet were meant to be together, that it was decided by the stars, that it’s fate. The Elizabethans believed very heavily in fate. Although it was not fully understood, they feared it. This was bound to grab the audience’s attention as it was a current issue. The prologue also says, “Whose misadventured piteous overthrows, Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife”. This tells us that Romeo and Juliet are going to commit suicide, and with their deaths, will end the feud between their families. With this knowledge from the prologue, the audience are constantly trying to deduce when the play will take a turn for the worse. This happens in Act 3 Scene 1.
Act 3 Scene 1 begins with verbal jousting between the boys of the Montague household. Benvolio has been seen throughout the play as a narrator figure, and so the audience has grown to trust him. In his opening lines, he repeats the word ‘hot’, making the weather seem very hot. Mercutio speaks in prose to show he is of lesser importance to Tybalt and Benvolio.
Shakespeare uses repetition throughout this scene. This gives dramatic force and adds to the emotional intensity. An example is, “By my head …” “By my heel …” Repetition is also used at the end of the scene when Mercutio repeats, “A plague a both your houses.” This line is particularly important as it shows Mercutio not taking sides in death, but cursing both the Montagues and the Capulets. The plague at that time in Elizabethan England was an incurable and horrific disease that ruined the life of anyone who had the misfortune to catch it. Mercutio wishes it on both Tybalt and his former friend Romeo. His loyalty and allegiance to Romeo has cost him his life, so he no longer feels that loyalty. The contrast between this scene and its predecessor has now increased, with the deaths of Mercutio and then Tybalt.
Irony is also an important dramatic device in Act 3 Scene 1. It is dramatic irony that the audience knows about Romeo’s wedding to Juliet in this scene, and the other characters don’t. This is important as it is because of this irony that Tybalt is looking for a fight with him. Romeo says, “But love thee better than thou canst devise … And so, good Capulet, which name I tender, As dearly as mine own, be satisfied.” Romeo is telling Tybalt that he loves him more that Tybalt can now, and that he treasures the name Capulet as dearly as his own name, Montague. Tybalt does not know about the wedding however and so persists with provoking Romeo. When Mercutio is lethally stabbed he says, “A scratch, a scratch”. This is repetition and irony. It is ironic because he knows it is not a scratch and that he has been fatally injured. Mercutio has been seen as a joker throughout the play, and he keeps up this persona during his final moments as well. He also says, “Ask for me tomorrow, and you will find me a grave man.” Mercutio knows that he will not be alive tomorrow but he continues to makes jokes, in an attempt not to alarm the others. Unfortunately he cannot keep up the brave façade much longer, and he curses them all.
Rhyme is also used in Act 3 Scene 1 by the more important characters. This gives the scene a rhythm and makes it easier for the audience to follow. An example of rhyme in this scene is when Benvolio says, “O noble Prince I can discover all, The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl. There lies the man slain by young Romeo, That slew they kinsmen, brave Mercutio.” Lady Capulet also speaks in rhyme and verse as she is an important character, she says, “I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give, Romeo slew Tybalt. Romeo must not live.” Here Lady Capulet mentions the law that the Prince set at the beginning of the play. The mention of this gets the audience to remember it as well and helps them stay on track with what is happening.
Language is very important in this scene as Shakespeare wouldn’t have had the luxury of stage lighting and camera angles, and so had to rely on the basics. Props such as cauldrons, stocks, beds and artificial trees could be provided, but nothing on the scale available to playwrights today. Sound effects such as trumpets, music and accompaniments to songs were provided by the company’s musicians, so the audience’s attention had to be held by the language spoken by the actors.
At the beginning of Act 3 Scene 1 Romeo has just returned from his wedding to Juliet and doesn’t want to fight Tybalt as they are now related. He is in a soft, calm frame of mind as he says, “Gentle Mercutio put thy rapier down”. This shows he is in a relaxed, composed mood, almost as if he doesn’t really care. The relaxed, and gentle flow of Romeo’s language contrasts with the language of the other characters in this scene making him not quite fit into the scene at first. After the death of his friend, he reverts back to his pre-married persona, filled with violent rage; he sets out to avenge Mercutio’s death. “This day’s black fate on more days doth depend, This but begins the woe others must end.” He even blames Juliet for him not fighting, “O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, And in my temper softened valour’s steel”. His love for Juliet stopped him fighting Tybalt as they were family, but his love for Juliet also resulted in the death of Mercutio. His calm mood now upturned, Romeo is now fuelled with a “fire-eyed fury”. This phrase uses alliteration to give Romeo’s fury more force, and the words ‘fire-eyed’ gives his anger a fiery hot intensity. He now wants to kill Tybalt regardless of the consequences. He says, “Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.” This is a list which gives dramatic effect to the line. It is at this pivotal moment that the audience realises there can be no happiness for Romeo and Juliet.
Entrances and exits are crucial in Act 3 Scene 1 and add dramatic effect and intensity to the scene. Tybalt’s entrance at the beginning is after Mercutio and Benvolio have been discussing the Capulets, with Benvolio trying to keep the peace and Mercutio up for a brawl. Romeo’s entrance is important as Tybalt is after him, but Mercutio has tried to take his place. “I will not budge for no man’s pleasure”, this shows he is stubborn and almost wishes to be seen fighting. After Mercutio has been stabbed, Tybalt and his followers leave, “Away Tybalt!” Tybalt’s re-entrance after Mercutio dies is significant as it is just after Romeo reverts back to his previous persona, and is seeking revenge. “Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.” Romeo is furious at Tybalt returning and chases him, “Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain!” As Romeo kills Tybalt, Benvolio warns him to run as he has broken the law set down by the Prince at the very beginning of the play. At this moment where that characters realise they have broken the law, the very person enters that they do not want to, the Prince. “Where are the vile beginners of this fray?” The Prince turns to Benvolio, we have grown to trust him and believe what he says, to explain what happened.
France Zefferelli had many more resources available to him for his interpretation of Act 3 Scene 1 then Shakespeare did. Zefferelli uses an empty market square, surrounded by brick walls as the setting for the scene. This setting is very different to Juliet’s bedchamber in the next scene, which adds to the contrast Zefferelli creates between the two scenes. The costumes are Elizabethan and help the audience relate to the story. The Montagues and the Capulets are in different bright colours to distinguish the difference between the two families. This makes it easier to work out who belongs to which family. It was filmed on a hot sunny day in a typical Elizabethan setting, which is how Shakespeare would have performed it. Sound effects such as shouting, echo’s, swords clanging, running, dogs barking, and many more add to the tension in the scene. There is a thin layer of dust on the floor, which during the fight is kicked up by the actors. This adds to the dramatic effect. A steady rhythm is created during the fight, that is destroyed at the arrival of the Prince. This rhythm change helps keep the audience’s attention and creates a feeling of unpredictability which is both enthralling and dramatic. There are very little lighting effects used in Zefferelli’s interpretation, just natural light, which keeps the film grounded and easier to follow. The plot would seem more complicated if light sequences had been used.
Camera angles vary throughout the scene, from birds eye view to give you a view of the whole set, to up-close when Zefferelli wants you to focus on a particular character’s facial expression or speech. This variety in camera angles creates an almost frenetic feel keeping the audience hooked on the action. The actors play a crucial role in this scene, as without them, there would be no scene. John McEnery and Michael York play Mercutio and Tybalt, and there is a definite connection between the two actors as they fight.
Shakespeare uses a wide variety of dramatic devices, language variation and structure to make Act 3 Scene 1 a dramatic and absorbing scene. It is the pivotal scene and most important scene in the whole play and the Bard manages to keep not only his raucous Shakespearean audiences entertained, but modern day audiences as well.
