Soon after Benvolio enters, Tybalt makes his entrance. In the version of the film directed by Baz Luhrman, he enters very slyly and slowly, much like the cat from which he gets his name. As he enters he sees Benvolio trying to split up the servants and looks down at Benvolio for this. I know this as he says “What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?” by saying this he is mocking Benvolio, pretending to believe that Benvolio is consorting with servants and lowering himself by fighting with them. Tybalt believes the servants are worthless a he refers to them as “hinds” this means female deer which shows he has little, if any, respect for them. The fact that Tybalt came in just as the fight had really started and the fact that he is enemies with Benvolio, who is trying to keep the peace, could suggest that he may cause this street fight to become a riot. This shows that Tybalt aggravates situations, just by entering, and stops those who try to calm others down. The audience can tell that Tybalt is not the peaceful type as he says to Benvolio: “…peace! I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.” From this, we also learn that Tybalt despise Benvolio and his family. Shakespeare also used repetition to create tension, he repeated the word “hate” which is a very strong word. The character of Tybalt could be expressed in many different ways. In many productions of “Romeo & Juliet” Tybalt wears black to symbolize evil. However he is not, necessarily, evil. He believes he is the hero and is defending his family’s honour. This same colour technique is also used in the Baz Luhrman version when Tybalt wears very tight, black, clothing to symbolize his hatred welling up inside of him with the hatred being represented by the blood that is being restricted by the tight clothes. If I were to stage this in modern days, I would have Benvolio in calm colours such as blue to show his calm nature, and Sampson and Gregory in bright colours to show their lively manner. Tybalt would wear black and Abram and Balthazar would wear red to show anger as they were the ones who began the fight. Baz Luhrman also had the sun beating down during the scene. This shows the intense situation with the intense sunlight. Another technique that can be used to portray tension is setting, much like in the Baz Luhrman version wherein the setting of the first act is a petrol station. This creates tension as the slightest spark, in this environment, could cause a huge explosion that would kill many. The way in which Tybalt creates tension is the fact that he is smoking a cigarette, he could cause the petrol station to explode. This shows how simple props could be used to create tension. Also as he enters, the situation explodes. This also shows how Tybalt creates tension and trouble around him. This could’ve been done in different ways back in Shakespeare’s time, perhaps by drawing his sword, he could create tension as he would look willing to fight.
In this scene, tension is also created by the contrast between the light heartedness and the fighting. It jerks the viewers from feeling one emotion to another. The light hearted atmosphere set by the Capulet slaves makes the audience feel more relaxed whereas the fighting between the Capulets and Montagues causes excitement. The way in which it, very quickly, changes from one to the other creates tension.
Another way in which tension is created is the contrasting personalities of Tybalt and Benvolio. One of whom is extremely volatile, Tybalt, and the other, a peace keeper who would try to stop any fight, Benvolio. This creates tension as we want to know what would happen if Tybalt and Benvolio had fought.
Of course the language Shakespeare uses also creates tension.
Many negative words are used while Tybalt is speaking. Words like “hate” and “hell”. Other linguistic devices such as repetition are used to create tension. The repetition of the word “hate” creates tension in addition to Tybalt’s threatening of Benvolio.
Furthermore, the way in which Tybalt will say his lines could also create tension. I imagine that he would speak through the teeth in a hostile fashion. This was done slowly and deliberately in the Baz Luhrman version of the play. The film shows an extreme close-up of Tybalt's lips to accentuate this act of creating tension. The fact that this is all taking place in a public place (a street) could additionally create tension as this could become a riot if the citizens decide that the Capulets and The Montagues should stop their continuous feud.
In Act 1, Scene 5: “The Capulet Masked Ball”. In this scene, Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio arrive uninvited at the masked ball that Lord and Lady Capulet have thrown. Romeo only agreed to go so that he could see Rosaline, his “love”. Shakespeare is not only famous for his plays, but also his sonnets. At the Capulet ball, when Romeo first sees Juliet he performs a sonnet to explain what he feels when he sees her. He likens Juliet to “a snowy dove trooping with crows”, this means she is like a beautiful dove, amongst crows. He uses this image to show that Juliet is so beautiful, that she stands out in a crowd. Shakespeare has presented Romeo in this way to make the audience look at him in a favourable light.
As Romeo recites his sonnet, Tybalt overhears. This already creates tension as we know how volatile Tybalt is. After Tybalt hears Romeo, he instantly recognises his voice and orders a servant to fetch his rapier. This automatically creates tension as he wants his sword to fight Romeo. If this were to happen in a crowded place, the Capulet Ball, many innocent guests could be hurt. But directly after Tybalt orders his servant to fetch his rapier, Lord Capulet stops it.
Lord Capulet tells Tybalt not to fight Romeo as he is not causing any trouble and he would not want his first party in 30 years to be ruined. Capulet tries to reason with Tybalt by saying that Romeo is “a virtuous and well-governed youth”. Shakespeare wanted to show Romeo as a romantic and well-behaved young man so that it is more tragic when he dies. After Capulet says this Tybalt argues with his uncle and complains that Romeo is there to “scorn at our solemnity”, in other words, to mock their family and party. Tybalt sees himself as the hero in this situation, defending his family’s honour and pride. The fact that Tybalt spoke back to his elder could create tension in Shakespeare’s days as this was unheard of at the time.
Another way tension is created in this scene is the contrast between Romeo’s love scenes and Tybalt's arguing with Lord Capulet. This, much like in Act 1 Scene 1, creates tension because it forces the audience to change what they are feeling rapidly, thereby creating tension.
The way in which Romeo’s and Tybalt's personalities are total opposites in this scene could also create tension as we know that Romeo is in no way prepared to fight whereas Tybalt would happily attack Tybalt in a second.
As Capulet is ordering Tybalt not to attack Romeo, he insults Tybalt, calling him “saucy” and a “princox”, these are both insults from Shakespearean days. This could create tension as we know how easily aggravated and volatile Tybalt is. In his state of single-mindedness and rage, for all we know, he could attack Capulet just so he could get to Romeo. He doesn’t, but after Capulet leaves, Tybalt swears his revenge against Romeo as he says “…this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall”. This means that he believes Romeo is quite pleased with himself for getting in, but his sweet victory, shall become a sour defeat. This creates tension as we do not know when, or how, but we know Tybalt will try to kill Romeo.
After all of this, many audience members would probably see Tybalt as the “villain” in this story. However, it is not that simple, he may be single-minded and resorts to violence straight away, but he sees himself as he hero. The “knight in shining armour” if you will. He honestly believe that if he kills Romeo, he will be seen as a hero in the eyes of his family for he has defended his family’s honour. In Baz Luhrman’s production of “Romeo & Juliet”, the Capulet Ball is a fancy dress party. Romeo is dressed as a knight, this represents the hero in many fairy tales. In the audiences mind, Romeo is the hero, not Tybalt. At the same ball, Juliet is dressed as an angel in Luhrmans’s version. This represents innocence and purity. She is a pure and innocent person in a feuding family. In Shakespearean days, this could’ve been represented in the same way, or perhaps Juliet could wear a white mask or white clothes.
In Act 2, Scene 4, Tybalt sends a challenge to Romeo. This challenge is intercepted by Mercutio and Benvolio This is to get his revenge for when Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio entered the Capulet Ball uninvited. It is to protect his honour and his family’s honour.
Act 3, Scene 1 begins with Benvolio and Mercutio waiting for Romeo and Tybalt to show up. They begin bickering; Mercutio begins trying to draw Benvolio into a fight. This is because it is hot and Mercutio is restless. Mercutio’s name means “Volatile” or “Ever-Changing”. After the bickering between Mercutio and Benvolio, Tybalt makes his entrance. He comes in surrounded by his own men. This creates tension as a huge riot could break out as Mercutio and Benvolio are surrounded by Montagues. However, Tybalt keeps control of his men and himself, instead of his usual spontaneous attitude. He even acts polite to Mercutio and Benvolio. He says “…gentlemen, good den.” (good afternoon). And even when Mercutio offers to fight Tybalt in Romeo’s place, Tybalt denies. This creates tension as this is not the way he usually behaves. He is being incredibly single-minded, whereas if he were not after Romeo for a specific reason, he would have gladly fought Mercutio or Benvolio without hesitation.
When Romeo enters Tybalt says “peace be with you sirs” to Benvolio and Mercutio (which again creates tension) and goes to fight Romeo. When Tybalt speaks to Romeo, one of the first things he does is call Romeo a “villain”, this could help prove the idea that Tybalt sees himself as the “hero” and Romeo as the “villain” in a fairy tale situation.
In this scene, when Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt, the reason being he is now family, Mercutio takes Romeo’s place. Tybalt's kills Mercutio and Romeo then kills Tybalt to avenge his fallen friend. I believe this is a very important scene for the continuation of the play. Because if Tybalt hadn’t died, Romeo wouldn’t have been banished, then Juliet wouldn’t take the potion, so then Romeo and Juliet wouldn’t end up killing themselves. If that were to happen then this wouldn’t be a tragedy. Romeo, I believe, felt guilty for Mercutio’s death, as h thought that if he had just fought Tybalt then Mercutio would still be alive. Tybalt played an extremely important role in this play, it was Tybalt that created tension throughout the play and without Tybalt, it would not be a tragedy (as I have just explained).
After Tybalt’s death, some characters refer back to him. The first one to do so is Nurse. She refers to Tybalt as her “best friend” and calls him an “honest gentleman”. Nurse refers to Tybalt as an honest gentleman and as her best friend because he is almost family. This is why we cannot trust her, as the average person probably wouldn’t insult someone you knew who died. Another reason we cannot trust what she says here is the fact that she is hysterical and is grieving.
This essay question was on how Tybalt was used by Shakespeare to create tension in this play. Tybalt was used in many ways, it was through his actions and the way in which he spoke and acted in Act 1, Scene 1. it was the argument he had with Capulet and the revenge he swore against Romeo that created tension in Act 1, Scene 5. In Act 3, Scene 1, it was the fact that Tybalt was behaving strangely and how he was so focused on killing Romeo. I believe Tybalt is one of the most important characters in the play and that he was used very effectively to create tension in William Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet”. A tragic love story about two star-crossed lovers. 2739 words
