Juliet is alone on stage.

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Section 6: Juliet is alone on stage

Juliet is petrified of the potential dangers she may encounter while imprisoned in the vault. She thinks she could be "stifled", as there is no "healthsome" air to breath and she might "die strangled" before Romeo arrives.

Juliet considers two possible scenarios she may face while in the tomb. She thinks that she can either suffocate, or will be scared to death as a result of the "terror of the place." She is also aware that her ancient and "buried ancestors" will be present in the vault and that the vault will be "pack'd." She knows that she will be trapped and crammed into a very small space. This creates a dark image of restriction and isolation. Shakespeare uses vocabulary such as "strangled," "horrible," "terror" and "pack'd" to build a sinister and dark image of the tomb. This in turn creates more tension and produces sympathy from the audience for Juliet.

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Juliet also reiterates the phrase "where" frequently ("where" refers to the tomb). Shakespeare uses it to emphasise the tomb and secure the image in the audience's minds. An image of death and horror is built up and thus creates a lot of drama and tension. She is frightened that Romeo will arrive before she awakens. She remembers that "bloody Tybalt" will be present in the tomb and that he had only been placed in the tomb recently. The usage of the word "bloody" depicts a very deathly location. Juliet knows that Tybalt's body will be rotting, smelling and "festering in ...

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