As Shakespeare doesn’t use stage directions or any descriptions these quotes show that Benvolio is worried about what’s going to happen and the tension rises but Mercutio couldn’t care less and tries to make light of the awkward situation as expected. Overall this is the effect of just a character entering which I think is good technique because it shows sudden rise of tension which I think is as good as stage direction and maybe more effective then stage directions which tell you were to move or go, were as this through speech kind of tells you there reaction.
I think when Tybalt asks ‘others’ to “Follow me close, for I will speak to them –” I think it’s a further confirmation of Benvolio’s hint that there will be a fight /brawl. This quote also shows that Tybalt is cautious, he then says “Gentleman, good-den; a word with one of you.” I think this is a forced niceness on Tyblat’s half, As expected from Mercutio he tries to make light of the tense situation and says cheekily “And but one word with one of us ? Couple it with something; make it word and a blow.” The last part relates to Tyblat’s angry character.
Another example of characters entering causing the tension to rise is when Romeo enters because Tybalt is looking for him and Romeo has just married his cousin Juliet making them cousin-in-law and no one is aware of this. As soon as he arrives he is confronted by the scene of Mercutio furious and Tybalt accusing Romeo of being a villain, he says “thou art a villain” the tension rises at this accusation over the little visit of the Capulet party. This use of language makes the tension increase because it shows that Romeo entering there are different reactions which give off tension for different reasons. This is a good technique because it’s as though the audience is anticipating what will happen and the atmosphere is tense and waiting for Romeo’s reaction.
Tybalt then tells Romeo to “turn and draw” at this point in the film when Romeo refuses to fight and is letting Tybalt hit him repeatedly. In the play Romeo responds by saying “I do protest I never injured thee, But love thee better than though canst devise Till thou shalt know the reason of my by love; And so, good Capulet, which name tender As dearly as my own, be satisfied.” This is an expected change for Juliet’s sake and the circumstances he can’t fight with Tybalt.
Another method Shakespeare uses to create tension is by speech and language which makes the audience think and imaging using what is said and different symbols (e.g. ? and ! ) would be when Tybalt says to Mercutio “Mercutio thou consort’s with Romeo –”. This (-) sign shows that he was mid-sentence when Mercutio interrupts with “‘Consort’ what, dost thou make us minstrels? An thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords. Here’s my fiddlestick; here’s that shall make you dance. Zounds, ‘consort’!” During this conversation the tension rises remarkably also that firstly Tybalt is the beginner of this little argument and secondly that Mercutio is angry about the way he is being spoken to as ‘Consort’ is like an insult as though talking to an servant or someone of lower class being looked down on, all this proves that Benvolio’s hint was right. Benvolio tries again to get Mercutio to leave “the public haunt of men” or at least argue in a private place which Mercutio says that “Men’s eyes are made to look, and let them gaze” this shows he has to much of an ego to.
Another technique Shakespeare uses to create tension is by characters dying either slowly or quickly. An example of this is when Mercutio is wounded under Romeo’s hold to make him stop fighting with Tybalt and then is wounded by Tybalt and he hurries away. The tension increases at the shock of what has just happened. I think the slow death of Mercutio is very effective as Mercutio goes on to curse both houses just before he dies, he says “A plague O’ both of your houses!” repeatedly cursing both houses this causes a lot of tension because he is a member of the Montague family. This is at least repeated twice for the audience to get the full shocking effect.
Another example of Characters dying to create tension is when Tybalt is slain by Romeo regardless to the fact that they are family and that this may have an impact on his relationship with Juliet. For revenge as he says that it would be unfair for Mercutio to be killed and Tybalt free to live he says “He live in triumph, and Mercutio slain?” as though in disbelief. I also think because he felt guilty as Mercutio was killed under his arm and he wanted to avenge his death. But after he kills Tybalt he regrets his hasty move and thinks of Juliet and the Prince forbidding any public brawls, I think at this point Romeo is in amazement.
In the film and play there are also little insults or parts where the tension slightly increases or decreases.
In the film Baz Lurhman uses other different techniques to build tension such as changing the weather from sunny when it’s happy and light-hearted and thunderous, rainy and dark when it’s sad or an angry atmosphere, these weather contrasts of shots are taken from the same angle at the same place. Another method to increase tension is making the music from low and slow to loud and fast to build the tension gradually or just slow and fast or loud and quiet. Another way tension is increased in the film is when Baz Lurhman uses a contrast of clips an example would be when the boys were fighting in an instance you see Juliet all happy and talking about her love for Romeo and then changed back in an instance back to Romeo fighting.
In the play and film Shakespeare and Baz Lurhman use there diverse techniques to build tension effectively and use them cleverly where there needed.