Act 3, scene 1 is one of the main scenes of the play as this is where most of the violent activities occurs which changes the fate of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.
Benvolio and Mercutio who are out on the streets of Verona can sense that there may well be a fight. Benvolio suggests this as he exclaims, “the day is hot, and the Capels are abroad.” He says this because it is hot weather, which means hot tempers. He knows the fight will be between the Montague’s and Capulet’s hence the plot of violence. This also reflects the mood at this point in the play.
So as Benvolio and Mercutio are laughing and joking before you know it, they come across with Tybalt and other Capulets, whose intention was to provoke a fight. Tybalt, who is Juliet’s cousin, who was actually out on search for Romeo. But as he saw Benvolio and Mercutio he thought he could embark on them. We can see this when he says, “…For I will speak to them. Gentleman, good den; a word with one of you.”
Benvolio as terrified as can be says “By my head, I care not.” He says this implying that he urges caution and would like to avoid trouble. On the other hand, Mercutio, who also looks for a fight, exclaims, “By my heel, I care not.” He means he is strong and confident and can fight Tybalt for whatever reason to show his bravery. He also says that he will put his opponent under his heels. Benvolio, shocked by his words tries to defend himself. Tybalt then approaches Mercutio, in return Mercutio begins to provoke Tybalt further by saying “Men’s eyes were made to look, and let them gaze. I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I.” He says this in an attempt to inflame Tybalt who stays calm and as Romeo approaches them Tybalt exclaims, “well, peace be with you sir, here comes my man.” He says this, as Romeo was the person he was looking for and Mercutio who feels insulted on behalf of Romeo deliberately misunderstands him and takes him to mean ‘my servant.’ Tybalt then insults Romeo by saying “Boy…” which is an insulting form of address but Romeo remains calm, as he will not take up the challenge of fighting Tybalt. He does not want to fight Tybalt, as he is Juliet’s cousin. Again, Mercutio is incensed and infuriated will not take anymore of his abuse and ultimately starts to fight him. Romeo tries his best to stop the fight and also reminds them of the princes’ speech. But he cannot prevent them. “…Forbear this outrage.” As he tried to put and end to the fighting, in confusion Tybalt thrusts his sword into Mercutio’s upper body.
Moments later Romeo realises what had actually happened. In a cowardly manner Tybalt runs. He leaves Mercutio to die and curses the house of Capulets and Montagues and of course Tybalt. Romeo has a moment alone and feels ashamed that he let Tybalt call him a ‘villain’ but even more ashamed that Mercutio is now dying for the reason that he fought his fight. Benvolio turns towards Romeo and tells him Mercutio is dead. Soon, Tybalt arrives again and in revenge Romeo wants to challenge him and kills him in the end.
Towards the end of the scene Romeo has killed Tybalt and realises he must escape the town of Verona immediately hence the princes’ speech. As the hatred between the two families was full of meaning, it had now deepened because of the death of Tybalt by Romeo. As a result of this, the families would now never accept Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.
Later during the day, the prince questioned Benvolio about the two deaths and in response he explains both murders in depth. The only thing for Romeo to do now was to run away as far as possible- but before he can do this he must inform his secret wife, Juliet. The prince pronounced judgements and as Romeo had banished, both families were then fined. If Romeo were ever to be seen again he would be executed. The effect of this banishment will leave the play seeming hopeless and cowardly of Romeo.
At the crack of dawn, Romeo is preparing to leave for Mantua. Romeo and Juliet are exchanging their final vows of love before his journey. As much as she can, Juliet tries her best to persuade him to stay by saying it is still dawn.
This scene is acknowledged for its double meanings. For example, when Romeo leaves Juliet’s house her mother arrives and tries to comfort. Her mother sympathises her grief over the death of Tybalt with her but Juliet is not concerned about him as she is upset over the departure of Romeo. Juliet says, “Yet let me weep for such a feeling loss.” Juliet is associating about the going away of Romeo. But her mother thinks she is talking about Tybalt.
Lady Capulet, her mother, then turns to the discussion of the proximity of her marriage to Paris, a wealthy, young man of Verona. Juliet is horror-struck and tells her mother that she will not do such a thing. “I will not marry yet and when I do, I swear, it shall be Romeo whom you know I hate.” She tells her this and that she’d rather marry Romeo as if to tell her mother she is already married to him. She also uses words to mean that she loves him.
Her father then enters her room and Lady Capulet tells him what Juliet has just said. “Here comes your father, tell him so yourself, and see how he will take it at your hands.” Her father who had arranged the ceremony on her behalf is expecting her to be excited about her wedding but loses his temper when he hears the news. When she expresses her feelings her father becomes increasingly angry and demands Juliet to obey and get prepared for her wedding.
The nurse who knows about her secret marriage to Romeo tries to defend her position but to no success her father then threatens her and tells them he will deny the existence of his daughter, Juliet if she continues to insult and disobey him.
At the end of the scene the nurse advices Juliet to obey her father but despite Juliet’s strong emotions she refuses to do so and repeats her refusal.
Juliet had just been departed from the love of her life and now her parents have warned her and she must marry Paris otherwise she will be asked to leave the Capulet’s household and will therefore “Bey, starve and die in the streets!” Juliet who is still at the tower of rage, still rejects the proposal despite all the loving attention she had received from her parents. This shows her selfishness and betrayal from falling in love with the enemies whom they disgust. Having her mother and father left the room she speaks self-pitying. “Is there no pity sitting in the clouds, that sees into the bottom of my grief?” In return, she receives comfort from the nurse. She tells Juliet to forget about Romeo and to marry Paris as this would be her parent wish, “I think it best you married with the County. O he’s a lovely gentleman.” The nurse, after strong words from Capulet now advises her to go along with the wedding.
The plot of this romantic tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet” is that all the scenes are based on violence and conflict which in someway or another mislead each other into the death of the two main characters, Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet has many scenes of violence throughout the play and as this happened it had changed the fate of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. The violence and conflict had changed the play from a love story to a tragic love story.
