Romeo and Juliet

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Emma Munday – 11L

Romeo and Juliet Essay

In Romeo and Juliet, how does Shakespeare make Act One, Scene Five and Act Three, Scene One dramatically effective?

Romeo and Juliet was written in the mid 1590’s, a time where London was full of disease, plague and the population was widespread. The city itself was not big enough to hold theatres, so Shakespeare had his theatre built on the boundaries. The Globe Theatre was built in 1599 and was a common hangout for crooks, prostitutes and thieves. Shakespeare clearly attacks this filthy society in his play – make the attack on the church, against the establishment, politicians and marriage. His play is about Romeo and Juliet crossing the line, the boundaries for love and the fact that not everyone is going to stick to the rules.

In Romeo and Juliet, Act one scene five and Act three scene one play the most important scenes in the play. William Shakespeare uses humour, violence, tension and irony to make the play dramatically effective. Act one Scene Five is a very significant scene in the play, as it is set in the Capulet mansion. Romeo, who is a Montague intrudes upon this party and meets Juliet. The love is honest and genuine yet fated and this is shown by the sonnet Shakespeare uses. When Tybalt sees Romeo at the ball, it infuriates him and swears vengeance. He meets up with Romeo in Act three, Scene one, a dramatically violent scene, which links the two scenes together.

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In Act three, Scene one, Mercutio who is a Montague offers to fight Tybalt when Romeo refuses. This is an instance of dramatic irony because the audience know that Tybalt is now Romeo’s cousin as Romeo has just married Juliet in the previous scene. Mercutio is shocked by Romeo’s reaction: ‘O calm, dishonourable vile submission’. The audience are aware of Romeos marital link to the Capulets and would not have a shocked reaction. At the end of this scene, Mercutio is slain by Tybalt and Tybalt is killed by Romeo. This results in Romeo’s banishment from Verona by the ...

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