Romeo and Juliet act 1 Sc 5
Romeo and Juliet – Act 1 Scene 5 In this essay I will investigate why Act 1 Scene 5 is such an effective piece of drama. In order to do this I will see how Shakespeare got his message across to the audience, for this is a measure which I will judge its effectiveness as a scene. To do this I will have to look at all the dramatic techniques that he employs, the embedded sonnet, use of juxtaposition, and use of imagery. In Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, about two love struck teenagers whom aren’t able to be together due to their families feud/ social situation. There is two key themes that of love and hate. Before Romeo and Juliet meet, the audience is only aware that he is a Montague and that she is a Capulet. Shakespeare uses juxtaposition when Romeo and Tybalt encounter each other at the party. This adds to the scene being dramatically effective as do other happenings throughout the length of the scene. These include
the speech of Capulet and the happy and joyous mood of the party, The romantic speech of Romeo, The hatred and harshness of Tybalts speech, a direct contrast with that of Romeo’s and the drama when the two lovers, Romeo and Juliet first meet. Juxtaposition is an important part of Romeo and Juliet because it creates a feeling for the audience. The best feature about juxtaposition is the dramatic structure and immersing the audience in the play.At the start of Act 1 scene 5, Capulet turns to the maskers at the ball and delivers a speech rather jokingly tell all ...
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the speech of Capulet and the happy and joyous mood of the party, The romantic speech of Romeo, The hatred and harshness of Tybalts speech, a direct contrast with that of Romeo’s and the drama when the two lovers, Romeo and Juliet first meet. Juxtaposition is an important part of Romeo and Juliet because it creates a feeling for the audience. The best feature about juxtaposition is the dramatic structure and immersing the audience in the play.At the start of Act 1 scene 5, Capulet turns to the maskers at the ball and delivers a speech rather jokingly tell all to enjoy the night and dance to the music. This speech is important as it lets the Audience know and that this night is a happy and joyous occasion. As a reader you feel Capulet is happy, because the event is just for Capulet’s. He and the others feel only happy when they’re with their own kind, this adds to the dramatic effectiveness of the scene because as an audience member you are now even more aware of the great tension that is waiting to explode between the houses of Capulet and Montague. This joyous occasion is also of stark contrast to the fighting at the beginning of the play.Shakespeare uses Romeo’s romantic speech, this make the scene dramatic because it intensifies the mood threefold after the happy and joking speech made by Capulet. Romeo’s speech identifies to the audience for the first time, how Romeo feels about Juliet. That Juliet’s beauty is unmatched by those in the room and that Romeo has never loved before but he now thinks he has found her, Juliet the one. “...O she doth teach the torches around to burn bright, it seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in a Ethiope’s ear beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear...”. At this point the audience realises just what type of love and passion Romeo feels for Juliet. This event adds much more dramatic effect and intensifies the scene. At this instant a height of climax in the drama is achieved, but Shakespeare lifts it higher with a stronger and more hating speech, that of Tybalts. Shakespeare creates effective drama by introducing the speech of Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt. Tybalts speech is strong and hateful towards Romeo, as he is now aware that there is one, if not more Montague’s present. By using dialogue such as “... what dare that slave come hither...” and “...uncle, this is a Montague, our foe...”. Also suggests that Tybalt can’t tolerate Romeo “... Ill not endure him...”. Shakespeare is able to translate the hate and rivalry, possessed between Romeo and Tybalt and generally the drama and conflict between Capulet and Montague. This is very dramatically effective. Capulet’s response to Tybalt, is to say that he has heard only good things about Romeo, therefore the party must go on. More time for more drama is allowed with no interruption of the party, therefore the passionate meeting of Romeo and Juliet is allowed to take place.Shakespeare creates more effective drama by scripting the first words, followed then by a kiss, between Romeo and Juliet. Romeo first suggests that he is unworthy of Juliet’s beauty and that to kiss would be a minor sin. By using passionate dialogue, Shakespeare is able to once again express the feelings of Romeo towards Juliet. This once again shows the audience that to kiss Juliet, would mean no greater thing in the world to Romeo. The dramatic effect of this kiss is heightened, because of what it now means in the context of their lives and also the play. Drama is effectively used, to translate to the audience that this is one of the most important incidents and scenes of the play.In conclusion Act 1 scene 5 is very dramatically effective. This is because Shakespeare, used Capulet’s speech to set a contrasting happy mood to that of the beginning of the play, so already this scene was different. Shakespeare expressed Romeo’s declaration of his love for Juliet to intensify the mood threefold. Then Tybalts speech was used to resurrect the hatred and conflict between Capulet and Montague also to use the key them of hate. Finally Shakespeare added the kiss of Romeo and Juliet, to heighten the drama and passion but also to represent a key theme, that of love. In finishing I now say that this scene is Dramatic in many ways and that with this finely tuned drama, I believe it’s one of the most effective and important scene on the play.
