Romeo and Juliet - Act3 sc1.

Introduction

Act3 sc1

Before this scene Romeo and Juliet got married by friar Lawrence, they knew they were taking a risk as both their families were feuding rivals, but friar Lawrence was optimistic that their marriage could be a chance for both families to come together and stop their on going feud.

Until now Romeo has been careful not to get into a fight with the Capulets, because he knows that if he really wants to be with Juliet, he has to try and make peace with the families with the families, but this proves very difficult as Tybalt and Mercutio start a brawl in the streets of Verona and eventually mercutio is killed and then Romeo in his rage and anger kills Tybalt and then regrets it soon after. This regret came all too late as this event split him and Juliet Further apart.

If I were to direct this scene I would create a well-lit background, which would be the town centre with a good amount of shoppers and vendors, the people would be very quiet. Then comes Benvolio and Mercutio, Mercutio becoming the centre of attention by amusing the onlookers. In the first line when Benvolio says to Mercutio, ”I pray thee, good Mercutio, lets retire; the day is hot, the Capels are abroad” he should pull Mercutio away and say this to him away from the peering ears of the other people around them. Benvolio would say this after glimpsing the Capulets from a distance. After a short monologue by Mercutio talking to Benvolio, Tybalt enters the scene “ by my head, here comes the Capulets” when Benvolio says this he should look a bit anxious, anxious to leave the square before the Capulets arrive, meanwhile tugging on Mercutio’s arm before the Capulets enter within bounds, very sharply Mercutio should reply “ By my heel I care not” this wise remark making the servants and others laugh. Then enters Tybalt within reach of Benvolio and Mercutio after he says to his followers “follow me closely for I shall speak to them”. Then to Mercutio and Benvolio, Tybalt says in a very gentleman like tone “Gentlemen, good e’n, a word with one of you” , then comes Mercutio with a lippy remark “ and but one of us?, couple it with something: make it a word and a blow. The audience should see that Tybalt is now feeling a bit low or humiliated by Mercutio’s remark. Tybalt should show a bit of humiliation as Mercutio’s remark causes the people surrounding the two parties to chuckle in the background. After which Tybalt gives a remark which makes everyone go almost silent when he says “you shall find me apt enough sir, and you will give me occasion”

Here he should put his hand on his sword as this remark he makes is almost threatening to Mercutio in some way. After which angrily out shouts Tybalt with these grave words” Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo” her Tybalt refers to Romeo as if he is an outlaw.

Mercutio then being the comic that he is, replies taking what Tybalt says in it’s other sense of meaning ”Consort? What, dost thou make us minstrels?” here once again he makes a mockery of Tybalt, which is expressed on ...

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With Benvolio foreseeing the consequences of Tybalt and Mercutio’s bickering, he pulls Mercutio and discreetly tells Mercutio that they should go aside and talk in private” We talk here in public haunt of men, either withdraw or else depart”.

Next Mercutio’s action should be to slightly push Benvolio aside as he says out loud in earshot of Tybalt “ I will not budge for no mans pleasure”

Here it shows that although Mercutio makes a comic of his words he actually has a great dislike towards Tybalt.

Then enters: Romeo which draws all attention from Mercutio.

Next Tybalt starts to throw insults at Romeo in an attempt to start a fight, but to his insults Romeo responds with kind and gentle words as he tries not to take Tybalt on his challenge.

Romeo’s actions should be sincere enough to convince the audience that he really wants peace with Tybalt, as he knows that having a fight with Tybalt could seriously harm his and Juliet’s future relationship if tensions were to rise at this critical moment. After this Mercutio enters in the argument and he and Tybalt start a fight. After realising that Tybalt’s and Mercutio’s fight is starting to escalate out of proportion, Petrutio shouts “Away Tybalt”

After which Tybalt makes his final stroke and pushes Mercutio into Romeo’s arms as he makes a seemingly hasty departure, un aware that his last blow had fatally struck Mercutio.

Mercutio then reveals “I am hurt”

But as Romeo and Benvolio knows Mercutio as a trivial character, they believe his injuries was just a scratch then Romeo Chuckles” Courage man, the hurt cannot be much”

As Mercutio makes his final speech, Romeo and Benvolio take his words lightly, unaware of his injuries. Romeo then leaves Mercutio to go aside as he ponders to himself, thinking out loud to himself, that love has made “efferminate and temper softened” as he says these words only the audience should be made aware of his minor soliloquy.

As Romeo gathers news that his friend has joined the other side, he should start getting furious and enraged in anger towards Tybalt, as he blazes off with his sword in his hand right after he proclaims “ this but begins the woe others must end”

Here Romeo must show how furious he has become as Tybalt walks away in triumph as his close friend Mercutio is brutally slain. Romeo apparently should disregard all leniency he had towards Tybalt as he says “And fire eyed fury be my conduct now”

Here he should make the audience aware that he has no care for what happens to him as long as he makes Tybalt pay for Mercutio’s death.

Tybalt now feeling full of himself shouts at Romeo “Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him here hence”

With Romeo Tybalts words upsetting Romeo’s anger even more, draws his sword as he starts a frenzied attack on Tybalt,

They fight a furious battle after which Romeo after which Romeo is the victor and Tybalt is slain.

With Romeo just standing there with his sword still drawn and still enraged with anger, out shouts Benvolio “Romeo be gone”

As Romeo is brought out of his enraged doze he immediately starts to reflect on what he has done and the possible consequences, all he can say is “ O I am fortune’s fool” here he shows the audience that he actually deeply regrets what he has done, as he knows his actions would make it less possible for he and Juliet to be together.

As Romeo makes his escape the audience should be made aware that Romeo’s regret comes not for avenging his friend’s death but of what his actions might do to his and Juliet’s relationship.

Romeo and Juliet is enriching highly dramatic and entertaining play, which has been reproduced countless times over the years, but it is the way in which the play is performed that makes it interesting every time it gets seen. This is why I have reconfigured the actions in act 3 sc1 to how I feel they should be performed by the characters.