‘Ladies that have their toes Unplagued with corns will walk a bout with you.’
This is humourous because he insults the men for their poor dancing talent and how they trample over ladies’ feet and give them corns. After introducing the party guests, Capulet is reminiscing about old times and their parties with Cousin Capulet. This shows a more gentleman like, light-hearted, joyous side to Capulet which is in total contrast to his persona we later encounter in the play, when he forces Juliet to marry Paris against her will.
Shakespeare’s most dramatically effective device in my opinion, is his use of contrast between moods and atmosphere throughout the scene and play. He begins the sudden and dramatic change of mood on line 40, where the party atmosphere is pushed aside, while love and romance fill the air. At this moment, Romeo sets eyes on Juliet and speaks his soliloquy. The soliloquy slows down the pace significantly. This dramatic change alerts the audience that there is a shift in the plot. Romeo speaks using rhyming couplets, similes and metaphors like the following to emphasise his love for Juliet;
‘As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear-beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.’
His soliloquy is an effective dramatic device used as it shows great irony, as earlier in the play Romeo stresses how we will never love any woman other than Rosaline and the falls into love with Juliet.
At this precise moment, Shakespeare, crucially timing the arrival, introduces Tybalt to the scene, who spots Romeo. By doing this, the romantic mood is shattered and dramatic irony is used to show us how dangerous and unwise this love this relationship of Romeo and Juliet is going to prove to be. The atmosphere quickly becomes tense, switching from the theme of love to hate to engage the audience. By switching the theme, mood and atmosphere so suddenly, Shakespeare creates an effective dramatic device, juxtaposing the different atmospheres, styles and paces.
In lines 64-80, Capulet uses his position of power and authority as a member of the older generation to order Tybalt. He tells Tybalt what he expects from him by saying;
‘Show a fair presence, and put off these frowns…’
He shows his dominance over Tybalt when he gets angry and says:
‘Am I the master here, or you? go to!’
The generous, lenient and civilized side to Capulet is seen when he asks Tybalt to leave Romeo alone as he is not causing any trouble and has not done anything. He sounds very civilised when he says:
‘And to say the truth, Verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well governed youth.’
In lines 92-108, Romeo and Juliet share a sonnet, when they first meet one another. The sonnet sets a smooth, romantic, slow pace. The sharing of the poem emphasizes their shared love for one another, which convinces the audience that this is love at first sight. Shakespeare’s use of rhyming couplets shows their love and the religious imagery used throughout the sonnet shows how Romeo idolizes and worships Juliet.
Shakespeare’s use of timing is crucial, as the nurse interrupts the meeting between Romeo and Juliet as soon as the sonnet comes to an end. His exit from the scene could symbolize the rivalry and split between the two families and is dramatically ironic as it warns us of future problems.
Lin 116 shows the strength of Romeo’s feelings towards Juliet as he realizes the horror of Juliet being forbidden to him. He says;
‘Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt!’
Juliet goes against her open trusting character and deceives the nurse when she asks questions about other men to disguise her feelings for Romeo. She would normally confide in the nurse but she asks:
‘What’s he that now is going out of door?’
As well as asking several other questions to hide her true feelings.
Lines 137-140 use rhyming couplets to create a romantic mood and uses an oxymoron:
‘My only love sprung from my only hate.’
This symbolises the problems and difficulties ahead.
By making Romeo and Juliet leave at different times, Shakespeare cleverly gives us an insight into how the family feud will prove to be fatal.
Overall, I do not think a lot of Shakespeare’s dramatic devices are actually effective. I think that some parts in the scene such as when Shakespeare contrasts young and old in his conversation with Cousin Capulet does not make an impact on the audience. However, I believe that some dramatic devices that Shakespeare uses are truly dramatically effective and really draw the audience into the play, for instance when Tybalt recognizes the voice of Romeo, the mood, atmosphere and pace suddenly switch from romance to anger. Although Shakespeare makes much effort to create truly effective dramatic devices, only some of them meet their aim, while others simply go unnoticed.
