Romeo and Juliet - Explain in detail how you think Shakespeare builds up tension and excitement in Act 3 Scene 1.

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Edward Phillips   July 2002

Romeo and Juliet Assignment

Explain in detail how you think Shakespeare builds up tension and excitement in Act 3 Scene 1

Although he is unaware that Romeo has secretly married Juliet, Benvolio is frightened of meeting the Capulets because he knows that a fight is bound to follow:-

I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire:
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,
And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl;
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.

Mercutio, however, laughs at his fears and accuses Benvolio of being a quick-tempered quarreller:-

Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as
any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as
soon moody to be moved.

He accuses Benvolio of being short-tempered and critical and Benvolio’s reply that if he were as quick to pick a quarrel as Mercutio is an omen about Mercutio’s death :-

An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man
should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter.

Benvolio is trying to calm Mercutio down and tells him that the Capulets are arriving but it doesn’t work.  He says:-

Join now!

By my heel, I care not.

When Tybalt arrives, Mercutio taunts and teases him and really winds him up when Tybalt greets them.  Mercutio says :-

And but one word with one of us? couple it with
something; make it a word and a blow.

Benvolio tries again to calm Mercutio down because they are in a public place and people can see them but Mercutio is not at all bothered.  It makes the audience wonder what is going to happen next when he says:-

Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;
I will not budge for no man's ...

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