Romeo And Juliet G.C.S.E. Coursework

Shakespeare’s use of language in Act 3 scene 1 increases the tension by using insults that would annoy and goad the other character into a fight. Tybalt uses the word “boy” to insult Romeo because he will not fight Tybalt tis is because he has just been married to Juliet that very day but no one in this scene knows this. When Mercutio is trying to goad Tybalt into a fight he uses the  word “ratcatcher” which helps provoke Tybalt. He then says “ Good king of cats, but one of your nine lives” which is linked to “ratcatcher”. This makes Tybalt very angry with Mercutio. But the worst insult of all came from Tybalt which was “villain” this was a very hurtful insult and would have shocked the audience. Tybalt says “Thou art a villain” towards Romeo when he will not fight him. After the first fight when Mercutio has been wounded by Tybalt he curses both the Montagues and the Capulets This would frighten the audience because they were very superstitious at the time. Mercutio uses the words “a plague on both your houses!” three times during this scene as it is because of the Montagues and Capulets hatred for each other that he is dying. He blames Romeo for his death by saying to him “ I was hurt under your arm”. Mercutio is blaming Romeo because he was fatally wounded when Romeo tried to pull him away from the fight. This will have made Romeo feel very guilty. Although this is a very dramatic scene it is also quite humorous when Mercutio starts to tease Benvolio with silly accusations like “Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason because thou hast hazel eyes”, “Thy head is full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat”, “Thou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street, because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun” and “ With another for tying his new shoes with an old ribbon”. Another funny part of this scene is when Tybalt says to Mercutio and Benvolio “Gentlemen, good den. A word with one of you” but Mercutio replies by saying “Couple it with something make it a word and a blow”. At the end of Act 3 scene 1 rhyming couplets are used. This is telling the audience that this an important part of the play. Most of the characters use rhyming couplets at the end of the scene. Lady Capulet uses rhyming couplets when she is speaking to the prince such as “he is a kinsman to the Montagues ; affection makes him false, he speaks no true”. She also says “ I beg for justice, which thou must give. Romeo slew Tybalt  ; Romeo must not live”. The prince uses rhyming couplets as well when he says “And for that offence we do exile him hence”. Shakespeare uses rhyming couplets in this scene because it shows how important this scene is and it will make the audience listen to the Prince giving his verdict.

Dramatic Irony is a device used when the audience know something about the play or person that the other characters do not know. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony in act 3 scene 1 when Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt because he has just been married to Juliet.  None of the characters can understand why but the audience do know why. This adds conflict and tension to the scene because Tybalt  has called him a “villain” but he still will not fight him and only he and the audience know why he won’t fight. The reason that Tybalt wants to fight Romeo is because Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio all gate crashed the Capulets’ ball . Tybalt saw them at the party but before he could confront them he was stopped by Lord Capulet and now he wants his revenge. The audience know this but Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio do not know this. This adds conflict and tension because Tybalt is furious at them but only Tybalt and the audience know this.

Both of the fights in act 3 scene 1 are very different because in the first fight between Tybalt and Mercutio they start by insulting each other. Then Romeo enters and Tybalt switches his attention to Romeo. When Romeo does not fight Tybalt Mercutio steps in because Tybalt has insulted Romeo. When they start to fight they are not fighting to the death. So this will keep the interest of the audience. When Romeo grabs hold of Mercutio to pull him away from the fight he is accidentally stabbed by Tybalt under Romeo’s arm and he then flees from the fight scene. Mercutio then blames Romeo for his death which makes him angry and want to get revenge on Tybalt. The second  fight in this scene is a lot different to the first fight as it is a lot more serious because this is a fight to the death. Romeo’s temper has changed a lot because at the start of the scene he is very calm and happy because has just married Juliet but he is now angry at Tybalt because he killed Mercutio. He shows this by saying “Fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!” and “Mercutio’s  soul is but a little way above our  heads waiting for thine to keep him company”. They start to fight but straight away the audience would be able to tell that this fight is a very serious fight. This would be a shock to the audience because this fight is the complete opposite to the fight earlier in the scene because this is a fight to the death and it is very dramatic. Romeo then slays Tybalt and flees. Both of these fights are very different and the audience would react differently to them. During the first fight the audience would feel calm because they know it is not a very serious fight. In the second fight the audience maybe shocked or astounded by the fight because this is a fight to the death.

Act 3 scene 1 is a very important scene in Romeo and Juliet because it is the central scene of the play which ultimately leads to the tragedy. This scene includes the two fights and the deaths of Tybalt and Mercutio it also includes Romeo refusing to fight Tybalt but then wanting revenge. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony in this scene. This scene also includes the prince’s decision to exile Romeo from Verona. The prince’s decision is a very important part of the play because the Capulets want revenge on Romeo for killing Tybalt but the prince ignores them and decides to exile him instead. This scene is the turning point in the play because it changes the play from a romance to a tragedy. This would leave the audience feeling sad after the deaths of Tybalt and Mercutio but also for Romeo because he has been exiled from Verona.