Romeo and Juliet - The purpose of the beginning is for a change of atmosphere, this indicates change of scene. No stage curtains, servants having nothing around them allow them to bring on props for the New Scene.

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Richard Jones 11R

                                                   Romeo and Juliet 

                                   English Coursework

The purpose of the beginning is for a change of atmosphere, this indicates change of scene. No stage curtains, servants having nothing around them allow them to bring on props for the New Scene.

The audiences expectations moving into this scene is that something big and important is going to happen as well as tension, this is due to the servants rushing around getting everywhere ready, an example of the rush and tension is when the first servant gives short commands “away with the joint stools, remove the court cupboard, look to the plate”. What also could add a lot of tension to the audience is that at the end of the last scene we found out that there is a big feud between the Montague’s and the Capulet, we Know that the party is for Capulet, but we also know that Romeo will be attending and he is a Montague.

The purpose of the beginning is to change the atmosphere and create a contrast with the previous scene, making the audience eager to watch to see what is going to happen. The audience are eager to continue watching because in the scene before there was a feud, and the audience sense something will happen at the ball. Shakespeare needed to include this section to show the audience that this ball is a big occasion, and the rush of the servants emphasizes this.

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Capulet jovial and welcoming manner should relax the audience but it does the opposite due to them knowing that Romeo will attend the ball, and the inevitable feeling that Romeo will be recognised. What makes the recognition even more inevitable is that Capulet is at the entrance to the ball

Tension is relieved when Romeo is not recognised by Capulet but there is still the feeling that Romeo will be found out someway or another.

When Romeo sets eyes on Juliet he is overwhelmed by her presence and beauty, he immediately forgets about Rosalie his love. This ...

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