Using your knowledge of the range of reasons for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet in what sense does Shakespeare create dramatic tension?

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Laura Hogan 11 Sefton

Using your knowledge of the range of reasons for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet in what sense does Shakespeare create dramatic tension?  

'Romeo and Juliet' die as a direct consequence of the war and feuding within their society.  The main themes in the play; fate, feuds, domineering fathers, and adolescent passion, coincide with the fatal mistakes each character makes contributing to the tragedy at the end of the play.  The audience never quite knows what to expect and the fortuitous events create dramatic tension between the characters and the audience.  Shakespeare's characters and the language he uses pertaining to love fear and hate, establishes a hostile and merciless atmosphere.  Shakespeare’s repetition of oxymorons, metaphors and similes formulates imagery, puns and sonnets.  

The prologue is written in the form of a sonnet, a fourteen line poetic piece of writing.  Shakespeare’s use of phrases for example, 'a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life’ and 'death marked love' creating a sense of atmospheric tension before the play has begun.  The audience would therefore realise that their love is doomed from the start that their death is written in the stars.  The audience is foretold the outcome of the play, allowing an overview of the action of 'Romeo and Juliet'.  The audience witnesses the couple struggling to achieve a peaceful marriage.  The other characters are however, oblivious to this marriage, and the audience waits in anticipation for their failure.  

The character of the Friar was created to take the majority of the responsibility for the deaths of 'Romeo and Juliet'.  Being aware of the family's feuding, the Friar devises a plan

        'to turn your household's rancour into pure love' through the marriage of 'Romeo and Juliet'.  (Act 2 Scene 3, line 92)

The Friar sees himself as superior by believing that he can change the course of history.  He is desperate for respect and at the end of the play runs from Juliet in fear of being exposed for his failure.  

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The murder of Tybalt would have shocked the Elizabethan audience because they have not yet seen Romeo play any part in the feud.  He is drawn into the fight against his will, his pride and love for Juliet gives him the power he needs to defeat Tybalt.  Romeo's regret immediately after the murder of Tybalt creates dramatic tension.  'I am fortunes fool'.  When Romeo realise the consequences of what he has done, the audience realises that he has not only been banished from Verona, but has also has been torn from life itself,         'Heaven is here where Juliet lives.' ...

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