“I must be gone and live, or stay and die.”
This suggests that Romeo is more of a realist and he recognizes the seriousness of the situation that he is in. As the married couple continue, the nurse enters hurriedly and before she even reveals her news to the pair, Juliet becomes anxious since the nurse says “Madam!” in an obvious urgency demonstrated by the exclamation mark. The nurse then goes on to say that “The day is broke, be wary, look about,” creating tension as she states this in a frantic manner. Juliet then uses personification to show that she is losing her husband,
“Then, window, let day in, and let life out.”
The image that the personification gives that effect that Juliet is now losing her love as she loses her life, which occurs as the day begins. In addition, this also serves to allow Juliet to seem even more upset by Romeo’s leaving. On top of this, Romeo uses repetition to show that he must leave,
“Farewell, farewell.”
Even though Romeo does not want to leave, as he says farewell twice, Romeo is showing that he is the more realistic of the pair by exiting before Juliet’s parents arrive. As Romeo climbs down from her balcony, Juliet asks, “O think’st thou we shall ever meet again?” This demonstrates irony as the audience knows this to be true while the characters do not since their death is revealed by the chorus at the beginning of the play.
As Romeo exits the stage, Lady Capulet attempts to comfort her daughter as she appears to be upset. As mother and daughter begin to talk, Lady Capulet believes that Juliet is saddened by the loss of her cousin when in fact Juliet is distressed over Romeo’s banishment.
“I cannot choose but ever weep the friend.”
This suggests that Juliet is a very intelligent young girl as she uses her words correctly in order to create statements that have double meanings. The effect of this is that more tension is created as then Juliet has to deceive her mother in believing what she is saying. Lady Capulet further creates tension as she chastises Juliet,
“What, wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears?”
This metaphor makes evident that Lady Capulet believes that Juliet is crying too much and that her grief is over exaggerated for the death of her cousin. The way in which Lady Capulet responds to Juliet suggests that the mother is unsympathetic towards her daughter. Lady Capulet goes on to state that she believes Romeo to be a villain; Juliet responds by saying for “God pardon him, I do with all my heart: And yet no man like he doth grieve my heart,” this demonstrates Juliet’s dramatic nature as she uses vivid language to demonstrate the pain of Romeo leaving her. As well, Juliet once again misleads her mother into believing that she feeling vengeful towards Romeo over the death of Tybalt. After this discussion, Lady Capulet says “But now I’ll tell thee joyful tidings, girl.” This statement is ironic as Juliet is already married and her mother is about to tell her of an arranged marriage. Juliet begins to question her mother about the happy events that are about to take place, showing that Juliet is very inquisitive. This also demonstrates dramatic irony as the audience realizes that she will be hysterical when she recognizes what Lady Capulet is about to tell her. After this, Lady Capulet begins to take on a more sympathetic and caring temperament.
“To put thee from thy heaviness, Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy…”
This shows that Lady Capulet is trying to win over Juliet before she tells her daughter of her father’s arrangement by saying that they are only doing this to make Juliet happy again. The tension begins to increase as Lady Capulet builds up suspense towards Juliet as she describes Paris’s qualities before finally breaking the news of their arranged marriage. Juliet responds to this in anger,
“Now by Saint Peter’s Church and Peter too, He shall not make me there a joyful bride.”
Juliet’s use of blasphemy enhances her anger towards her parents for organizing her marriage. This creates tensions between mother and daughter as Lady Capulet believes that Juliet is over reacting. When Juliet says that Paris will not make her happy, tension is produced as this is the exact opposite reaction that her mother expected from Juliet. As Shakespeare uses an exclamation mark at the end of Juliet’s last sentence, “These are news indeed!” her anger and shock are once again demonstrated as the statement is short and also because of the punctuation used at the end of the sentence. Nervousness is created for Juliet as she and the audience both know that she will be disobeying her father if she does not marry Paris. As a result, irony is created throughout this conversation as Juliet misleads her mother on several occasions while the audience actually knows what Juliet means. Furthermore, dramatic tension is created as a result of this irony because Juliet continues to lie about her emotional state.
When he first enters the room with the nurse, Capulet is in a good mood as he believes that his daughter will have agreed to marry Paris. As Capulet talks to the group, he uses several metaphors to demonstrate Juliet’s grief and how it is affecting her.
“But for the sunset of my brother’s son, It rains downright…For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea, Do ebb and flow with tears…”
The effect of this language gives an ironic sense for the audience as Capulet believes Juliet is weeping over the death of Tybalt instead of the man that she is now married to. The quotation also serves to show that Capulet is an intelligent and well-spoken man and believes that what he is doing is best for his daughter. As Capulet speaks to his wife, tension and irony are created as the audience knows that Juliet has already turned down the chance to marry Paris while Capulet is thrilled because he still believes otherwise. Lady Capulet is then shown to be a submissive wife as she does not defend her daughter or her decision.
“…She will none, she gives you thanks. I would the fool were married to her grave.” The quotation creates an ironic mood for the audience as Juliet will die with her husband while they are both lying next to each other on a grave. In response, Capulet gives evidence that he is shocked and confused as he poses several questions which also serve to build tension as Capulet wants to obtain a reason from his daughter. As Capulet says “Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought…”, he is demonstrating his low opinion of Juliet as she is a woman and that he considers that what he has done for Juliet is good for her. This shows that Capulet is beginning to get more angry with Juliet as she does more to infuriate her father.
As Capulet begins to get furious, he orders Juliet to marry Paris which further creates dramatic irony as the audience knows Juliet to be married to Romeo. Capulet continues to use metaphors to show his anger with Juliet,
“Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage! You tallow-face!”
When he uses these metaphors, Capulet is increasing the tension by humiliating his daughter and using very threatening language against her. In addition, the metaphors clearly illustrate Capulet’s violent and aggressive nature towards anyone who opposes him. Juliet understands that nothing she can say can persuade her father to halt his violent accusations as she begins to beg at his feet.
“I beseech you on my knees…”
This groveling makes Capulet seem more powerful as his daughter attempts to calm his anger as it increases almost to the point of violence, shown when his “fingers itch,” meaning that Capulet is ready to strike his daughter. After this, the nurse states that she believes Capulet to be the blame and that he is getting too angry towards his daughter. Dramatic tension is created as this only serves to get Capulet even more livid. Capulet then demonstrates that he does care about Juliet by showing that he always thinks about her marrying a worthy gentleman,
“Day, night, hour, tide, time work, play, Alone, in company – still my care hat been To have her match’d.” This creates tension because the punctuation, mainly the commas, demonstrates the amount of time that her father has put into making Juliet’s life worthwhile. Thus, the quotation suggests that if Juliet were to decline Paris’s offer of marriage, she would also be ignoring all of the time that her father has put into her life so that she can marry. Capulet once again insults Juliet by saying she is a “whining mammet” when she is about to receive some manner of good fortune. Additional anxiety is created as Capulet is about to reach his boiling point. Subsequently, Capulet gives his daughter an ultimatum,
“You will not wed, I’ll pardon you: Graze where you will, you shall not house with me.” This is the climax of the scene as the emotion and dramatic tension comes to its climax as Capulet demands that Juliet marries Paris or he will disown her. This creates tension since Juliet knows that she will not be able to survive in society by herself. Capulet leaves as Juliet begins to beg her mother,
“Make the bridal bed In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.” Dramatic irony is created as the tomb is the place of Romeo and Juliet’s death. In addition, Juliet still attempts to use Tybalt as an excuse not to marry Paris Lady Capulet is further shown to be unsympathetic towards her daughter as she tells Juliet “Talk not to me, for I’ll speak a word. Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.” This creates nervousness as Juliet’s hopes of having someone stand up for her are becoming slim. Juliet then proceeds to turn to the nurse as her mother has left the stage,
“O Nurse, how shall this be prevented?...What sayst thou? Hast thou not a word of joy? Some comfort, Nurse?” The questions that Juliet poses to the Nurse show that Juliet is now alone in her home and that Juliet needs someone who understands her situation to aid her in her decision. After the argument that Capulet and the Nurse had earlier in the scene, the Nurse has suddenly changed her position on the matter,
“Romeo Is banished…I think it best you married with the County.” The Nurse’s indecisive nature is demonstrated as she becomes submissive to the power that Capulet has over her. At this tense point in the play, the audience can sympathize with Juliet and the situation that she is in as she realizes that she is completely isolated from everyone around her. As the Nurse leaves and Juliet delivers her final soliloquy, Juliet begins to insult the Nurse for allowing her to feel a false sense of security. Juliet informs the audience that she would instead kill herself than wed Paris. Juliet’s stubbornness is revealed once again as she refuses to give up on her dream of returning to Romeo. Dramatic irony is created as Juliet delivers her final line of the scene,
“If all else fail, myself have power to die.”
Juliet’s dramatic and passionate temperament is once again brought out by her last line as she tells the audience that if she can not have Romeo, Juliet will kill herself. As the audience already know that Romeo and Juliet will die, irony is created for the audience and tension is also added as the scene reaches its end.
As a result of Capulet’s insulting and demanding nature, the passionate language that Juliet utilizes and the acquiescent behaviour of both the Nurse and Lady Capulet, Act 3 Scene 5 of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is both dramatic and tense. Because of the final soliloquy, the audience realizes that Juliet is going to stop at nothing to get her true love back in her arms. In consequence, the mood of the scene creates a feeling that everything is about to come to a dreadful and unfortunate end for the two young lovers.
