With reference to the two productions, discuss the dramatic significance of Mercutio and Tybalt's death scenes in Act 3, Scene 1 of 'Romeo & Juliet' by William Shakespeare

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Ben Palmer 10s

With reference to the two productions, discuss the dramatic significance of Mercutio and Tybalt’s death scenes in Act 3, Scene 1 of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ by William Shakespeare

      ‘Romeo & Juliet’ is possibly the most well known, most famous of all of William Shakespeare's masterpieces. It is well known as a romantic tragedy, however, surprisingly it does include lighthearted comedy in the first two Acts. Mercutio seems to give the first two acts an almost comical feel to them, with his prancing and fooling around. However, this all seems to change when he is slain by Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin. After this, sequences of events occur, that ultimately lead to the death of Romeo and his Juliet. It is as though that as this scene ends, the fate of the lovers is inevitable, as Friar Lawrence already indicated in Act 2 Scene 6;

‘These violent delights have violent ends’

      As Romeo and Juliet are married in secret, a sense of dramatic irony comes into play as they are married, yet know one else knows, topped by the antagonistic feelings between the Capulets and the Montagues. The audience is lured into a false sense of security with all the events leading up to Act 3 Scene 1, as everything is joyful and fun, so that the events that follow in Act 3 Scene 1 come as a greater shock to the audience.

      Act 3 Scene 1 begins with Benvolio (Romeo’s Cousin) and Mercutio, wandering around the streets of Verona. Mercutio is bored and want something to do, so acts the fool and draws attention to him, whilst Benvolio is worried that they will encounter the Capulettes and get into a fight, which, I think, is what Mercutio secretly wants to happen, provoking Benvolio;

‘Thou art like one of these fellow… when he enters the confides of the tavern, claps me his sword upon the table’

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      Here, he is saying that Benvolio has a very short temper and is easily wound up, indicating that he truly is very bored, as even though Benvolio is his friend, he wants to stir things up. In the Franko Zefferelli version of Romeo & Juliet, he has Mercutio wear a handkerchief over his head and make silly noises, where as in the Baz Luhrman production, Mercutio shoots at the waves in the sea. The frustrating weather is also emphasised frequently through-out the beginning of the scene;

‘The day is hot’

Along with this heat comes ...

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