Looking closely at the characters and language in Romeo and Juliet, analyse the dramatic effectiveness of Act 3, Scene 5
Sarah~Jane Beck 11W
"Romeo and Juliet"
Looking closely at the characters and language in Romeo and Juliet, analyse the dramatic effectiveness of Act 3, Scene 5
William Shakespeare wrote "Romeo and Juliet" in 1954, although the basic plot of the story can be traced back as early as the third century. In the play, Shakespeare relies heavily on the poem " The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet" by Arthur Brooke. Most of the people in the Elizabethan era were perceptive enough to concentrate on how the play was being performed and engaged themselves in the language the characters were using. Shakespeare's' audiences had different expectations towards his play. As many of them recognised the story already, they were settled enough to watch it, providing the dramatist's interpretation proved to be unique and original.
I have been looking closely at Act 3, Scene 5 where Romeo and Juliet have just been secretly married. The scene opens with the two lovers having to part quickly after the Nurse informs Juliet her mother is swiftly approaching. Already a dramatic atmosphere is created, the audience is almost waiting for Romeo and Juliet to be caught out, this they know can simply not happen. Juliet is understandably tearful; Romeo is sympathetic and supportive towards her, showing he really cares for her:
" I will omit no opportunity
That will convey my greetings, love, to thee"
All this is in comparison to later scenes in the play showing Juliet solitary and unsupported. Between the two lovers, there is a great difference, Romeo appears more optimistic than Juliet who is full of fear, sensing premonitions of her next seeing Romeo dead in a tomb. Her premonitions affect the audience, making them apprehensive and tense:
" O God, I have an ill- divining soul!
Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low
As one dead in the bottom of a tomb."
The audience hears these harsh, severe words and are reminded of Romeo's earlier startling premonition that he would die young:
"...My mind misgives
Some consequence not yet hanging in the stars....
By come vile forfeit of untimely death."
A chilling effect is created on those viewing the play as they start to realise and understand the significance of the two premonitions. By looking back into earlier scenes, dramatic effectiveness is created. Juliet uses language that shows how she is fearful of how her life with Romeo could easily be destroyed. She speaks to him strongly, showing a strong contrast to her soft words used previously. The strong bond that has been created between the two lovers before the audience's eyes is momentarily going to be destroyed, tension is created as an aftermath of this feeling.
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A chilling effect is created on those viewing the play as they start to realise and understand the significance of the two premonitions. By looking back into earlier scenes, dramatic effectiveness is created. Juliet uses language that shows how she is fearful of how her life with Romeo could easily be destroyed. She speaks to him strongly, showing a strong contrast to her soft words used previously. The strong bond that has been created between the two lovers before the audience's eyes is momentarily going to be destroyed, tension is created as an aftermath of this feeling.
This tension carries on and becomes hugely greater as the news of County Paris' proposal is first heard of. The audience watch, already aware of the proposal, as the news is given to an extremely shocked Juliet. They wait anxiously for Juliet's sake as she learns of it, and so a dramatic effectiveness is cast over them.
The scene is made effective by the use of irony from Lady Capulet. As Lady Capulet refers to her " joyful tidings" and Juliet's response is ironically a pleased one:
" And joy comes well in such a needy time"
But then the audience sees the real reason of Lady Capulet's announcement and the hesitation of the crucial words proves to be highly dramatic,
" Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride"
Juliet' intense anger would make great drama on stage, she shows her raging reaction well:
" Now by Saint Peter's church and Peter too
He shall not make me there a joyful bride!"
Juliet's response shows exactly how she is feeling about the matter; she does not hold back at all. The audience knows the dilemma she is facing, one of bigamy, they are deeply involved and show much needed sympathy to Juliet. In the conversation that follows the cold and sharp language both Juliet and her mother used are very effective. Both sides address each other very formally, Juliet calling Lady Capulet, " My Lady", "Mother" where Lady Capulet calls Juliet " girl" and " child". This doesn't seem to be the language one would expect from a close knit and loving family. This could lead to the conclusion that Juliet's relationship is far from the relationship she has with Romeo; a loving and stable one.
When Lord Capulet enters Juliet's room, it proves to be a significantly dramatic scene because of the violence and fury portrayed by Lord Capulet. He arrives in her room in a threatening manner, his wife shows fear warning us to expect the worst,
" Here comes your father. Tell him so yourself
And see how he will take it at your hands."
Lord Capulet does not expect Juliet to disobey him, he would simply expect grateful thanks and obedience from his daughter. He portrays himself as someone who is used to getting his own way and the way that he regards himself as royalty emphasises to his huge ego and elevated formal language,
" Have you delivered to our decree?"
He shows great enthusiasm as he enters Juliet's room, he seems delighted with his plan and congratulates himself on stage. Being the only man on stage, he is showing domination and the audience can see that he likes to be in control. He makes the women afraid; his centre role on stage is showing this.
His language that he uses is indeed very dramatic and effective. He poses questions on Juliet, being sharp and short when he does so showing how bewildered he is, and he vociferously attacks his daughter overwhelming her with numerous questions which she does not have time to answer,
" How? Will she none? Doth she not give us thanks?"
Capulet's sentence construction is cleverly disjointed emphasising greatly on his anger that is building up rapidly. He shows more of an interest in finding a way to answer Juliet's questions and his concern is more about his cleverness than the distress of his only daughter. He uses aggressive terms to Juliet, " you greensickness carrion", " young baggage", both examples are very aggressive and denegrating. He becomes very angry, frightening Juliet with his threats of physical violence and verbal abuse and shocking the audience as he does so. Lady Capulet shows she has no maternal instinct or tenderness when she tries to defend her daughter properly. As the Nurse sees this, she seems she can no longer watch as poor Juliet is violated by her father, and so lovingly intervenes to try and help Juliet. Some humour is provided here as Lord Capulet uses sarcasm towards her; he shows how he is extremely opinionated in his expectations of women:
" My Lady Wisdom" and " you mumbling fool"
An Elizabethan audience would enjoy the use of irony and the play on words.
Capulet ensures that he makes a very dramatic exit, showing his words are final. He shows strong emotions, he's undoubtedly angry with Juliet, he has been let down by her. The final threat he makes to her before leaving her room is extremely effective,
" And you be mine, I'll give you to my friend
And you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets."
Capulet's use of the stark monosyllables adds to the effectiveness, they are very revealing, showing how much of a bully he is. His final threat disgusts the audience; they feel nothing for the petty man.
After Lord Capulet, Juliet and her mother exchange a brief and silent conversation. Juliet's pain and anguish is extremely moving, she shows desperation beyond belief:
" O sweet mother, cast me not away"
Almost in unison with Lord Capulet, Lady Capulet also rejects Juliet. She doesn't appear angry, more icy and unnatural towards her daughter:
" Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee"
A shocked audience meets these words; they too share Juliet's hatred for Lady Capulet. Their hearts go out to Juliet, they know the pain she is suffering and they offer up much needed sympathy to her, certain people would be able to empathise with her.
In her desperation for just one person to understand her and offer help, Juliet turns to the Nurse. The audience can see how much distress Juliet is in, they are desperately eager for Juliet's sake that the Nurse can offer up a solution. However, the suggestion that she gives is disappointing and unexpected:
" Then since the case so stands as no it doth
I think it is best you married with the county."
Nothing but pity is felt for Juliet, as she has to hear these words, yet she stays loyal to Romeo even during severe provocation. Juliet despises the Nurses' advice, she does not welcome her hypocrisy towards Romeo and she makes the Nurse know this:
" Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend!"
Her language is extreme and works well in creating a dramatic effect. Juliet, who is young and romantic, shows a strong contrast to the Nurse who is old, cynical and practical. The Nurse, who Juliet has trusted all her life, has let her down in a way she never thought she could. She dispatches the Nurse from her life, and acts with detachment towards her using heavy irony,
" Well, thou has comforted me marvellous much"
The audience sees Juliet mature towards the end of the scene, in a way she has too keep strong for both her and Romeo's sake. She has been isolated and abandoned by every person that claims to love her; it appears she has no one to turn too.
The scene is made extremely effective by the language used by all the characters; their different moods shown by them adds to this effect. The main factor that contributes greatly to this scene is the amount of contrast shown. The audience is able to watch and almost be in the scene themselves due to the sudden contrast in the language, behaviour and characters shown. Juliet's character is one that develops significantly throughout the play. She shows she is strong willed and independent, in strong contrast to Lord and Lady Capulet. The scene is full of tension, this increase rapidly to the inevitable climax at the end. As the audience is left wondering when Juliet's marriage will be found out, the tension mounts even more.
The final scene shows Juliet isolated and totally alone. This can be linked to how she is feeling in the last scene of the play. She stays utterly loyal to Romeo and her feelings; she betrays her family for love where ultimately she dies for love:
" Of Juliet and her Romeo"
The final line of the play pays tribute to Juliet. I believe that Shakespeare chose to place Juliet's name before Romeo's because she consistently proves herself to be a stronger and more courageous character.
