Comment on Shakespeare's Stagecraft in Act 3, Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet

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Comment on Shakespeare’s Stagecraft in Act 3, Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet.

‘Romeo and Juliet’, the romantic tragedy written by William Shakespeare in 1594-1595 is about two teenaged ‘star-crossed lovers’ from rival families  falling in love, and ending up on their death bed together in a joint suicide.

        Act 3, Scene 5 is significant because it starts with Romeo and Juliet’s last hours together then ends catastrophically with Juliet and her parents having an argument about the hand of marriage to Paris. It is important because it expresses Romeo and Juliet’s infatuation with each other; Lord Capulet’s rancour with Juliet’s hesitation to marry Paris; The Nurse’s and Juliet’s relationship deteriorates during the end. This scene relates to the themes of; Love versus Hate when Romeo says goodbye to Juliet and when Lord Capulet shout at her to marry Paris; Light versus Dark when Juliet tries to convince Romeo to stay she uses metaphors and personification she says that it is still night because she knows it is day and he has to leave; Life versus Death when Juliet has a premonition that she see Romeo dead in a tomb, this dramatic irony because we know they die.

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         Shakespeare presents a wide range of emotions, atmosphere and characteristics in Act 3, Scene 5. Romeo is portrayed as a love sick, young teen when he says ‘Farewell, farewell! One kiss and I’ll descend.’ This extracted line uses repetition to demonstrate and emphasise that they do not want to part. Romeo says ‘goodbye’ five times to show his reluctance to leave. Shakespeare uses the word ‘kiss’ to imply he is enamoured with Juliet.

        Romeo thinks the world of Juliet and displays perilous behaviour when he tells Juliet ‘I have more care to stay than will to go’ and ‘Come death ...

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