Romeo and Juliet are made to face reality, which are two very depressing choices. “I must be gone and live, or stay and die.” The language Shakespeare uses makes the audience feel sorry for Romeo as he has a no win situation. “I have more care to stay than will to go. Come death, and welcome, Juliet wills it so.” This situation creates dramatic effect, as Romeo would rather die than to be separated from Juliet. This also demonstrates how strong their love is.
This scene is important because hints and clues are given to the audience about what is going to happen later on in the play. “As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.” Shakespeare has used dramatic irony here because when Juliet is saying that she sees Romeo dead, the audience doesn’t suspect that this is what will happen at the end. This creates dramatic effect, as it is telling the audience clearly what is going to happen without them realising.
Before Romeo leaves, Juliet is pessimistic and questions if they will ever meet again. “O’think’st we shall ever meet again?” This again is dramatic effect as the next time they will meet again it will be very tragic. Shakespeare does this to increase tension and keep the audience in suspense. The last words that Romeo says to Juliet are “Adieu, adieu.” These words are delivered more intensely than any other line spoken by Romeo in this scene. Romeo verbalises the words in French, this symbolises romance and affection, and also it creates dramatic effect because their love will not last much longer. At this point the audience are made to feel sympathetic towards them. Shakespeare gives clear stage directions for this scene to take part on the balcony, as it is very important in the play. The balcony was the first place they met and now it will be the last.
Stage directions are used to create dramatic effect, “Enter Nurse hastily.” The word ‘hastily’ increases dramatic effect, as the audience do not want Romeo to get caught. As he is in the house of the enemy and if he got caught the consequences could be dreadful. Also the way the Nurse speaks increases urgency, “Be wary, look about.” Shakespeare increases dramatic effect by using a short, snappy sentence, which is more like a command rather than advice.
There is dramatic effect when Lord Capulet enters, as the audience are worried about how he will react to Juliet's refusal to marrying Paris. Once again Shakespeare throws in another twist to wake up the audience and keep them in suspense. When Lord Capulet enters the scene he uses an extended simile, to show how proud he is of his decision. Furthermore he jokes in the conversation, which stresses how proud he is. “Evermore showering, in one little body”. This cheerful side to Lord Capulet here immediately builds tension and the audience start to feel sympathetic towards Juliet. However the audience only began to feel the tension clearly at its ultimate when lord Capulet questions his wife. “Have you delivered to her our decree?” The word ‘decree’ indicates to the audience that it his word goes and that he is in control. This clearly shows he has a very dominant nature.
In Lady Capulet's reply, she uses dramatic irony. “Ay, sir, but she will none, she gives you thanks. I would the fool were married to her grave.” Shakespeare hints to the audience about what is going to happen to Juliet later on in the play. This creates dramatic effect as it shows how quick her parents are to abandon her, and the audience feel sympathy for her.
Lord Capulet’s impatience begins to show. “Take me with you, take me with you wife.” Here, the use of repetition increases dramatic effect and shows how confused and furious Lord Capulet is. Lord Capulet begins to ask a series of rhetorical questions. “How will she non? Doth she not thank us? Is she not proud?” All these questions are used to patronise Juliet and express his anger. Furthermore he even insults her, as he is fuming with rage at this point. “You green sick-ness carrion out. You baggage! You tallow face!” This will make the audience feel sympathetic for Juliet as her own father is talking to her in such a hurtful way.
The way Shakespeare positions his characters and the stage direction, also builds dramatic effect. “She kneels down” This physical demonstration shows the just how desperate she is. This creates dramatic effect, as it will immediately make the audience feel more pitiful and despair towards Juliet and hatred towards the father.
However there still is no end to his anger. Lord Capulet then gets possessed into a violent rage. Even his Lady Capulet is appalled. “What are you mad?” It is as though there is no stop to Lord Capulet’s anger and fury that Lady Capulet has to beg. Dramatic effect is shown through Lord Capulet’s behaviour and the language that he uses. “But fettle your fine joints ‘gainst Thursday next, … or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.” In the Elizabethan times a hurdle was used to take criminals to where they were going to be executed. If Capulet is saying he would take her to the church in such an embarrassing way, it shows just how angry he feels towards Juliet. By looking at the character interaction between Juliet and her father, you can clearly see they do not have a very close relationship.
In addition, more dramatic effect is created when Lord Capulet gives Juliet an ultimatum. “And you be mine, I’ll give you to a friend; And you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets.” In the 16th century, fathers had much more power and control over their daughters. Young girls were expected to obey their fathers and in a way their fathers owned them. So if Lord Capulet said that she was disowned then she would be left on the streets all alone. The Shakespearean audience would understand the harshness of this punishment but a Modern day audience might miss this reference, as nowadays there is quite a lot of help for people on the streets.
Shakespeare also increases the dramatic effect with Lady Capulet's departure by the language she uses. “Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word. Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.” The four harsh statements sum up Lady Capulet's attitude. She has now totally disowned Juliet and does not care for her anymore. This clearly shows the depth of the relationship between them. Also Juliet addresses to her mother as ‘madam’, in the Elizabethan times it was thought to be respectful. However, a modern audience would find this a bit strange, as nowadays people address their mothers by calling them a name, which is mostly out of love rather than respect.
Juliet is now depending on the Nurse and turns to her for support. However the Nurse has to win back the trust of her Lord so she says to Juliet, “ I think it best you marry with the County. O, he is a lovely gentleman: Romeo's a dish clout to him.” Juliet’s response is “Well, thou hast comforted me much”. Juliet's ironic response to the Nurse shows how deeply hurt she is by her old friends lack of support. Juliet’s father and mother have already rejected her, but now even the Nurse has. The audience feels sorry for Juliet as no one supports her, making Juliet feel that everyone has betrayed her and are against her, therefore she states, "If all else fail, myself have power to die." Shakespeare creates dramatic effect by showing how Juliet must be feeling so disappointed and depressed that she would rather kill herself than to re-marry.
In conclusion you can clearly see that Shakespeare has created dramatic effect throughout this scene by using language and character interaction. In this scene there is huge dramatic impact, as the turning point comes and completely changes things. At the beginning of the scene Romeo and Juliet are deeply in love and together, and it seems like nothing can go wrong. Then by the end of the scene Romeo and Juliet are both deserted and all alone. Romeo is all alone as he is banished, and Juliet because even though she is surrounded by people, every one has turned against her, including her nurse who she had a special connection with as she was closer to her than her own mother.
