Why is act 3 scene 5 so effective in Romeo and Juliet?

Authors Avatar

  Act three scene five is one of the most important scenes in the play Romeo and Juliet. The reason for this is, is the fact that it is an effective piece of drama. It has meaningful lines which are well written and well acted to make it so effective. Romeo and Juliet is read in almost every school today and has influenced other plays and films like 2003’s Underworld, where it was more or less the same, except the Montague’s and Capulet’s were replaced with vampires and werewolves.

  In the previous scene, we have heard Capulet talking with Paris about the forthcoming marriage between Paris and Juliet. At the beginning of act three five, we learn that Romeo and Juliet have spent the night together. This mixed with Romeo’s recognition that if he stays he will die, and our knowledge of what is likely to happen if they are caught, provide the audience with a dramatic opening to the scene.

  The events of act three scene five effects the rest of the play in a larger and more superior scale than any other scene. The scene contains action packed romantic moments which interest the audience and keep them on their toes, which makes the scene the core of the play. Romeo has been sent into exile and the pain really starts to kick in because the newly wedded Romeo and Juliet have to say goodbye to each other, knowing there is a chance they will never see each other again which makes the goodbye scene a memorable moment for the audience.

  The exchange between Romeo and Juliet in which Romeo speaks of being “put to death” hints at future disturbance. It reminds us that despite their declaration of love for each other all is not well, there is a tense atmosphere lurking under the surface. Juliet’s exchange with her mother reveals that she mistakenly believes that Juliet weeps for Tybalt. The tension as Lady Capulet callously vows to have her revenge on Romeo;

“We shall give him such an unaccustomed dram. That he shall soon keep Tybalt Company”

Join now!

We know by this quote as Lady Capulet uses dramatic irony that Romeo will indeed join Tybalt in the near future and lady Capulet sees Romeo as been a criminal. At the same time, Juliet reveals in an aside to the audience that she desperately seeks to deceive her parents into believing that she too wishes that Romeo was dead, heightens the drama of the scene and shows the effect of death and how it takes it toll.

   Another reason why the scene is so effective is because of the vehemence with which Capulet attacks Juliet when she ...

This is a preview of the whole essay