How does Shakespeare make Act3 Scene1 of Romeo and Julliet dramatic for the audience?

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Shakespeare assignment:

J. Thompson:

                  “How does Shakespeare make Act3 Scene1 dramatic for the audience?”

intro:

Shakespeare is a very dramatic playwright and his works continue to affect people today. He evokes his audiences’ emotions, through the use of many dramatic techniques. Romeo & Juliet is an especially dramatic story of “two star-crossed lovers”; And Act 3 Scene 1, on which we are focusing this assignment, is particularly powerful.

Before act3sc1:

Due to the theatre enacted in the previous scenes; much knowledge is brought through by the audience into Act 3 Scene 1. For example the Prince’s warning in Act 1 Scene 1, lines 98-99 “If you ever disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace!” foreshadows this scene as a prediction of the future, making the scene dramatic as the audience are kept in suspense as to whether it will come apparent or not; the warning also serves as an ultimatum used to discourage the vengant characters (i.e. Tybalt and Mercutio) from causing more trouble.

Another example is that of the preceding nuptial scene of Juliet and Romeo which we as an audience are aware of but the other characters, excluding the aforementioned and Friar Lawrence, are not. We as an audience therefore know that the two feuding families (the Montague’s and the Capulet’s) are now related and so this installs a sense of hope that the families shall cease the fighting and call a peaceful truce. The audience are also curious as there have been many questions left unanswered for example will Romeo and Juliet tell their parents? And if so, how will this affect the relationship between the two families? Shakespeare evokes these emotions because they make the scene more dramatic and involve the audience into the script as they feel for the characters ignorance of the change of situation.

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The marital scene lulls the audience into a false sense of hopefulness for the young lovers, it immediately precedes the fight scene of Act 3 Scene 1 because in this way Shakespeare manipulates his audience to ensure the best reaction possible by using such a strong contrast between the scenes – one which entices feelings of hope and love; the other of fear and death.

As a recompense of the previous enactments we also know what traits each of Act 3 Scene 1’s characters have and what there motives are. E.g. We understand Mecutio to be a jokey and thrill ...

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There are some relevant points made in this essay but the communication of ideas is not very well executed. It is essential to have a very clear essay plan that sets out how you will structure your findings. 4 Stars