For someone in Juliet’s position marrying for love in the 16th century would be seen as disrespectful and the family name and honour would be at risk. Rich people often would get married to another rich and respected family; they were a lot like business deals. Act three is where most of William Shakespeare’s plays start to get more exciting and full of tension. Just before scene five has already started the dramatic tension is at its peak
The scene then starts with Lady Capulet entering and asking how Juliet is. Juliet replies that she is not well. Lady Capulet says:
“Evermore weeping for your cousins death?”
Lady Capulet thinks that Juliet is crying for Tybalt’s death, however we (the audience) know that she is really crying for Romeo.
This play consists of a lot of dramatic irony, this scene in particular.
“Well girl, thou weeps’t not so much for his death
as the villain lives, which slaughtered him.”
This is an ironic quote from lady Capulet as she thinks that Juliet wants Romeo (her husband) dead for murdering Tybalt. Infact Juliet is really crying for Romeo. Juliet says this to the audience:
“[Aside] Villain and he be many miles asunder-
God pardon him! I do, with all my heart” (Act 3 Scene 5)
Notice that she only says this to the audience as the stage direction shows this. This quote also proves that Juliet forgives Romeo for killing Tybalt.
To make us fell more sympathetic towards Juliet, Shakespeare has her lie to her mother and go along with Lady Capulet:
"Ay, madam, from the reach of those my hands;
would none but i venge my cousins death"(Act 3 Scene 5)
Juliet says that she want to kill Romeo with her own hands, and have revenge for Tybalt, it would be difficult for Juliet to say this about Romeo.
Lady Capulet teh says something that has Juliet more worried about Romeo, Lady Capulet says:
"we will have vengence for it, fear thou not;
then weep no more, i'll send one to Mantua"(Act 3 Scene 5)
Lady Capulet is saying that she agrees with Juliet and will send someone to Mantua to kill Romeo. Now Juliet is in a very difficult position.
Juliet then has to go along with her mother by lying to het. She says
"Indeed, I never shall be satisfied
with Romeo, till I behold him -dead-"(Act 3 Scene 5)
Again this is dramatic irony as Juliet dosent want Romeo dead and she does eventually behold him dead.
Just after all this has occured Lady Capulet says to Juliet;
"But now I'll tell thee joyfull tidings,girl."
This quote suggests that Lady Capulet has got good news for Juliet (due to marry Paris). This is ironic as we (the audience) know that this isn't good news. Juliet disagrees with this saying;
"I will not marry yet: and when I do , I swear,
It shall be Romeo, Whom you know i hate,"
Juliet refuses to marry paris and says that she will marry Romeo, who she supposingly hates.
At ths point Capulet enters and also thinks that Juliet is crying for Tybalt, as he says;
" How now! conduit girl? what still in tears?"
In this quote Capulet thinks that Juliet is crying for Tybalt. Lady Capulet also presumes this when she first entered.
Afetr Lady Capulet tells Capulet that Juliet is refusing to marry Paris; Capulet is furios. He starts to insult Juliet, he says:
" Hang thee , young baggage! disobediant wretch!"
This quote is showing Capulets anger at Juliet as he verbally insults her. Capulet then keeps on insulting her, he also says that he will throw Juliet out is she disagrees. Also at this point Juliet is also angry, however she has so much anger in herself that she even says that shell kill herself rather then marry Paris.
When Capulet and Lady Capulet leave Juliet is expecting to be comforted by the nurse, who is the only person she can confide to. When the nurse says;
"I think its best you married with the county"
Juliet is shocked. The nurse is saying this probably because is trying not to offend her employers (Capulets).
Juliet is startled at this point. So she goes along with the story lying to the nurse by saying that, the nurse has comforted Juliet and she will marry Paris. This is also ironic as she is not greatful for the advive that the nurse has gave her.
The last think that Julie says in this scence is;
"I'll the frier, to know his remedy;
if all eles fails, myself has power to die."
At this point Juliet is alone, Speaking to the audience. She is so depressed and unhappy by this situation that if frier lawrence doen't know what to do, Juliet might consider killing herself.
I believe that this part of the play had the most tension in. Shakespeare is also very clever by using different kind of methods to make the audience feel sympathetic towards Juliet. The main part of this scene that suddenly makes Juliet unhappy is when she is told that she has to marry Paris. She dosen't have a say in this. When Juliet was told that she had to marry Paris, she was already crying for Romeo. Juliet is only fourteen and had to lie to her parents and go along with what they were saying. I think that Shakepeare has suceeded in making the audience feel sympathetic for Juliet.
