However, this mood doesn’t carry on throughout the scene. Shakespeare contrasts the mood of this scene with the romantic atmosphere of the previous scene by the tragic events. Act 3 scene 1 also has a lot of contrast because of its variety of language and technique. For instance, it changes from blank verse, to prose to blank and rhyming verse. It's language and style changes to indicate the mood of the scene as well as its development. In Act 2 scene 6 and Act 3 scene 2 Shakespeare uses blank verses to grab attention to a change in a speaker's state of mind, to move from serious to lighter subject or matter, but in Act 3 scene 1 it is important that Shakespeare uses less verse because this an active scene. Prose is used a lot in this scene
In fact almost half the scene uses prose and this is appropriate because in Act 3 scene 1 there are a lot of speeches in which the characters speak about their state of mind. For example, Nay, a there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, or a hair less, in his beard, than thou hast: thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes:.(Act 3 Scene 1: lines 15)
The above prose by Mercutio sums up the scene in the sense that he is speaking his mind like other characters, and this carries on throughout the scene.
Act 3 scene 1 is mainly known for its violence but this wasn’t the first time the two families had a public brawl. Act 3 scene 1 links to previous events in the play. For example, In Act 1 scene 1 two servants of the Capulet family and two other servants from the Montague family enter and engage in a discussion.
Benvolio, a member of the Montague family and Tybalt, a member of the Capulet family, arrive. Tybalt and Benvolio fight with their swords, but the arrival of Prince Escalus stops them. He warns them that if the two families do not stop fighting, they will pay with their lives:
" . . . Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground and hear the sentence of your moved prince. Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word By thee, old Capulet, and Montague, Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets And made Verona's ancient citizens Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments To wield old partisans, in hands as old,
Cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate. If ever you disturb our streets again,
your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace . . ." (Act 1, Scene 1, lines 86-96)
This meant that if the two families were caught in a brawl again, they could face a terrible penalty.
However the relationship between the two families heated up- in particular, Romeo and Tybalt, in Act 1 scene 5. This scene is where Romeo decides to gatecrash the Capulets party in the hope forgetting about Rosaline and meeting true love. But when Romeo sees Juliet his identity was discovered. Young Romeo is it? 'Tis he, that villain Romeo. (Act 1 scene 5: 71-72)
Seeing Romeo angered Tybalt very much and he and the Capulets chased him out of the party. This scene links to Act 3 scene 1 as Tybalt enters the scene trying to look for Romeo to have a fight because of previous events.
Shakespeare also makes the scene interesting and involves the audience by using dramatic irony superbly throughout the scene and in the play as a whole. He leaves the audience in suspense and anticipation whilst leaving the theatre surrounded by tension. He uses dramatic irony when Tybalt challenges Romeo to fight but Romeo replies saying how much he loves him. ‘Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford No better term than this,--thou art a villain’. .Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee....’ (Act 3 scene 1: Lines 71- 73)
In the above quotation Tybalt is confused and angered by Romeos reaction because he does not know that Romeo and Juliet got married and that he and Romeo are now cousins. This is dramatic irony as the audience knows more about the situation than the characters.
There are also conflicts between many characters in the scene. When Romeo enters the scene, Tybalt changes his attention to him because of previous events. Tybalt calls Romeo a villain “Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford No better term than this, Thou art a villain” Tybalt calls Romeo a villain to persuade him into dueling him but also because he will have no regrets in slaying him.
Tybalt also becomes angry at Romeo after Romeo expresses his love for Tybalt “this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me, therefore turn and draw” Tybalt says this because he thinks Romeo is mocking him and wants to duel him right away
However, Romeo tries to be nice to Tybalt. “I do protest I never injured thee, But love thee better than thou canst devise.”, Romeo says this because he does not want to hurt a cousin he just gained through marriage to Juliet, Romeo also tries to make peace by trying to stop Mercutio from dueling Tybalt “Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.” Romeo is so keen on stopping the fight as he doesn’t want anyone to get hurt because everyone there is his family. (He is a Montague and now apart of the Capulets)
But disgraced towards Romeos reaction to Tybalt Mercutio calls Romeo a coward “O calm, dishonorable vile submission:” Mercutio says this because Romeo decided to stand down like a coward, he also tries to coax Tybalt into dueling him “(he draws) Tybalt, you rat catcher, will you walk?” he wants to fight Tybalt for Romeo instead.
Shakespeare builds the tension in this scene by showing us aggressive sides to each of the characters, and it creates an impact to the audience in the sense that something bad will happen. It also changes their mood as they have just seen two contrasting scenes.
In act three: scene one, the entrances and exits of characters can make a dramatic effect on the audience and play. The exits of two characters occur as one character enters. This is the case when Romeo enters the scene and refuses to duel with Tybalt. Disgusted towards Romeo in the sense that he is refusing to fight, Mercutio draws his sword and fights with Tybalt. However, after Mercutio is killed at Tybalt's hand, Romeo takes Tybalt's life. After this he cries out, "O! I am Fortune's fool", This is the line which is most telling to the theme of Romeo an Juliet as Romeo realizes his life is out of control and shows regret for his unforgiving murder.
Fate played a major role in this scene because the duel could have happened anywhere in Verona. The fact that it took place at the exact time and place where Romeo was heading could only have happened by fate. Right after Mercutio's death Romeo says: 'This day's black fate on mo days doth depend;' (3.1.119) Romeo now knows fate has entered into his life as he says this.
The audience knows there is worse to come, but Romeo, himself, does not. This is an example of dramatic irony, in a matter of seconds two characters exit in what could be said as a pivotal scene of the play. The dramatic impact of entrances and exits in this scene brings the audience into the play and creates suspense and tension.
Another way in which Shakespeare makes Act 3 scene 1 so interesting is by using Benvolio as a narrator. Using Benvolio as a narrator is very efficient and effective as he is a calm and composed person and he seems to recognize and sense trouble. An example of this is when he and Mercutio enter the scene and Benvolio- who already can sense danger, tries to persuade Mercutio into going home “I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire: The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl”
Benvolio is used as a narrator because he is a peace keeper between the two families whenever a fight occurs. You would rarely see him getting into a brawl, He doesn’t like to get into fights nor see the Montagues and Capulets fighting and as he is a peace keeper he did not want to stand by and watch Mercutio fight one of the Capulets. However Mercutio wouldn’t listen to him so Benvolio tries to get the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio off the streets “We talk here in the public haunt of men: Either withdraw unto some private place, and reason coldly of your grievances, Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us.”
Benvolio tries to move the fight off of the streets of Verona so that they cannot be watched by the public and be seen by the prince. This kind actions and behavior of Benvolio is the reason why Shakespeare uses him as a narrator of the season, as he is a ‘neutral’ character. His personality also completely contrasts to other characters personality in this scene, as he is a non violent character in a violent scene.
Suspense also builds up in the scene as the plot develops. At the street, Benvolio and Mercutio encounter Tybalt. Tybalt sensibly provokes Mercutio; who is already in a fighting mood. At this point the audience could already sense that a fight is going to take place, and it creates suspense. When Romeo arrives, he refuses to draw his sword to fight Tybalt saying that he loves him as one of his own. Therefore, Mercutio decides to brawl with him instead. Romeo tries to break it up, but it’s too late - as Mercutio is struck under
his arm. As Mercutio is wounded he still has a bit of sense of to say ‘ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man’
This use of pun by Shakespeare can mean different things to his friends but really he means grave as in death.
As Tybalt flees, Mercutio is dying. He curses ‘A plague a both your houses!’ He repeats this curse three times as he wants them to realize the impact of their actions. In the 1500's to do something three times was considered a type of magical power which was believed to come true. The reason he does this is because he recognizes that his forthcoming death is as a direct result of their feud. He is upset in the sense that the two families are fighting for nothing and He tried to help the Montagues but did not receive anything in
return.
Overall this scene affects the audience a lot because of the drama and suspense created by Shakespeare. He uses dramatic devices within the scene to interest, involve and affect the audience. At the start of this scene, Shakespeare uses comedy to create a humorous atmosphere as Benvolio and Mercutio tease each other in the sunlight. However this turns into violence as the scene develops. Mixing the humor with violence seems to
enhance the scene as the scene could have been performed without the comedy. But the combination of humor and violence is more striking. Also, I think Shakespeare did this to build up tension in the audience, whilst also showing that the characters are not really serious at the beginning.
However When Tybalt arrives, everyone becomes serious, tensions between the
families rise and at this point the audience can feel that something bad is going to happen.
And as Romeo enters, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to involve the audience in the play. “Good Capulet,--which name I tender as dearly as my own,--be satisfied”.
The audiences know that Romeo is now a Capulet after his marriage with Juliet but Tybalt is unaware of this. This makes the audience apart of the play as they know what some characters don’t, which is why Shakespeare uses this device- to affect the audience.
This change in mood and atmosphere make this scene more dramatic and affects the audiences’ mindset a lot.
I think what makes Act 3 scene 1 the turning point of the play is the change in mood from the previous scene and the events that follow it. The hopeful tone of Act II changes dramatically at the beginning of Act III as Romeo becomes involved in the vicious conflict between the families. The play reaches a dramatic climax as Romeo and Juliet’s private world collides with the public feud with tragic consequences. Mercutio’s death is the means for the tragic turn the play takes from this point onward.
We can see that Act 3 Scene1 is an important scene because it shows where the play changes from comedy to tragedy and its important because characters change. It’s also important because Shakespeare changes the language to show the difference in comedy and tragedy.
Furthermore, hearing about the brawl and deaths the prince says a few words at the end of the scene which can affect the future of Romeo and Juliet. Not knowing how to deal with the situation, Prince Escalus asks:
'Benvolio, who began the bloody fray!' (3.1.151) Benvolio informs him about what has happened, giving a truthful account. The Prince is not at all impressed with the situation, and asks a rhetorical question, 'Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio. Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?' (3.1.182-183) He tries his best to keep the peace between the Capulet's and the Montagues. He believes Romeo should not be punished by death as
Tybalt's death has already been paid for with Mercutio's death, but he banishes Romeo from Verona which means separation from Juliet.
Knowing that it is impossible for Romeo and Juliet to be together and after all that has happened, I think the audience does not expect a happy ending rather a tragic one as the play has now become a tragedy at this moment.
In my opinion I think that Act 3 Scene 1 is by far the best scene in Romeo and Juliet because it shows many sides of the characters like Mercutio who is most of the time making a fool of someone he fought against Tybalt for Romeo, Romeo shows a loving nature towards Tybalt as he is now his cousin but as soon as he sees that Tybalt has killed Mercutio Romeo changes his attitude and kills Tybalt.
This scene is important to the play as it is the crucial scene and where love turns into tragedy, misfortune and, of course, death and Where the mood and atmosphere of the play changes courtesy of Shakespeare’s use of dramatic devices.
