The information from the prologue sets the scene and prepares the audience for the remainder of the play.
In the opening scene of Act 3 Scene I. Benvolio and Mercutio are walking the public streets of Verona. Benvolio expresses his concerns and doubts about the day to Mercutio. “ I pray thee good Mercutio, lets retire: the day is hot, the Capulets abroad, and if we meet we shall not scape a brawl; for now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring stirring”.
The audience observe Benvolio’s concerns, this creates a tense atmosphere within the audience as they endeavour to anticipate the forthcoming events. The mention of the “Capulets” further more induces apprehension from the un expectant audience, due to their prior knowledge of the feuding families given to them in the opening prologue. The “good Mercutio” portrays Benvolios, fine and sensible calibre. This gives more detail to the Elizabethan audience of Benvolio’s character. Benvolio however is somewhat concerned; he mentions the crude words of “hot” and “blood stirring”. This implicit statement create a slight foreboding atmosphere within the audience, and induces the desired effect of tension, which is vital for forthcoming scenes.
The language used by Mercutio exposes his thoughts and opinions about what Benvolio has said to him. “Thou art like one of these fellows that when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon a table”. Here, Mercutio is somewhat mocking Benvolio’s words and insists that he himself is as much a troublemaker as anyone. The audience see that Mercutio is not taking the conversation seriously, this adds tension and suspense as the audience believe that Benvolio’s wise words of deserting the streets is a wise thing to do. Despite the sincere concerns of Benvolio, of being confronted by the Capulets, Mercutio persistently boycotts him, and continues with his bizarre sarcasm. “why thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, or a hair less, in his beard …” At this point Mercutio is listing crazy reason’s Benvolio has had for provoking a quarrel, to support his claim of him also being a troublemaker. This undoubtedly adds comedy and humour to the scene, and almost eliminates any of the tension created in the beginning of the scene. The contrasting moods, instigates interest from the audience and makes them even more excited whilst also tense, preparing them for forthcoming events in the play. The two characters as a whole bring much wanted interest, and concentration from the audience. The character of Mercutio is witty, outlandish and humorous. This differentiates from the character of Benvolio, whose calibre is concerned, calming and peaceful. The successful contrast of the two characters makes the play interesting, as the audience begin to develop, and deepen their understanding of the two personalities.
As the play moves on, the atmosphere deepens into a tense and violent attitude. Tybalt enters the scene. His entrance influences the mood of the audience, due to their prior knowledge of the arrogant character. This has a dramatic effect on the present scene, in return this raises anxiety and nervousness within the audience, as they curiously attempt to anticipate approaching events. Shakespeare uses this clever, but simple method of creating tension and unease within the audience, just by adding a character into the scene.
Mercutio and Tybalt begin to mock one another. “Consort! What, dost thou make us minstrels?” Mercutio uses this form of abuse towards Tybalt. This makes the scene interesting as the audience expect a rift to arise between the pair, which may have substantial consequences in the maturing scene.
Again tension is added by the introduction of yet another character. The stage direction of Romeo entering the scene, makes the present scene dramatic, interesting and increasingly exciting whilst tense, as the audience know that Tybalt is looking for Romeo. Due to the previous scenes, the audience also have knowledge of Romeo’s intimate relationship with Tybalt’s cousin; Juliet, this cross references with their further knowledge of the two feuding families, adding further tension and suspense to the piece.
Tybalt insults Romeo, implying he consorts with people of a lower rank. “Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford, no better term than this, thou art a villain” The insult entices the audience, in anticipation of what Romeo will reply and say. To Tybalts surprise, Romeo rejects any implications of a fight, and calmly says that he loves Tybalt as one of his own relatives. Tybalt, the reason I have to love thee, doth much excuse the appertaining rage, to such a greeting: villain I am none; therefore farewell; thou know’st me not. This immediately has an effect on the audience, and captivates their attention. The words of Romeo constructs dramatic irony within the scene, as the audience have knowledge of the marriage between Romeo and Juliet, whilst the raging Tybalt is not aware of the complicated relationship between them. This is interesting and creates interaction with the audience, as they know something that the characters in the play do not.
Despite Romeo’s friendly, and calm words, Tybalt openly insinuates a fight, and continues to mock and ridicule Romeo. “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries, that thou hast done to me; therefore turn and draw.” Tybalts stern words raises tension within the audience, and excite them in preparing to witness a fight onstage. This is interesting, as the audience learn that Romeo persistently still backs down from the crude invitation for a fight. “I do protest, I never injured thee, but love thee better than thou canst devise…And so good Capulet, which name I tender, as dearly as my own, be satifised”. Here the audience observe that Romeo is being very friendly towards the Capulets. The audience begin to question his sincerity, and interestingly impose that the reasons for his boosted friendliness is due to the love he has for Juliet. They may conclude that he his “love struck”. This is important to the scene as the audience soon learn that this heartfelt “friendliness” towards the Capulets will soon diminish. This angers Mercutio, and insists that withdrawing from the fight, Romeo counts himself as a coward. “O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! Alla stoccate carries it away.” Mercutio’s increased anger raises tension within the audience. The dramatic stage direction of Mercutio drawing his sword, immediately excites the audience, and anticipate the nearing fight! The Elizabethan audience would detest Romeo’s actions and support Mercutio in inciting a fight, as times back then they saw bloody violence as sheer entertainment. They fight, Romeo, pleads for both parties to put down their weapons. “ Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons, gentlemen, for a shame, forbear this outrage! Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath forbidden, bandying in Verona streets, hold Tybalt! Good Mercutio!” The mention of the prince reminds the audience of previous events in the play. This is interesting and adds tension and suspense as the audience know of the crude penalty that the prince has issued, if the two feuding families are caught fighting again.
Mercutio is stabbed in the fight. “I am hurt. A plague o’ both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone, and hath nothing?” Here Mercutio curses both households. Within the Elizabethan audience, superstition and other elements of fate were taken seriously, as the Elizabethan era practiced witchcraft etc. Therefore especially within the Elizabethan audience this would have indefinetly created much tention. The stabbing of Mercutio is very dramatic, and leaves the audience in great suspense. This is a very important scene as in forthcoming events, crude decisions are made based on the death of Mercutio.
Shakespeare again uses the clever tool of stage directions. Mercutio and Benvolio exit the scene. The audience know that Mercutio is badly injured, by him exiting the scene, he creates interest, as the audience are left in suspense. The simplistic stage directions, are very successful in creating tension and makes the play exciting for the watching audience.
Despite the injury suffered to Mercutio, Romeo is still calm and talks nicely about his recently made cousin Tybalt. “With Tybalts slander, Tybalt, that an hour hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet, thy beauty hath made me effeminate and in my temper soften’d valours steel!” The audience become interested, as they observe his admittance to the fact, that his love for Juliet has overcome the violence within him.
Benvolio re-enters the scene. Again the stage direction adds great interest, as the audience are still in great suspense of the outcome of Mercutio’s injuries. “O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio’s dead! That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds, which too untimely here did scorn he earth.” Benvolio re-enters and acts out the part of the narrator, this dramatic device is very successful, in creating great interest within the suspense filled audience. Benvolio states that Mercutio is dead. This creates tension, as the audience know of the covalent relationship between Romeo and Mercutio, increasingly making the scene interesting. This leaves them in great anticipation of what actions Romeo will be taking concerning Tybalt.
Tybalt re-enters the scene. His entrance provokes great tention within the audience. This begins to make the scene exciting as the audience anticipate the possibility of another fight between Romeo and Tybalt.
Romeo reacts to this viciously. “ Alive, in triumph! And Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now”. A dramatic change to attitude is observed. The covered up violence within him is now exposed. The exclamation marks show he is angry and shouting. “fire-eyed fury” is another reference to the word “hot” mentioned a few paragarths above. This is interesting and exciting for the audience, as the audience listen to Romeo’s harsh words against Tybalt.
Benvolio’s further use in the play is to narrate. “ O noble prince I can discover all, the unlucky manage of t his fatal brawl.” Here Benvolio is informing the prince of what has occurred in previous events. By using this dramatic device, Shakespeare creates interest, as the audience are left in suspense as to what the prince has to say about the tragedy. The use of a rhyming couplet, again as more interest to the play.
The mood of the current atmosphere is dramatically contrasted with the mood in act II scene 6. “ Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy be heaped like mine, and that thy skill be more to blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath.” Here the mood of the play is, of a romantic stance. Both Romeo and Juliet are proclaiming their Love for one another. This refers back to the tilte of the play, the audience would have expected this play to be about romance and love. However the romantic atmosphere is demeaned, with the atmosphere in act III scene 1. “ This days black fate on more days doth depend this but begins the woe, others must end.” The atmosphere here is more violent, and has reference to superstition. This is completely opposite to act II scene 6. The contrasting moods make the play interesting, as the audience do not know what to expect leaving them in suspense at times.
Conclusion
Shakespeare uses many devices in making this scene interesting and exciting. This scene has an effect on the audience, as a lot of violence occurs within the scene. Also the scene makes has a turning point on the play as whole as it disrupts the relationship between the two main characters; Romeo and Juliet, as Romeo is banished from Verona. This add interest and suspense as the audience don’t know what will happen to their relationship.