The Violence in the play starts straight away from the beginning of Act 1, Scene1. The start of the play begins with the two families meeting in a public place. They begin to quarrel and fighting breaks out. Even the servants of the families are involved which shows how bad the fighting was, because the servants were not even part of the families. Benvolio who is a Montague tries to calm things down,
“I do but keep the peace.”
Benvolio acts as the peace keeper for the two families. He does not want Capulet and Montague to keep arguing and fighting. The Prince of Verona arrives at the scene. He warns the families that there will be serious consequences if something similar like this happens again in public.
“If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit if the peace.”
His words are strong and aggressive, it is a serious threat which will punish strongly if it happens again. The two families have a history of fighting in public and causing violence. There are many important speeches in Act1, Scene. Shakespeare makes the important speeches rhyme. The language of the play was very detailed. Shakespeare made up many new words for the English language. The people of the Elizabethan ages did not speak in such detailed conversation. Shakespeare’s plays were written in such detailed language to make up for the lack of scenery on the stage.
Act 3, scene 1 is a very important scene in the play, it is the pivotal scene of the whole play and is greatly linked to Act 5, Scene 3. A very effective way that Shakespeare uses to create tension in the audience is to use a dramatic irony, where the audience knows something that the characters do not.
At the start of Act 3, Scene 1 it is in a public place in Verona. One of the first things to be said is,
“'If we meet we shall not scrape a brawl”
This immediately creates tension for the audience because they already know that fighting is banned in Verona’s streets and would lead to greater consequences. The audience also know that Romeo will not fight Tybalt because they are now family. This is where the dramatic irony comes into play. It is a very effective way of creating a dramatic environment. Shakespeare has only used this technique at this point in the play, this shows how important the scene is and has a greater effect on the audience. If Shakespeare wasn't to use this technique the scene would not have the dramatic effect that Shakespeare would have wanted. Romeo and Juliet have just been secretly married by Friar Lawrence. The scene begins with Mercutio and Benvolio in a street in Verona. Benvolio tells Mercutio that the Capulets are looking for trouble. Mercutio ignores him. When Tybalt arrives, there is immediately tension between himself and Mercutio.
“I will not budge for no man’s pleasure.”
This tells the audience how determined Mercutio is to cause trouble between the two families. Benvolio is worried as the Prince of Verona has already warned the families about disturbing the peace in public in Verona. Mercutio speaks in prose in parts of Act 3, Scene 1, this shows the importance of what he is saying. There are two passages of fighting in this scene. We are told of this by the stage directions. In Elizabethan times the fighting would have been acted using swords and daggers with highly trained and skilled actors. When Romeo arrives, Tybalt immediately starts to threaten him. Benvolio again tries to calm maters down.
“Romeo away, be gone.”
Benvolio is encouraging Romeo to leave quickly so there will be no fighting between him and Tybalt. Mercutio finally looses his temper and fights with Tybalt. Romeo is forced to intervene and violently kills Tybalt. This is one of the most violent parts of the play. The Prince of Verona soon arrives, Benvolio gives an account of the events and Romeo is to leave Verona, as he is banished to Mantua. When Romeo arrived at the scene Tybalt used the word “boy” as an insult. This shows how Tybalt is be disrespectful to Romeo.
Act 3, Scene 5 begins with Romeo leaving for Mantua. Juliet’s family do not know about her marriage to Romeo. Her family are persuading her to marry Paris. The only person who knows of Juliet’s marriage to Romeo is her nurse. The structure of this scene is a very simple sequence. It takes place in the mansion if the Capulet family. Juliet takes the news of her families’ desire for her to marry Paris very badly.
“I will not marry yet, and when I do, I swear it shall be Romeo.”
Her father enters the room and hears of Juliet’s decision. He loses his temper. Juliet breaks down and begins to cry, both her parents suggest she is crying because of the loss of her brother (Tybalt), and that that she is showing her grief. Juliet’s parents seem to care more about their public status and the reputation of the Capulet family, rather than Juliet’s feelings. Her father threatens her, he is very annoyed that Juliet does not want to marry Paris
The language and style of the play is written to attract all classes of people to watch it. Shakespeare manages to change the play from a romantic play to a family tragedy very quickly. The way Shakespeare makes this happen is very sudden which is shown by the violent scenes and important family members being killed close together in the play. Important people who are giving important speeches speak in rhythm. Less important characters only speak in prose. For the audience of the play in Elizabethan times, speaking in rhyme was a very entertaining and enjoyable aspect of going to the theatre.
In my opinion the play has an intriguing story line, which keeps the audience interested in what will take place during the next scene. The play was very popular with Elizabethan people. The violence and the conflict among the families keeps the audience on edge, for the entire play. My favourite part of the play is when Romeo is banished to Mantua by the Prince.
