An analysis of the dramatic qualities of Act 3 scenes 1 in Romeo and Julietr Essay Example For Students

An analysis of the dramatic qualities of Act 3 scenes 1 in Romeo and Julietr Essay Act 3 scene 1 is very effective because of where it is placed in the play. We have just ended on a happy note in Act 2. Friar Laurence wanted to unite the Montagues and the Capulets. So we have a scene full of love and joy, the wedding between Romeo and Juliet. This is a great contrast as what comes in the next scene is quite the opposite. Everything that has been before this has been closer to one of Shakespeares comedies, rather than his tragedies. There are comic figures in the play such as Mercutio and even one of the main protagonists in the tragedy, Romeo. He fits the comic role because he falls in and out of love very quickly. We see this as when we first meet him at the beginning of the play he is in love with Rosaline, yet as soon as he meets Juliet he falls in love with her. To us this seems quite ridiculous and quite hilarious. In fact most of the events before Act 3 scene 1 have been largely positive, but it is at this point in the play where the happiness, from the previous scene, is shattered and the course of action of the play is now a relentless path to tragedy. We can tell that this was going to be a tragedy because even though the events before this have been positive, the language that is used reflects the fact that this play is a tragedy. It refers to fate and stars many times throughout the play. They play opens with the chorus describing Romeo and Juliet as Star-crossed lovers Meaning that they are ill fated from the moment the meet. Again, before Romeos and his friends reach the party he dreams that, Some consequences yet hanging in the stars Shall bitterly begin this fearful date With this nights revel Romeo here is using the same language before yet hanging in the stars is showing that this night is going to change his life for the worse. We, as the audience, dont realise why at the time but it is setting up the path for tragedy. But it is not until Act 3 scene 1 that we see the tragic actions come in to the play. When the actual scene starts it is a completely different image than the last scene. The scene before was set in a church, a wedding where everything looks happy. Act 3 scene 1 starts off in Verona, and Benvolio tells us that it is a hot day. This paints imagery in the audiences heads, as everyone will be agitated and not cool and calm. He tries to get Mercutio to leave as he can tell that something bad is going to happen. For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. He is the wise one, the peacekeeper. Shakespeare also shows that Benvolio is calmer than  Mercutio as Benvolios speech is written in blank verse, showing calmness, whereas Mercutios speech is written in prose antagonising the mood to indicate a chaotic force. Benvolio is trying to keep the peace but Mercutio says to him that he is just as fiery as himself. Mercutio is making jokes and puns, playing on words. Wordplay was very popular in the Elizabethan time so this works well. He continues to makes puns even when Tybalt is creating a challenge for him. Tybalt does this by using polite sarcasm, Gentlemen, good een! A word with one of you There is joking from Mercutios part for a lot of this scene, even when he is dying, although I will discuss this later in my essay. There is aggressive converse between Mercutio and Tybalt; they are ready to fight as when Mercutio says, Make it a word and a blow, Tybalt replies with, You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, and you Will give me occasion This shows that he is ready and looking for a fight. Benvolio still tries to keep the peace but with all this talk between Mercutio and Tybalt makes the fight between Romeo and Tybalt more effective as it is unexpected. When Romeo enters Tybalt immediate stops his fight with Mercutio, as he was to fight Romeo. Tybalt insults Romeo by calling him a villain before Romeo gets to say a word. Romeos reply is very cryptic and it is effective because when he says, The reason I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage This is effective, as we know why he has to love him, but no one else does. Tybalt continues to insult Romeo by calling him Boy, but Romeo Post 1914 Drama EssayThe Lurhmans version is set on a beach, this is a public place but this is a more contemporary image as there are bars, umbrellas, music which is appealing to the youth culture fun, picking up on the themes of youth and age. Also the very fact that they are on a beach, everyone is having fun and enjoying themselves on a beach and the clothes they are wearing emphasise the heat. This gets across in both versions what Shakespeare tells us, that they will be more agitated because it is hot. This is highlighted more in the Lurhman version because the mood turns from to fun to anger quite quickly. In the Lurhman version the mood is very different. It is quite light at first but Mercutio gets angry very quickly and the intent isnt on a playful fight, these two clearly have the intent on killing each other as they load up there guns. In this version, everything is a lot more violent, including Tybalt. In this version Tybalt is portrayed as an obnoxious character who wants revenge, who seems to hold a grudge, This shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me In the Zeffirelli version Tybalt is portrayed as no more violent than Mercutio, he is also just trying to show off. In this film when he kills Mercutio it is seems like an accident, and he regrets it very much. We can see this because there is a close up shot of the sword with blood on and then a close up view on Tybalt and there is remorse on his face. In the Lurhman version on the other hand, Tybalt meant to kill Mercutio, he sees his chance while Romeo intervenes and takes it. He does seem a little regretful after he has done it, but not a lot. Not enough to make him stay and see whether Mercutios is going to live or not. In the Zeffirelli version Romeo runs at Tybalt. He looks warn out but he runs at Tybalt with 2 swords in his hands. He is hurt and his actions take place while he is angry but when he takes a step back and realises what he has done, he says his line, not very loudly but almost to himself, I am fortunes fool In  the Lurhman version, there are contemporary images as he drives at Tybalt in a car. He then kills Tybalt with a gun. Leading up to this you can see the anger in his eyes and you do sympathise with Romeo. You also sympathise with him because you see the guilt, and the regret in his face Briony Donnelly When he does shoot Tybalt as the camera zooms into his face. One of the most dramatic moments in this scene is where Romeo realises what he has done and says the line, I am Fortunes Fool This is effective because he shouts it and it echoes to make it more dramatic. What else is effective is again echoing at the end of this scene, where the prince shouts, Romeo is banished! This echoes and it gives us as the audience time to reflect on what has happened to Romeo before it moves on. In conclusion I would say that this is the one of most dramatic Scenes in the whole play, apart from the end scene. You see the true colours of some characters, we see murders and the guilt it brings. We see many themes, obviously the main one being love. The play focuses on romantic love, specifically the intense passion that springs up at first sight between Romeo and Juliet. In Romeo and Juliet, love is a violent, ecstatic, overpowering force that replaces all other values, loyalties, and emotions. In the course of the play, the young lovers are driven to defy their entire social world. Romeo watches his best friend dying as he wouldnt fight because of his love for Juliet. They both defy their families. The powerful nature of love can be seen in the way it is described, or, more accurately, the way descriptions of it so consistently fail to capture its entirety. At times love is described in the terms of religion, when Romeo and Juliet first meet. Romeo and Juliet does not make a specific moral statement about the relationships between love and society, religion, and family; rather, it portrays the chaos and passion of being in love, combining images of love, violence, death, religion, and family in an impressionistic rush leading to the plays tragic conclusion, For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.