Romeo and Juliet Essay Essays

Romeo and Juliet Essay Essays Romeo and Juliet Essay Essay Romeo and Juliet Essay Essay Essay Topic: Romeo and Juliet The tragic and spellbinding play Romeo and Juliet is just as relevant now as it was when it was first written by the respected and admired writer William Shakespeare. Setting the scene in Verona, Italy, the play tells the story of two star-crossed lovers, caught up in a family feud. From start to finish the play is littered with dramatic qualities in order to engage and interest the rowdy Elizabethan audiences. Juxta-position is used in Act 3 scene 1, when marriage is used as a symbol of hope, reflecting the love between Romeo and Juliet. To make the beginning scene dramatic, Shakespeare started in a dramatic setting. Tensions run high throughout the start as even normally good friends, Mercutio and Benvolio are quarrelling. The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, And, if we meet we shall not escape a brawl Shakespeare purposely set the scene on a hot day as its know that everyone is bad tempered and easily angered in such scorching conditions. The entrance of Tybalt, an aggressive Capulet, increases the tension as he adds flame to the fire, seizing the opportunity to fight. What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, As I hate all Montagues and thee. Sparking outrage hits Benvolio as his peaceful break-up is turned down. The audience would find this particularly exciting as a cloud of unknown drifts across their mind as they are unsure if a fight will be taking place. As the conflict takes place Mercutio steps up as Tybalts opponent. Mercutio taunts Tybalt, but Tybalt ignores his insults as hes seeking Romeo. Well, peace be with you, sir Here comes my man. Making Mercutio the opponent to Tybalt, proves an effective device as Tybalt and Mercutio are equally matched as aggressive individuals. Shakespeare is evidently setting up the audience, engaging them in this tense scene. Dramatic irony becomes evident when Romeo enters, as the audience are aware of his recent marriage to Juliet, therefore making him and Tybalt family. Tybalts insistence on Romeo being a villain and Romeos vile submission angers Mercutio. Mercutio, thou consortst with Romeo Tybalt questions, which in modern context is the correspondence of asking him if hes having a sexual relationship with Romeo. This helps build up anger in Mercutio, making him so wound up hes the equivalence of a ticking bomb. Assembling Shakespeare to add dramatic quality to the drama. As Romeo enters Tybalt and Mercutio constantly anger one an other before Tybalt draws his sword. Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up Again Shakespeare uses Juxta-position, making the enthralled audience believe that Romeos going to make peace. As in Franco Zeferrelis version, Romeos nature changed since his marriage to Juliet. However in Baz Luhrmans edition, not only were swords swapped by guns, to engage a modern audience, but Romeos nature was also softer as he allowed Tybalt to beat him severely as he sat there defencelessly. Angered that Romeo wasnt striking back, Mercutio stepped in. Equally matched as aggressive individuals, this battle was unpredictable, making it effective, captivating the audience. They have made worms meat of me As the mortally wounded Mercutio struggles, Shakespeare has effectively positioned puns throughout his speech. Ask for me tomorrow and youll find me a grave man Mercutio makes the audience believe that hes only got a minor injury, but he knows his wound is fatal. Shakespeare makes the audience aware of this. Go, villain fetch a surgeon Therefore making Mercutios death predicable. The excitement of the audience is increased throughout Mercutios death as Shakespeares direction causes Mercutios use of language to be effective. In the Baz Luhrman edition Mercutio joked and calmed the scene making everyone assume he was ok. A scratch, a scratch However as shown elements of his language notified us that he was mortally wounded. Foreshadowing is another effective device Shakespeare uses to keep the audience captivated as their not sure of where fate will lead Mercutio. The fight between Romeo and Tybalt is spellbinding, as we havent yet seen Romeo in conflict. The force of blind rage causes Romeo to battle with Tybalt. Fire eyed fury also makes Romeo determined to track Romeo down. This causes excitement to the audience as in Franco Zeferrelis version performs this scene using swords. The fight also varies its scene, moving through various streets and levels. Romeo is portrayed as the less experience swordsman between them, adding greater excitement and worry to the audience. Meaning the captivation of the audience was kept flowing throughout the fight. Giving Shakespeare the power to keep rowdy Elizabethan audiences engaged. At Tybalts death, the audience are kept in conflict, as they know Romeo will pay for it. However Romeo had retired to Friar Lawrence, making the audience unsure of whether he will be caught or not. Romeos line I am fortunes fool shows Shakespeares use of fate and the roll it plays throughout Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet would have been performed to an Elizabethan audience who believed very strongly in fate and fortune. Fate was destined to happen and no one could alter it. Throughout the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare constantly utilises the motif of stars to convey and develop the prominent theme of fate. Even and early as the prologue, the words A pair of star-crossd lovers Reveal Shakespeares intent in conveying the association of fate with this motif. Like stars, fate exists in the heavens. It is Romeo and Juliets misfortune that leads to the sorrowful and tragic ending of the play. Conclusion Its fast-pace dramatic action also keeps the audience involved throughout this theatrical play as the increasing tension insures that the audience are kept engaged. Shakespeare had expertly placed this scene in the middle, as its the turning point of the play, as up until this point the audience believe that it may end happily. Evidence of this is in Capulet speech in the Capulets ball. Verona brags of Romeo to be a well-governed youth This leaves the audience believing that Romeo and Juliet could have been happily married with lord Capulets blessing. Elizabethan audiences would have been religious and so would have believed in fate. Shakespeare used this factor throughout Romeo and Juliet, to make the staging, and the scene effective and dramatic. He had an effective use of language and dramatic quality also played a large part in captivating boisterous Elizabethan audiences.