Structure and how Shakespeare renders Romeo and Juliet’s

By
Responsive Centered Red Button

Need Help with this Question or something similar to this? We got you! Just fill out the order form (follow the link below), and your paper will be assigned to an expert to help you ASAP.

Order Form

This essay will be exploring language, structure and how Shakespeare renders Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting dramatic. Shakespeare wrote ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in 1595 and is one of his most well known tragedies. It tells the story of two’ star-crossed lovers’ who’s families are enemies but it doesn’t stop them from declaring their passionate love towards each other that ends up being the reason of their own tragedy. A tragedy is when a catastrophic death occurs this is shown to us when the two lovers die.
Don’t use plagiarized sources. Get your custom essay on
“ Structure and how Shakespeare renders Romeo and Juliet’s ”
Get custom paper
NEW! smart matching with writer
Another significant part of the play is act 1 scene 5. This is because it is the lover’s first meet and it is also the turning point of the play. It is important that it was dramatic because it is the first key scene and Shakespeare uses it to engage the reader.
The meeting of the ‘star-crossed lovers’ is the climax of act one and of the ways Shakespeare ensures it is dramatic is by building anticipation ahead of lord Capulet’s banquet.

One of the ways he dose this is by the serving men’s dialogue; “away with court stools, remove the pot pan, grind to the pace and move to the plate.” Words such as ‘away’, ‘remove’ and ‘grind are all imperatives and commands which emphasises the importance of the banquet and therefore ensures that it is dramatic. Something else that adds to the build up is what Lord Capulet tells the serving men; “you are looked for and called for, asked for and sought for”.
This line has lots of energy and the pace is quick because it uses four verbs in quick succession. Instead of building up tension before the banquet this line builds up excitement and makes the reader want to read on.
Although the beginning of the scene conveys the exciting atmosphere of the banquet, the tone quickly changes with the entrance of Tybalt, which produces a dramatic contrast. Tybalt is the cousin of Juliet. Romeo and Tybalt meet with tension because of a clash of personalities. Tybalt is hot headed, violent and dangerous. This is conveyed to us through his language; “I hate Montague’s as I hate hell” by using words such as ‘hate’ and ‘hell’ shows you how much of an evil character Tybalt is. Whereas Romeo is a romantic, calm, happy and passionate person; “O she doth teach the torches to burn bright”. Moreover, Tybalt is presented as hot headed and aggressive in the rest of the play, even though he has only thirty six lines. It is perhaps Tybalt’s last line in this scene that make him a threatening character and which produce the greatest dramatic contrast with Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting; “I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall”. The word ‘but’ is key in this sentence because it’s the pivot that changes the tone. Also by wanting to convert sweet to gall shows that Tybalt actively wants to cause misery.
Despite Romeo’s sadness and Capulet’s plans for Juliet to marry Paris, the lovers fall in love at first sight and Shakespeare uses language effectively to make this moment exciting and dramatic. Shakespeare makes the two finish each others lines and also makes them speak in sonnet which is a love poem which emphasises their chemistry. To declare his love towards Juliet, Romeo says; “O she is a holy shrine” by saying this he is comparing her to a Goddess that has the power to wash him off sin. After their dramatic meet both Romeo and Juliet change.
For example before she met Romeo, Juliet was a obedient and childlike girl; “How now mother what is your will?” but after she met him she became more adult like and womanly; “You kiss by the book” By saying this she is almost showing that she has experience in kissing which is forbidden for a girl her age. Romeo’s attitude also changes after he meets Juliet; “O brawling love, o loving hate” this oxymoron shows that Romeo is feeling confused and heartbroken. Whereas after he meets Juliet his mood totally changes; “Like a rich jewel in an ethiops ear”. This shows us that instantly after meeting Juliet he feels a sense of romance and infatuation.
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows more than the characters themselves and Shakespeare uses this so that the audience becomes involved in the action and finds it exciting to watch. In act 1 scene 5 the audience watches the lovers’ first meeting and wait anxiously for the moment when they realise that they cannot be together. When Romeo finds out that Juliet is a Capulet he is distraught this is shown to us through his hopeless rhetorical question: “Is she a Capulet?” This shows us that he is heartbroken and lost for words. Juliet was told that Romeo was a Montague by her nurse but before telling her Juliet had to ask her who Romeo three times before the nurse answered. When she is finally told she replies saying, “My only love is sprung from my only hate” by using another oxymoron Shakespeare emphasises the level of confusion in Romeo and Juliet’s head’s.
Finally, Shakespeare uses lots of dramatic devices to ensure that this crucial scene is a good climax to the first act. Even though the scene is short, there is lots going on and this makes it very exciting. Examples of this is when he uses four verbs in quick succession or when he uses alliteration; “teach the torch to…” this gives rhythm and excitement. The scene is short but Shakespeare still manages to cram it full with drama, tension and excitement.
In conclusion, this essay explores the ways in which Shakespeare renders act1 scene5 dramatic. He does this by filling it with different emotions including. Happiness, sadness and death. This makes the scene dramatic and also makes the play interesting for the reader. For me the part that is the highlight of the scene and makes it most dramatic is the death of Tybalt because that starts the roll of deaths to come.

Jodi Logan

Share

How to create Testimonial Carousel using Bootstrap5

Clients' Reviews about Our Services