Act 5 Scene 2 in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Act 5 Scene 2 in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

" Romeo and Juliet" is one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, about

two star-crossed lovers who take their life to be together because of

their family's feud. It is most tradgic, as this essay will show. Act

5 scene 3 is the climax of the play as Romeo and Juliet commit suicide

because of the family feud. The scene is therefore dramatically

important, as the audience will find the setting, language and

characterisation and the tradgedy interesting and intense.

Act 5 scene 3 was a dramatically important scene as it is part of the

tradgedy in the play. The audience are kept in suspense from the

outset. The whole scene is surrounded by death because the setting is

in a graveyard. This creates a spooky atmosphere. It's also set at

night and the fact that the characters are surrounded by death gives a

sense that something bad is going to happen. Torches create shadows,

and the fact that the torch has to be put out creates an element of

secrecy:

" Give me thy torch, boy. Hence, and stand aloof.

Yet put it out for I would not be seen."

Paris and his Page are able to hide in the darkness easily and it adds

to the sense of danger. Romeo arrives with Balthasar, a crowbar and a

mattock, knowing that Paris is also there builds up suspense and

tension. He smashes the gate open; it's like a barrier, keeping him

from Juliet and then talks as if he is talking to the gate:

"Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open,

And in despite I'll cram thee with more food."

Romeo is not afraid to enter the tomb and is very desperate. Knowing

that Juliet is in there and he is going in there to kill himself to be

with her gives him courage. He enters and refers to Juliet as light:

"For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes

This vault a feasting presence full of light."

Inside the tomb it is very peaceful and eerie, also quite dark as