Analysis of Act Three Scene Five of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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Analysis of Act Three Scene Five of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' is a dramatic tragedy, and

was first performed in 1595. The novel is about two young lovers,

Romeo & Juliet and the struggle with their relationship. Romeo and

Juliet are from opposing families, the Montagues and the Capulets. The

conflict between their two families causes problems for their love of

one another. Shakespeare's main themes throughout the play are of

love, conflict and of youth versus age. The scene that we are

analysing, Act 3 Scene 5 is one of the most important scenes in the

novel. This is mainly because; the character of Juliet is developed

tremendously. Juliet's feelings and thoughts are shown more in this

scene than in any other. Other reasons why the scene is important are

that we get to the see the huge gap in the relationship of Juliet and

her mother, and also we get to see other sides of the characters. One

other way of getting across Romeo and Juliet's struggle is the way

Shakespeare uses fate. Everything seems to happen to them because of

something they did earlier. For example, because Romeo killed Tybalt,

Juliet's parents want her to marry Paris. The audience feels more

sorrow for the young couple because everything seems to be happening

to them, although all they want is top be in love.

Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony is very prominent in Act 3 Scene

5, and also throughout the play. When Lady Capulet tells her daughter

Juliet

"Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride," she is telling her

that she is going to marry Paris. The dramatic irony in this is that

the audience knows that she cannot marry Paris because she is already

married to Romeo. This ...

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...es of the play because Shakespeare uses contrast a lot

to keep the audience interested.

Another way in which Shakespeare uses contrast is with the character

of the nurse. She shifts her opinion on Romeo very quickly. Here she

is talking about Paris

"A lovely gentleman."

She also says that Romeo could never compare to him. Like Lord Capulet

her mood changes very quickly. In Act 2 Scene 5, it was the nurse who

organised Juliet's marriage and honeymoon. Then now she decides she

does not like Romeo. This shows how the nurse's mood changes very

quickly. She does not seem to understand Juliet's love for Romeo. This

makes the audience feel bad for Juliet; it makes them more involved in

the atmosphere of the scene.

The strongest contrast in this scene is between the idyllic and

loveliness of Romeo and Juliet's world and the angry world of her

parents.

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