Dramatic Devices of Act 3 Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Dramatic Devices of Act 3 Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

The turmoil that Juliet faces in this scene is strengthened by the

stage directions and language utilised by Shakespeare. It is

imperative to explore the relationships in this essay connecting

Juliet with her close circle of family and friends, who all reject her

idealistic ideas on marriage as Juliet's world deteriorates into a

state of uncertainty. I will also explore the language and imagery,

which is a focal point of this scene's analysis, as Shakespeare's

consciously crafted language ensures ironic windows are left open for

his audience to peer through in order to see the plot before it

happens. This scene highlights the anxiety and emotional pain of

characters, such as Romeo and Juliet, and the rivalry of Paris for

Juliet's hand, along with the selfishness of the Nurse and Friar

Lawrence, whose deceitful minds cast doubts upon the audience as to

whose interests they are acting in, their own or Juliet's?

Many would argue that the awkward situation, which Juliet finds

herself in, can be surmised as, the foolish naivety of a teenager.

Upon setting her sights upon Romeo she instantly became love lost, and

began to see the world through rose tinted glasses. Just as the modern

world has horoscopes, fortune-tellers and palm readers and so forth,

the people of the sixteen-century also looked towards the stars and

the heavens above for guidance and advice. Having noted this, I would

imply that in Act 1 Scene 3 lines 70 - 100, the ideals of marriage and

love had been thrust into Juliet's head. Therefore she goes to the

feast with the knowledge that Paris will be...

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...one seeking a fight and wishing death upon Romeo

Montague, Mercutio would not have been slain. It is also worth noting

here the point that when Mercutio was slain, he wished "a plague on

both your houses". Evidently Romeo would not have been seeking

vengeance, and to draw blood from Tybalt therefore Romeo would not

have been banished. Lord Capulet would not have seen reason to

renegotiate with Paris as to his wedding to Juliet and would have let

two more Summers pass before beginning discussions and possibly by

that time Romeo and Juliet's relationship may have been out in the

open. Also nurse and Friar Lawrence would not have as bigger weight

hanging above their heads. But most importantly, with Romeo by her

side or at least still in Verona, Juliet would see no reason to use a

potion to freeze her body and fake death.