Dramatic Tension in Act Three, Scene One of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Dramatic Tension in Act Three, Scene One of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Although the plays of Shakespeare were written for a mixed audience,

anyone watching Romeo and Juliet would appreciate the tension and

drama in act three, scene one. It is unusual for two major characters

to die so early on, but Shakespeare was a master playwright, and this

is arguably his dramatic best.

The scene opens with light humour from Mercutio and Benvolio, and

follows on from the relaxed atmosphere of the previous scene, the

wedding. Benvolio, however, is worried, and tries to persuade Mercutio

to 'retire'. He talks of the days stirring 'the mad blood' of the

family feud. He knows that if they meet the Capulets, they 'will not

'scape a brawl'. It is as if he knows that someone will be killed.

Mercutio is a lot less wary, and continues to joke about fights and

Benvolio, giving examples that may or may not be true. The audience

though have only ever seen Benvolio as a peacemaker, but laugh anyway,

even though Mercutio's language is frequently associated with fighting

and death. This is one of Shakespeare's more subtle messages to his

audience, a warning of things to come. This reasonably light opening

contrasts harshly with the sinister end of the scene.

The pace of the scene changes rapidly with the entrance of the

Capulets. There is a sense of tension between Mercutio and Tybalt from

the moment that the dialogue begins, and although Mercutio is still

playing the comic character, his words are layered with malice, which

becomes apparent when Tybalt accuses him of consorting with Romeo.

Mercutio loses patience and draws his sword to fight. Al...

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...o lost a kinsman, and will not

condemn Romeo. He chooses exile. This relieves the audience, but the

tension is still there, lessened, but there. Something must end this,

they know, but they do not know what.

There is a sense of foreboding at many places in this scene. Baz

Luhrman captures the moment of Mercutio's death impeccably, as an ill

wind whips up, and Romeo exits to pursue revenge, and as Romeo kills

Tybalt, an eerie silence begins, disturbed only by the clatter of the

gun on the steps.

The reactions of the Capulets and Montagues show how little these

deaths have affected their hatred of each other. Lady Capulet vows for

revenge, and demands it, but the prince is deaf to her pleads. As the

scene ends Tension is low, but there is an air of foreboding, and the

audience know that the play is far from over.