How Shakespeare Creates a Sense of Romance and Danger in Act 1 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy written early on in, playwright, William Shakespeare's career. The story is set in the city of Verona in 1303, it is about two young 'Star-cross'd' lovers whose untimely deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and is one of his most frequently performed. Today, the main characters, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet are regarded as archetypal young lovers.

The Story of Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy because by the end, both adolescents are dead. The play contains the 3 things needed to create tragedy, tragic flaw (when one of the main characters has a flawed personality which leads to the tragedy), hamartia (when one of the main characters makes a decision despite not knowing what the consequences will be) and last but certainly not least, fate.

There are many themes which run throughout the play of Romeo and Juliet. One of the play’s most consistent visual motifs is the contrast between light and dark. "Go ask his name: if he be married. My grave is like to be my wedding bed." (Juliet to Nurse lines 134 & 135) Juliet says this to the nurse at the end of Act 1 Scene 5. In the days of Romeo and Juliet marriage was de rigeur, decent people didn't have affairs and the only way a couple could fully express their love for each other was if they were married. Juliet wants to find out whether or not Romeo is married, she has already decided that she cannot live without him and therefore would die if he was to be espoused. This contrast, often in terms of night/day imagery, is not given a particular metaphoric meaning- light is not always good, and dark is not always evil. On the contrary, light and dark are generally use...

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...ly awaiting to see how events will unfold knowing that trouble lies ahead for these two young lovers.

In conclusion I say, that as one of, if not the most important scene

in the play, Act 1 scene 5 is incredibly dramatically effective. It is so, because Shakespeare, used Capulet's speech to set a contrasting happy mood to that of the beginning of the play, so already this scene was different. Shakespeare expressed Romeo’s declaration of his love for Juliet to intensify the mood threefold. Then Tybalt’s speech was used to resurrect the sense of threat, hatred and conflict between the Capulets and Montagues. Finally Shakespeare added the kiss of Romeo and Juliet, to not only heighten the drama and passion but also to represent a key theme, that of love.

The scene ends leaving the audience eagerly awaiting the dark events that must surely follow this union.