The Effectiveness of Act 3 Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

The Effectiveness of Act 3 Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Act three scene five is one of the most important scenes in the play

Romeo and Juliet. The reason for this is, is the fact that it is an

effective piece of drama. It has meaningful lines which are well

written and well acted to make it so effective. Romeo and Juliet is

read in almost every school today and has influenced other plays and

films like 2003’s Underworld, where it was more or less the same,

except the Montague’s and Capulet’s were replaced with vampires and

werewolves.

In the previous scene, we have heard Capulet talking with Paris

about the forthcoming marriage between Paris and Juliet. At the

beginning of act three five, we learn that Romeo and Juliet have spent

the night together. This mixed with Romeo’s recognition that if he

stays he will die, and our knowledge of what is likely to happen if

they are caught, provide the audience with a dramatic opening to the

scene.

The events of act three scene five effects the rest of the play in a

larger and more superior scale than any other scene. The scene

contains action packed romantic moments which interest the audience

and keep them on their toes, which makes the scene the core of the

play. Romeo has been sent into exile and the pain really starts to

kick in because the newly wedded Romeo and Juliet have to say goodbye

to each other, knowing there is a chance they will never see each

other again which makes the goodbye scene a memorable moment for the

audience.

The exchange between Romeo and Juliet in which Romeo speaks of being

“put to death” hints at future disturbance. It remin...

... middle of paper ...

... girl; she has matured into a young woman whose love for

Romeo has given her a purpose. She is determined to be reunited with

her husband, or die.

Act three scene five is an effective piece of drama and is the core of

the play Romeo and Juliet. It contains all devices needed to make it

truly effective and great. It contains good language and poetry, great

actors, theatricality, good historical context and contemporary

relevance. All these features blended in with good acting makes the

scene do powerful and special. As we know the play is still very

popular worldwide today and is the basis of many books and films like

2003’s Underworld, and is read in almost every school today. If this

scene had not been an effective piece of drama the play would have

been lost in time as many of Shakespeare’s contemporaries had been.