The Importance of Act 3 Scene 1 in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
‘Romeo and Juliet’ was first published in 1597 and written by William
Shakespeare when Elizabeth 1 was on the throne. At the time when it
was published women’s parts were played by young boys between the ages
of ten and thirteen because girls and women were not allowed to act on
stage. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ may have been a romance if it were not for
the events of Act 3 Scene 1. Romeo is from the Montague family and
Juliet is fro, the Capulet family, both the families hate each other
due to an ‘ancient grudge’. When Romeo goes to a party hosted by The
Capulets, he gets spotted by Tybalt (Juliet’s cousin) who wants to
fight but is held back by Lord Capulet. After Romeo and Juliet get
married, Tybalt goes looking for Romeo but Romeo doesn’t want to
fight. Mercutio (Romeo’s best friend) fights for him and is killed.
Romeo, as a result kills Tybalt. Romeo’s punishment was only
banishment because Tybalt started the fight. The banishment of Romeo
causes himself, Juliet, Paris and Lady Montague to die. Act 3 Scene 1
is important because the play could have been a romance but turned
into a tragedy however, it also causes the feud between the families
to end as a result of their children’s deaths.
As a result of the ‘ancient grudge’ between the Montagues and the
Capulets, the play begins with a brawl. Benvolio tries to stop the
fight which indicates he doesn’t like fighting and is a peacemaker.
This is linked to Act 3 Scene 1 because he tries to stop Mercutio
fighting Tybalt. To establish this, Benvolio says “I do but keep the
peace.” We are also introduced to Tybalt at th...
... middle of paper ...
...Act 3 Scene 1 because if
Romeo wasn’t banished she wouldn’t have been upset and died. Romeo’s
death links back to Act 3 Scene 1 because if he wasn’t banished then
Juliet wouldn’t have taken the potion and he wouldn’t have thought she
was dead in result to killing himself. Juliet’s death links back to
Act 3 Scene 1 because she wouldn’t have taken the potion and Romeo
wouldn’t have killed himself so she wouldn’t have killed herself with
his dagger. “Oh happy dagger, this is my sheath.” So in all the
consequence of the tragedy were Tybalt, Mercutio, Paris, Lady
Montague, Romeo and Juliet dying. There was, however, some good out of
the tragedy because it ended the ‘ancient grudge’. At the end the
Prince says “For never was story of more woe than this of Juliet and
her Romeo.” The rhyming couplet brings the play to a close.