Why Act One Scene Five of Romeo and Juliet is an Effective Piece of Drama

Why Act One Scene Five of Romeo and Juliet is an Effective Piece of Drama

‘Romeo and Juliet’ is a play, telling the tragic story of two lovers

kept apart by their family’s hate for one another. It was written by

William Shakespeare. First published in 1597, the play is set in the

Italian city of Verona and is themed on the love between Juliet, the

daughter of the Capulet household, and Romeo, the son of the Montague

household. Together they are forced to hide their love for one another

due to the Capulet and Montague’s bitter rivalry. Juliet, of the

Capulet household, is being primed for a marriage to Paris, while

Romeo is apparently in love with a woman called Rosaline, whom we

never actually see in the play. The play, as agreed by many critics,

is one of Shakespeare’s earlier works, and, unusually for his earlier

stories is one of tragedy. The play, not unusually for Shakespeare, is

full of contrasts, comparisons and dramatic moments, which all add to

the full amount of variety of events that occur. As well as contrast,

there are also many coincidences, as in Act One Scene V where Romeo

temporarily forgets about the true love of his life, Rosaline. This,

moments after he sets his eyes on Juliet, a suggestion of love at

first sight.

In reference to Juliet: “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it,

sight; for I ne’er saw true beauty till this night”

The play also moves on at tremendous pace, being staged over only four

days. This is an effective decision by Shakespeare, as all of the

action that is in the play seems to happen continuously giving great

dramatic effect. The play begins at nine in the morning on the Sunday

and en...

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...ually happen.

There is no question that this scene is an extremely effective piece

of drama. Shakespeare uses numerous techniques to change the mood, and

to some extent, the pace of the scene. These changes add to the drama,

for example, in romantic parts, such as section five, the pace is

extremely slow whereas in section one, the pace is headlong as there

is massive excitement about the party. The change from prose to poetry

also adds to the drama and is an effective way as to how the pace is

slowed down. As I have already said, there are foreboding thoughts and

anticipation of what is to happen throughout the scene that keeps the

audience mind working at all times. The different thoughts that wind

together creates massive dramatic tension that suggest that Romeo and

Juliet’s love for one another will be ill fated.