Dramatic Moments in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Dramatic Moments in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

The last scene in 'Romeo and Juliet' is full of dramatic interest.

This scene excites an already anxious audience, who by now are

desperate to discover the fate of these 'star-crossed lovers'. In this

final scene the depth of Romeo and Juliet's love for each other is

confirmed when it is realised that they are truly prepared to die

rather than live without each other. Nonetheless, Shakespeare keeps

his audience guessing and hoping to the end. They are plagued with

questions: Will Romeo arrive in time? Will Juliet wake before it is

too late? How will Juliet cope with Romeo's death? What will happen in

Verona once the double suicide is discovered? Will the families

continue their feud? What will happen to Lawrence? No sooner is one

question answered than another is posed in the minds of the audience.

Shakespeare keeps them on the edge of their seats throughout this

final scene.

In the section of the play I have been asked to analyse, I think the

first key point of dramatic interest is when Romeo comments on the

lifelike colour of Juliet's skin, while she is lying in the tomb. He

says it

'Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,

And death's pale flag is not advanced there.'

And wonders:

'Why art thou yet so fair?'

Not only do these thoughts make the audience hope that Juliet will

wake in time, but they also make them hope that it will dawn on Romeo

that she might not be dead. However, just as the tension heightens,

Shakespeare increases the audience's anxiety by allowing Romeo to

become distracted at the sight of Tybalt's body lying in the 'bloody

she...

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... end the play. His words are emphasised

because they form a rhyming couplet:

'For never was a story of more woe

Than this of Juliet and her Romeo'

The final three speeches are in the form of a sonnet, they are

powerful and compelling, and should be spoken with strong clear

diction.

As has been shown this final scene of Romeo and Juliet is dramatic. If

well directed the tension of this drama can be heightened, thus

increasing not only the enjoyment but also the audiences understanding

of the play. The image on stage of these three young bodies laid on

stage close to each as if in a nest can be a highly emotive. It would

seem likely that at the end of the play both Shakespearian and modern

audiences will leave the theatre perhaps wiser, but at least

contemplating the futility of such violent young deaths.