How Shakespeare Captures his Audience in Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet?

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Shakespeare successfully captures the interest of his audience in Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet through the use of several features. These include: the introduction of several dramatic plot lines, an exciting opening brawl, bawdy humour, and the establishment of an ominous tone at the end of the act. These techniques on a whole, serve to interest and engage the audience in the events of the play.
Shakespeare, in Act I of Romeo and Juliet, entices his audience through the introduction of several complex plot lines, whose final tragic culmination are already known, due to the opening chorus. This introduction of several “loose threads,” leaves the audience wanting to find out more. They already know the “why,” “who,” and “what” the plot points ultimately entail, yet, the journey to this final outcome is obscured. Hence, Shakespeare instils a yearning for knowledge which, subsequently traps the audience in the world of the play. Evidence for this can be seen in Act I, where the audience is introduced to three predominant intertwining factors. In scene one, Act 1, Shakespeare presents two warring families, Montague and Capulet, who have fought for centuries. In scenes two and three, he then further intrigues his audience, through a very young and unsure Juliet being openly encouraged to wed Paris. Finally, Shakespeare, in scene five, develops a romance, where the Montague Romeo and the Capulet Juliet fall in love, unknowing of their adverse heritages. All three of these features introduce complexity to the plot, each seemingly underpinning or complicating another; hence, capturing the interest of the audience as they wish to see how these overlapping scenarios resolve.
Shakespeare also uses fast paced action, through an opening brawl, a...

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...sharp turn. Juxtaposing and destroying the atmosphere of love with Tybalt’s foreboding words, “This intrusion/ Now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall” (I, v, 92) the audience becomes keenly aware of an overhanging threat to their lover’s happiness which, in turn, generates an intense urge for the audience to continue with the play, to find out what lies in store for their Romeo and Juliet.
In conclusion, Shakespeare in Act I of his play Romeo and Juliet, fabricates an intensely thought and interest provoking opening to the entire performance. This is achieved through the use of certain features such as: intertwining plot lines, an unexpected opening brawl, surprising use of bawdy humour, and an ominous cliff-hanger conclusion. These techniques leave the viewer at the end of Act 1 with a profound urge for more information and hence, deep engagement in the play.

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