How Shakespeare Creates Dramatic Tension in Act 3 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet

How Shakespeare Creates Dramatic Tension in Act 3 Scene 5 of Romeo

and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare’s most famous love tragedy. In the

midst of a feud between two families a pair of star-crossed lovers lay

their lives. Tragically from the opening of this scene it appears that

from the outset of the drama the adoring love between Romeo and Juliet

is destined for bad things. This scene is one of the most crucial and

dramatic scenes in the play because it outlines the tension and pain

caused by the disputing families as they get to the peak of their

troubles. This scene explores every emotion that a human can feel,

from ecstatic happiness to the deepest anger which is why it’s so

vital to the play. In this scene at dawn after saying goodbye Romeo

leaves Juliet’s bedroom, the nurse warns Juliet that her mother is

looking for her and Juliet is abhorred to this news that she will

marry Paris which is to her father’s grief.

This scene is the last were we see both Romeo and Juliet alive at the

same time which is one of the reasons why it is so tragic. At the end

of Romeo and Juliet’s passionate night together they are now

emotionally and legally together. In the first paragraph as Romeo is

in danger of being killed and must go the atmosphere is darkened and

there is sorrow because Romeo must part this is in contrast with the

happy and contented mood Romeo and Juliet were in before because of

their consummated marriage. Juliet believes that the bird they are

hearing is a nightingale so its still night time which means Romeo

doesn’t have to go. This scene is dramatic for the audience because

the scene is in a small room for a short amount of time and it’s

intimate between the two characters. The quote “Nights candles are

burnt out” is symbolic as it says Romeo and Juliet’s love will burn

out, it symbolises passion at an end. Romeo is sure that the bird they

are hearing is the lark so he fears that day break is hear, the