Romeo And Juliet Suspense Analysis

Undoubtedly, many people enjoy reading literature that is suspenseful. In William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” readers are constantly left wondering what will happen next. Shakespeare effectively creates tension throughout “Romeo and Juliet” by applying foreshadowing, along with dramatic irony.

Foreshadowing is used quite frequently in the play, and it leaves one guessing what is next to come. Starting off in 1.4, Romeo Montague is crashing a party with his friends. The party is held by Lord Capulet, the head of the rival family. On the way there, Romeo feels that there is “Some consequence yet hanging in the stars… / By some vile forfeit of untimely death.” (1.4 106-111) Romeo feels that by going to this party, he is risking his life.

This particular quote is suspenseful because it foretells that a dispute may arise after the party, causing Romeo’s inevitable death. Later, Capulet’s nephew, Tybalt, spots Romeo at the feast. He tells Capulet that Romeo must be punished for attending the party, however Capulet disagrees and tells Tybalt to leave him alone. Tybalt reluctantly leaves Romeo be, “but this intrusion shall / Now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall.” (1.5 91-92) Tybalt vows that he will eventually get back at Romeo for crashing his family’s party. This creates tension, causing one to anticipate a possible confrontation between the two. After being banished for killing Tybalt, Romeo spends the night with Juliet before fleeing to Mantua. When Romeo jumps out of her window to leave, Juliet says, “Methinks I see thee, now thou are below, / As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. (3.5 55-56) This dark quote hints that Romeo indeed will soon be dead in the bottom of a tomb, allowing one to think about when, as well as how Romeo will die. Thus, the many examples of foreshadowing throughout “Romeo and Juliet” create suspension for the reader.

Another literary device used in the play is dramatic irony, which adds a twist to the story and creates suspense among readers.

Beginning in 3.2, the nurse cries, “he’s dead!” multiple times to Juliet without stating who is actually dead. Even though the reader knows that it is Tybalt who is dead, Juliet does not. She wonders with dismay, “Hath Romeo slain himself?” (3.2 45) This quote twists around the story, and makes one think about how Juliet will take the false news, along with when she will find out the truth. Furthermore, Capulet decides that Juliet will marry Paris after finding out that Tybalt was killed. He thinks that it will help take Juliet’s mind off of her misery. Capulet delightfully announces, “Thursday, tell her, / She shall be married to this noble earl.” 3.4 20-21) The audience knows that Juliet is already married to Romeo, unlike Capulet. The reader is left wondering when Capulet will find out, as well as how and if Juliet will get herself out of the problem. A few days later in Mantua, Romeo asks his servant, Balthasar, how Juliet is doing back in Verona. Balthasar informs that “Her body sleeps in Capel’s monument / And her immortal part with the angels lives. (5.1 18-19) The reader knows that Juliet has taken a potion to make her appear dead as part of her plan to escape with Romeo. However, both Balthasar and Romeo assume that she is dead. This tragic, suspenseful twist leads to both Romeo and Juliet committing suicide. Therefore, dramatic irony

throughout the play causes many twists and suspenseful moments over the course of the story.

The use of foreshadowing and dramatic irony in the play “Romeo and Juliet” causes many suspenseful events to occur.

These two literary devices are some of the many reasons that make Shakespeare’s plays so enjoyable. They keep the reader intrigued to the plot, and in a state of expectancy. Assuredly, any story can become intriguing when suspense is

involved.