The Importance of Act 3 scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The Importance of Act 3 scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

There are a number of points and specific aspects to Act 3 scene 1 of

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, that make it an extremely

important part in the play. It is a scene of extreme dramatic tension

and excitement. A scene of events that would be worthy of recollection

by Elizabethan audiences. This is a scene made of intense

confrontation resulting in the death of influential characters,

Mercutio and Tybalt. Act 3 scene 1 changes the feeling of the play as

it turns a tail of romance and love to one of tragedy and despair.

The scene allows us to realize to an extent the depth of the hatred

between the two families the Montagues and Capulets. We also are shown

how that hatred leads to bloodshed of both a member of one of the

families, and of a person from neither family, let alone the banishing

of Romeo.

It is important to analyse the scene carefully and extract out of it,

the material that gives the piece its drama and excitement and

moreover what is in it that makes it so important to the play Romeo

and Juliet in general?

Firstly we should consider what has brought the play up to this point

and what actions have already been taken that would lead to a

conclusion of the likes in this scene. Prior to this scene, Romeo and

Juliet members of rival families the Montagues, of which Romeo is part

of and the Capulets to which Juliet belongs, have fallen in love. This

happened when Romeo and a group of his fellow Montagues 'gate crashed'

a Capulet party. The young Romeo fell immediately in love with Juliet,

soon set to marry Paris a Capulet. Tybalt, c...

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tension to make act 3 scene 1 into an extremely effective and what

more important turning point to the play 'Romeo and Juliet'.

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