The Role of Act 3 Scene 1 and Act 3 Scene 5 in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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The Role of Act 3 Scene 1 and Act 3 Scene 5 in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet There are several incidents that take place during the course of the play that prepare us, the audience, for the plays tragic end. Shakespeare manages to use several devices to prepare us for the plays tragic end. He uses a prologue at the beginning to give us a brief idea about the play. Devices such as omens, premonitions, soliloquies and changes in mood and atmosphere are all very effective when preparing us for the tragedy. I will be focusing on Act 3 Scene 1 and Act 3 Scene 5 but I will be referring to other incidents that take place at different times in the play. The prologue is a very strong and effective way of preparing us, the audience, for the plays tragic end. It describes two noble households, the Montagues and the Capulets, living in the city of Verona. The houses hold an “ancient grudge” against each other. This grudge has broke into “new mutiny.” This tells us that the feud between the two families has been going on for a long time and has now been ‘re-ignited.’ This grudge remains the source of violent and bloody conflict throughout the play. The prologue states that from these two houses, “two star-crossed lovers” will appear. It refers to the couple as ill fated because the use of such words like “star-crossed” means literally against the stars. In Shakespearian times the stars were believed to control people’s destinies. Fate also seems to be a strong element in the prologue and throughout the play. Although fate is not referred to directly, the prologue creates the sense of fate by providing the audience with the knowledge ... ... middle of paper ... ...orror that fate will cause in the last scene of the play. Within three hours Juliet will awaken from her trance, and Romeo will not be there to take her away. Fate forces him to get more deeply involved in the deception he has begun, and he seems somewhat overwhelmed. The Friar decides to hasten to the tomb and bring Juliet to his cell when she wakens; the lovers can be reunited later. Friar Lawrence has no way of knowing that Romeo has already heard about Juliet’s death and has hastened to Verona. With Friar Lawrence having no reason to believe that Romeo is already aware of the death of Juliet, fate takes it’s course and the “two star-crossed lovers…take their life.” The events that take place during Act 3 Scene 2 and Act 3 Scene 5 are very successful when preparing us, the audience, for the plays tragic end.

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