How Does Shakespeare Use Dramatic Devices in Act 3 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet in Order to Make it s - page 2
Keywords: How Does Shakespeare Use Dramatic Devices in Act 3 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet in Order to Make it such an Exciting Important Scene?, romeo and Juliet shakespeare
By Mose. on 01/09/2008
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 2 of 7 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
the audience what is going to happen in the forthcoming play. It is written in the form of a sonnet. This is interesting as sonnets are usually associated with romance and love; however the prologue illustrates the plot of the play, which consists of bloody violence. Shakespeare cleverly uses this tool, to challenge the audience’s expectations of the play, creating an early opportunity for the audience to begin anticipating forthcoming events. By using this tool, Shakespeare immediately creates interest within the audience. Shakespeare has several references to “love”. “The fearful passage of their death – mar’kd love” The several hints of Love, gives a slight indication of what is to come in forthcoming events. “Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” This is a reference to violence. Here we observe the first of the two themes “love” and “hate” clashing together. This creates interest, as the audience begin to feel slightly tense, about the words of the prologue. The repetition of the word “civil” emphasises the point of the sentence, giving an edgy feeling towards the audience.
In the prologue, “pairs” are repeated. “Two households both alike in dignity” “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life” The repetition of them emphasises their importance to the prologue. Because the audience have no knowledge of why they are being repeated, they unconsciously link them to the title of the play: Romeo and Juliet. This makes the play exciting and interesting, as the lack of knowledge is enticing them to think for themselves.
The information from the prologue sets the scene and prepares the audience for the remainder of the play.
In the opening scene of Act 3 Scene I. Benvolio and Mercutio are walking the public streets of Verona. Benvolio expresses his concerns and doubts about the day to Mercutio. “ I pray thee good Mercutio, lets retire: the day is hot, the Capulets abroad, and if we meet we shall not scape a brawl; for now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring stirring”.
The audience observe Benvolio’s concerns this creates a tense atmosphere within the audience as they endeavour to anticipate the forthcoming events. The mention of the “Capulets” further more induces apprehension from the un expectant audience, due to their prior knowledge of the feuding families given to them in the opening prologue. The “good Mercutio” portrays Benvolio’s fine and sensible
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