Preview

Romeo and Juliet - Act 3 Scene 1 Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
3684 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Romeo and Juliet - Act 3 Scene 1 Essay Example
Romeo and Juliet – Act 3 Scene 1

Act 3 scene 1 is a very important part of the whole Romeo and Juliet play. There are various mixed emotions the audience will endure throughout the scene and horrific blows are struck within this particular scene.

After reading the scene, we are immediately drawn into one of the main themes of the play, ‘Disorder'. The other themes covered in the play includes: Love versus hate, Disorder, Fate, Friendship and Revenge.

The scene takes place at ‘Verona', a ‘Public place'. A sort of setting where we expect to see laugh and a joke and the development of characters and their feelings towards others, but remembering that Shakespeare is writing this play, we can expect anything to happen.

We are then introduced to the characters with great friendship, Mercutio and Benvolio. Shakespeare has carefully selected these two characters to create impact inside of this particular scene. Without these two characters, the scene would definitely not be the same. The scene starts off with Mercutio and Benvolio are talking to each other. It is a very hot day and Benvolio is somewhat more worried than Mercutio. ‘The day is hot, the capels are abroad, And if we meet we shall not escape a brawl'. Here we are introduced into Benvolio's character – a slightly more worried/concerned person than Mercutio. A hot day can get a lot of people bothered; here Benvolio has explained to Mercutio that he feels that it would be wise to leave early before any sort of trouble kicks off, and us knowing that they are in a Public place which is probably the heart of an area if someone's looking for trouble.

Benvolio then goes on to say that he is feeling a tension in the atmosphere and that something bad is going to happen. ‘For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring'. On hot days, it is quite common for young men to lose control as Benvolio quite rightly says here.

Mercutio on the hand is a lot more laid back and is a joker. He tries to make

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Benvolio and Tybalt come upon the servants fighting. Contrast their reactions to the fight. Benvolio tried to stop the fighting, but Tybalt calls Benvolio a coward for not wanting to fight.…

    • 1161 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The characteristics of Mercutio have a significant influence on the events that occurred during Act 3 scene 1. It is evident throughout the scene that Benvolio is the peacekeeper as he see's a way around the brawling, (3.1.1-3) ' I pray thee, good Mercutio, lets retire. The day is hot; the Capulet’s abroad; and if we meet we shall not 'scape a brawl.' However, Mercutio ignores Benvolio’s attempts to bypass the Montague Capulet conflict, as he is quick to temper and always ready for a fight. His use of irony to provoke Tybalt (3.1.28-33) provides further evidence on his combativeness ‘But I’ll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery. Marry; go before to the field, he’ll be your follower. Your worship in that sense may call him man. ‘ Mercutio’s argumentative attitude leads him into a brutal affair; he is left wounded blaming Romeo for his injury. It is unquestionable that Mercutio’s pugnacious, aggressive…

    • 738 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    This foreshadows the death of tybalt which this is the main turning point in the play One of the ways Shakespeare presents conflict and violence in act 3:1 is dramatic irony to represent conflict and violence as we know Romeo is married to Juliet while no one else does. This would lead to violence if they found out. Tybalt knew Romeo like Juliet but didn’t know they were now family and starts a fight as usual. One of the lines that represents the dramatic irony is when Mercutio receives a wound which he calls a scratch, but he knows it is fatal. Up until then Mercutio was the life and soul of the party. He's a bit eccentric and enjoys having a good time. He is the joker of the group and gravity is alien to him, so there is irony in his words when he is dying.One of the ways Shakespeare presents conflict and violence in act 3:1 is dramatic irony to represent conflict and violence as we know Romeo is married to Juliet while no one else does. This would lead to violence if they found out. Tybalt knew Romeo like Juliet but didn’t know they were now family and starts a fight as usual. One of the lines that represents the dramatic irony is when Mercutio receives a wound which he calls a scratch, but he knows it is fatal. Up until then Mercutio was the life and soul of the party. He's a bit eccentric and enjoys having a good time. He is the joker of the group and gravity is alien to him, so there is irony in his words when he is dying.One of the ways Shakespeare presents conflict and violence in act 3:1 is dramatic irony to represent conflict and violence as we know Romeo is married to Juliet while no one else does. This would lead to violence if they found out. Tybalt knew Romeo like Juliet but didn’t know they were now family and starts a fight as usual. One of the lines…

    • 1760 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In this scene Shakespeare presents the relationship between Romeo and Juliet as a tragedy. I can tell this because it says ‘I must be gone and live’. This shows that Romeo knows he might die if he stays but he is choosing to stay to see Juliet. It also shows how much they love each other as Romeo is showing he would die for Juliet. By using the image of death, it shows that the story might become a tragedy. By including hints towards a tragedy, it keeps the audience interested. It also shows how bitter the feud is between the two families.…

    • 386 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mercutio's character was very vibrant and obnoxious. He liked to bring laugher and draw attention by making a joke out of everything regardless of whether it was rude and offensive. By using indirect and direct characterization, the audience was able to fully understand Mercutio and the other characters as well. Shakespeare used the device very well in his play. He made it interesting and entertaining by bringing in…

    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The hatred between these families is not as simple as it seems. From the very beginning of the play the families fought. However, this was not the first time it happened. Since the Prince of Verona had to intervene, the families had to find a way to resolve their rivalry. If another fight would have occurred, they would have been executed.…

    • 506 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mercutio is Romeo’s witty, fun-loving & courageous friend, he can also be quite moody at times with sudden outbursts of temper. He is a kinsmen to the prince and is one of the most important characters in the play. Mercutio is responsible for not only the death of Romeo & Juliet, but for his own. By refusing to leave the streets even after Benvolio pleaded him too, he was asking for trouble. Benvolio: I pray thee, Good Mercutio, let’s retire: The day is hot, the Capels are abroad, And if we meet we shall not ‘scape a brawl, For now these hot days is the mad blood stirring. Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 1-5.After Mercutio refuses to leave, the Capulet shows up and Mercutio gets inbetween a brawl between Romeo and Tybalt, Romeo refuses…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the heat of the day, Benvolio and Mercutio are loitering on the streets of Verona when Tybalt arrives looking for Romeo. Benvolio wishes to avoid a confrontation with the Capulets; however, Mercutio is deliberately provocative and tries to draw Tybalt into an argument so that they can fight. Romeo appears and Tybalt insults him, hoping he will respond to the challenge, but Romeo refuses because he is now related to Tybalt through his marriage toJuliet. Mercutio, disgusted by Romeo's reluctance to fight, answers Tybalt's insults on Romeo's behalf. Tybalt and Mercutio draw their swords and fight. To stop the battle, Romeo steps between them and Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo's arm. Mercutio's wound is fatal and he dies crying "A plague o' both your houses!" Blinded by rage over Mercutio's death, Romeo attacks Tybalt and kills…

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    controlled assesment

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The scene takes place at Verona', a Public place'. A sort of setting where we expect to see laugh and a joke and the development of characters and their feelings towards others, but remembering that Shakespeare is writing this play, we can expect anything to happen.…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Shakespeare’s novel, Romeo and Juliet, a huge event occurs in which Romeo get’s banished from the city of Verona. All the characters in this story view the banishment in different perspectives. The one whom was exiled, Romeo, views his banishment as equal to death. One of Romeo’s supporters, Friar Lawrence, views Romeo’s banishment as an act of mercy. Clearly, Romeo’s banishment reveals the difference in perspective between Romeo and Friar Lawrence.…

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo and Juliet

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Shakespeare uses Mercutio as a foil to Romeo. They are alike in many ways in the way that they talk and their conclusions. Their characters are lively and excessively dramatic in the way that they speak and act. Romeo and Mercutio also meet the same end, both because of Romeo. They also have numerous differences that show their behavioral and personality distinction. Mercutio has a way of thinking that is partially negative but more rational than Romeo's impatient, love-seeking mind. The comparison shows common sense [Mercutio] as opposed to impatient and impractical [Romeo]. They are similar and different at the same time but it helps us better understand Romeo as a character when we see him compared to Mercutio.…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When he is introduced in Act II, he is shown as Romeo’s best friend who jokes around a lot and uses a fair share of sexual innuendos. At one point, he even says, “That’s as much as to say, such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams.” He is implying that Romeo had “important business” one night, and that this business was sexual. In Act II, Mercutio is very loud, and doesn’t care who hears what he says. During the duel in Act III, Mercutio is actually very violent, and is promoting a duel, which always brings death. His violent behavior in Act III leads to two deaths (including his own) and was the main reason Juliet faked her death, which is then why Romeo killed himself. Mercutio dies because he replaced Romeo in a duel that should have never happened. Tybalt challenged Romeo to a duel, but Romeo refused. Mercutio wanted to defend Romeo’s honor, so he ended up fighting Tybalt. Romeo tried to break up the fight, but Tybalt stabbed Mercutio by having his sword go under Romeo’s arm. Out of rage, Romeo then kills Tybalt. The death of Tybalt and Mercutio made an ongoing family feud much worse. Juliet became incredibly sad, and faked her own death. Romeo then thought Juliet was dead, so he killed himself. After finding out that Romeo was actually dead, Juliet kills herself. So, the death of Mercutio leads to the death of his best friend, his best friend’s wife, and his best friend’s…

    • 1223 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Even though he does not like the Capulets , he is still a good friend. Though Mercutio can make jokes at the worst of times, he is also a brave and loyal friend.…

    • 437 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo and Juliet Essay

    • 1595 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Friar Laurence, through his lack of good judgment, is largely responsible for the deaths of both Romeo and Juliet. Rather than being supportive of them and helping them disclose their loving situation, Friar Laurence took the “easy” way out. He succumbed to their desire to elope. He secretly married Romeo and Juliet instead of standing behind them and encouraging them to confront their families with the facts about their commitment to and love for each other. As a result, an even stronger bond between them was created through marriage: "For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone / Till holy church incorporate two in one" (2.6.36-37). Friar Laurence married Romeo and Juliet, hoping that their union would bring an end to the constant feuding between their two families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Though the friar’s intentions were good and above reproach, they were certainly missteps along a pathway to tragedy. None of the tragedies would have occurred if Romeo and Juliet were not married…

    • 1595 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Was there nothing he could’ve done to stop Mercutio’s demise; no sword he could’ve used to cut the words between two foes? Who was he to do nothing while the quarrel took place? Who was he to stay fixated on a single spot, using only his words to end a brawl before blood was drawn? What did his words do? I accuse Benvolio of being a bystander, of doing little to nothing, to stop a fight before someone was hurt.…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays