The Use of Oppositions to Create Conflict in Romeo and Juliet, a Play by William Shakespeare

“For stony limits cannot hold out love”- William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Barriers cannot hold back love, people will do whatever it takes to be with the love of the life. In Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet he uses oppositions to create conflict. He uses many oppositions such as love and hate, life and death, and light and dark. These create such major conflicts that it leads to a pair of star crosse star crossed lovers killing themselves. Shakespeare shows that oppositions push people to their limits. Shakespeare weaves oppositions between love and hate throughout the play to tragic conflicts that result from characters hitting the play , love and hate create the most conflicts. Shakespeare states from the beginning that Juliet and Romeo are “A pair of s are “A pair of star crossed lovers” crossed lovers” who limits are reached, this leads to the two lovers taking theirs own lives. Fate will not allow these lovers to be together, which pushes Romeo and Juliet over the edge resulting in their death. After the first brawl between the Montagues and Capulets Romeo is talking to .”

The fight was a result of hate, but more a result of love in Romeo’s opinion. The fighting also limits the families from making peace. Romeo has fallen deeply in love with a woman who has om my only hate” Juliet has fallen t deeply in love with Romeo, who comes from her family rival. The love she has for him is limited by the hate between the families The power of love drives people to take their own lives; just so they don’t have to live alone in the world without the person they love. The next pair of contrasts Shakespeare Includes in Rome th. After Romeo has been banished from uponor coner explains that she doesn’t want to live if being with Romeo is not permitted: “Be not so long to speak. I long to die.”. This restricts Juliet from being able to be with Romeo more than before . Her life wouldn’t be complete w ut Romeo and she would go to the extent of killing herself if she can’t be with him. Juliet has taken a potion to make it appear as if she is dead, everyone besides Friar Lawrence and the Nurse thinks she has died. Paris, who is also in love with Juliet, says to Romeo “O, I am slain! If thou be merciful, Open then the tomb; lay me with Juliet.” Paris loves Juliet and wants to be with kill him and lay him in the tomb with Juliet. her even after death. He wants Romeo to Romeo kills Paris and goes to Juliet’s grave. Romeo also thinks that Juliet has died.

Romeo’s final words show his declaration to join his love. He declares: “Thus with a kiss die.”. The love these cha th each other push them to their limits, this shows us the extent people will go to, to be with the one they love. The opposition of dark and light is used create conflicts because it is about Romeo and Juliet’s love. How their love is the light in the dark, cruel world. An example it is used is that Romeo describes that “Juliet is the sun” Her beauty is angelic and as bright as the sun. Romeo and Juliet have a very strong love for each other; their love is compare to light shining in the dark. While the two families rivalry would be the darkness, the love is the light: “cut in little stars”  Their love is represented by stars, and the family’s hatred for each other is represented by the darkness surrounding the stars. Their love is very strong, but this is not enough to keep the Capulets and Montagues at peace. Since the family’s don’t accept Juliet and Romeo’s love it leads to their deaths: “A glooming peace this morning with it brings The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head” The light in their love was not enough to overpower the darkness of the family rivalry. The light of their love is suffocated by the darkness surrounding it, forcing the star crossed lover to their Shakespeare exploits contrasts to create conflicts in this tragedy. He shows us the power of love and hate and what they can drive people to do. The love between Romeo and Juliet is also not enough to overpower the family’s rivalry and make peace. These oppositions drive the pair of star crossed lovers to kill themselves.

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Romeo’s Diary

I truly believe I am the luckiest man alive. Friar Lawrence has finally agreed to match me and Juliet later today. Rosalind is my heart’s old desire, but my heart doth gape for Juliet. ‘She doth teach the torches to burn bright’ with her exquisite beauty. I have been frivolous until now believing my heart belonged to Rosalind.

‘Is love a tender thing? ‘Loving her felt like a ‘ feather of lead’, true her beauty astounded me, but my unrequited love towards her vexed my soul. I longed to be with her, but she wanted to remain chaste, causing me great amounts of pain that ‘pricked like thorns’. I could not forget about Rosalind, she was constantly in my thoughts, but I was purblind to ever think she could love me. I now realise my feelings for her were false and fanciful. What my heart now feels is not another fantasy; my new love takes all my strength and makes every other woman look like miserable hags. How I wish I had taken my own advice sooner. I was terribly unhappy this morning, and looking back, I was a pathetic, immature sibling, hanging on to what I was felt for Rosalind, now vowed to an eternity of chastity. We both loved different attributes, it is only fitting we remain this way.

To begin with I was extremely confused and slightly arrogant as to why she did not take an interest in me. I am always unsure about what to do about the situation, and talking to my friends about it is usually an inexcusable NO. But, I was bewildered as to which path to take, I told Benvolio, which looking back was the correct decision; the only friend that wouldn’t laugh or take off for a drink. I told him of my problem and strangely his advice was to help him crash a Capulet party, to enjoy myself and remember how Rosalind is not the end of the world. There are plenty other beauties in the world. Immediately, I recoiled and did not believe anything that spurted out of his mouth. I only allowed him to drag me along to the party as to not worry them. Was that the right thing to do?

This never-ending grudge between our ill-fated families bound me, and the fighting between such parties is a disgraceful burden, holding me back, as so I cannot take the fair lady Juliet in my arms. My hot tempered friend accompanied by the vengeful Benvolio encountered a hurtful opposition in that of the brute Tybalt and many of his serving men. Sooner or later all will die under the wielding of a weapon. My father later drew his unsheathed weapon of that against Lord Capulet, when will this silly brutality come to a close. A’ last Prince came and took charge, but I cannot help but think if this is the attitude I wish to understand if I finally want to elope and continue the family name. Do I need to grow up?

Suddenly, no sooner as I had pulled on my visor, I met eyes with the most beautiful girl created. She made my lovely Rosalind look like a hag, and one more shot of Cupid’s arrow and I was in love, yet again with a younger beauty.

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Love in Romeo and Juliet

Essay topic: how love is treated in one of the plays (Romeo and Juliet) – Not sure if maybe the order of characters should be changed around ? – Ex putting room and Juliet’s part first. William Shakespeare has written many brilliant pays over his literary career. One of his most famous love stories of all time although is Romeo and Juliet. Naturally love is the plays most dominate theme. Throughout the play love is treated and seen very differently by the various characters of the play. Romeo and Juliet are seen as young adolescents who do not understand or know what true love is, but are very passionate.

Capulet see’s his daughters love as being something that he can control, and is only concerned with honoring the Capulet blood line and economic advancement of the Capulet family. The nurse is seen as being nieave in her parenting as well as guidance and at times appears to be pimp like. While Mercutio believes that Romeo is simply just Horney and not in fact in love. Do Romeo and Juliet really experiencing love or is it just an infatuation and an erge to have sex. Are two people so young able to comprehend what love really is and means at such as very young age.

I don’t believe they could and with the misguidance and surrounding views of love this play has turned from a comedy to a tragedy. Capulet: as we look at the role of love from Capulet’s view we see a very dominate and controlling figure over his daughters love. Like lady Capulet Juliet’s father dose not play a big part in Juliet’s every day life, but in relations to his daughters love he is a very big factor. Capulet portrays the love and marriage of his daughter as something that he will be decided by him.

Although when discussing marriage with Paris at the beginning of the play he realizes that Juliet is young and needs more time to develop, portrayed in the quote “ My child is yet a stranger in the world, She hath not seen the change of fourteen years; Let two more summers wither in their pride Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride. ” When Paris purposes to marry Juliet, her father points out that she is young and is not even fourteen years. He hastily demands that Juliet marry Paris after Tybalts death.

This marriage to Paris is something that Juliet did not want from the start but was put upon her from the start of the play. Capulet is infact looking out for his daughters best interest but dose not stop to think of what Juliet wants or discuss the matter with her. When Juliet defies her fathers wishes, Capulets true feeling on her love and Marriage are revealed. In the quote “ Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds, But fettle your fine joints ‘gainst Thursday next To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.

Out , you greensickness carrion! Out , you baggage! You tallow –face. ” ACT 3. 5 lines 153-158 it is made clear that he will make the final decision in her daughters marriage and although she dose not want to marry Paris it will happen on the next Thursday weither she likes it of not. The father is more concerned with status level of her suiter and the honor of his blood line then the wishes of his daughter and In the end of the play we see that with a little understanding on the part of Capulet the dramatic double suicide concluding the play, maybe could have been avoided.

The Nurse; the nurse plays a very important role in relations to love in romeo and Juliet. As we can tell at the beginning of the play Juliet’s fraternal mother lady Capulet is not portrayed as any more than just that fraternal. The true loving relationship between mother and daughter is played by the nurse and Juliet. The Nurse has been with the Capulet family for at least fourteen years,or since Juliet was born. We are told that The Nurse had had a daughter but tragically it did not make it through child birth. The nurse also was juliets wet nurse and the mother daughter bond has been very stong sine then.

In this quote “this is the matter-nurse, give leave awhile, We must talk in secret. Nurse, come back again; I have remembered me, thou’s hear our counsel. Thou knowest my daughter’s of a pretty age” ACT 1. 3 line 7-10 . Lady Capulet involves the Nurse in her discussion with Juliet about her possible marriage to Paris. It is extremely evident that lady Capulet dose not feel comfortable with her daughter alone and it is shown through out the play that they not spend very much time together while Juliet and the nurse do.

Although the nurse and Juliet’s love for each other is very strong there is another more important factor in terms of Juliet’s love for a man and the guidance the nurse gives her in picking a match for marriage. When Romeo and Juliet first meet it is love at first site and the nurse warns Juliet that he is a Montague. “His name is Romeo, and a Montague, The only son of your great enemy. ” ACT 1. 5 lines 137-138 although Juliet is still very young, being the age of 14 and nieve in her knowledge of love, the nurse helps her in her persuit.

From this point the nurse is seen as more of a pimp then a mother figure who should be wiser. The nurse gossips with Juliet about Romeo “though his face be better than any man’s, yet his leg excels all men’s, and for a hand and a foot and a body, though they be not to be talked on, yet they are past compare” ACT 2. 6 lines 39-42 When she should be stressing the fact that Romeo is a Montague and not the right person for Juliet’s love given the current situation. Yet the nurse still goes behind the backs of her employers and guides Juliet in her secret marriage to Romeo.

She is seen in as a pimp in many ways such as meting to discuss marriage with Romeo and taking Juliet to ’s cell to be wed. In act 4 the nurse’s views on are also shown to be skewed. After Tybalts death, When confronted by Juliet with the problem of a quick marriage to Paris under the orders of her father Capulet, the nurses thoughts on the matter are very prudish saying “ Romeo is banished; and all the world to nothing that he dares ne’er come back to challenge you; Or if he do, it needs must be by stealth.

Then, since the case so stands as now it doth, I think it best you married with the county. O, he’s a lovely gentlemen! Romeos a dishclout to him. An eagle, madam, Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart, I think you are happy in this second match, for it excels your first; or if it did not, your first is dead- or ‘twere as good he were as living here and you no use of him. ” Saying that she should marry Paris just because Romeo is now banished and can not tend to her needs for sex.

But if he dose still come around to do it under the nose of Paris and cheat on her new husband. So in so many words have the best of both worlds. The nurse not once thinks of Juliet’s heart and the idea of true love. The nurse just see’s the physical aspects of attraction such as a man’s looks, and just thinks of sax. The nurse has been a pimp throughout the play and although she is in so many ways Juliet’s parental figure she succeeds in leading her in the wrong direction and giving Juliet bad advice on love. Romeos Friends Romeo’s friend and also the cousin of the Prince is Mercutio.

Unlike Romeo and most of the other characters in the play He has a extremely different view on love. He suggest that love is like an ‘open arse and poppering pear’ and that simple sexual gratification will fulfill the desires for love. This may be because Mercutio has been in love previously and understands what love is and how complicated it can be at times, or perhaps because he has not experienced it himself. In my opinion he dose understand love and sees how fast Romeo is jumping into things and not thinking rationally. He believes that Romeo is not in fact in love, he is just feeling the desires to make love.

Mercutio creates irony in the play because if Romeo had listened to his advice and convinced Juliet to act just on her sexual desires rather than moral desires or getting married first then Romeo and Juliet, as well as Mercutio may possibly still be alive. Mercutio’s death is also what turns the play from a comedy into a tragedy, which with Mercutio dies his advice, and potentially condemns the lovers. Romeo & Juliet It is shown early in the play that Romeo is foolish and thinks he is in love very easily. When it comes to love Initially Romeo had fallen in love with Rosaline.

He believed that Rosaline is the girl of his dreams and that he can not live without her but those feeling where not mutual. Although Rome was heartbroken, I believe that Romeo has no idea what real true love actually is. This relationship is merely an example of infatuation, a foolish attraction. Even though Romeo had thought he had found his ‘true love’ in Rosaline, when he saw Juliet for the first time he believed he was in love again. Juliet also believed the first time she saw Romeo she was in love. But can love at fist site really exist?

I believe it can not, although you may feel physically attracted to someone when u first meet, there is much more than just looks needed to make a relationship work and truly be in love. You cannot just meet someone and fall in love, it just dose not happen like that. Romeo and Juliet are far to young to understand the depth of feelings involved in a real, meaningful relationship. Even if they are able to understand with the little experience they have in love being so young, I believe it takes more than a couple of hours or a couple of day, as the play takes place over just a fue days to fall into love and truly understand it.

These to lovers sexual ergs took over to the fact that every decision they would make from the fist encounter, at the beginning of the play would be clouded by this thought of being in love. The relationship between Romeo and Juliet was similarly so powerful that personal values and loyalties towards family and friends were of secondary importance. “Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, / And I’ll no longer be a Capulet”. Juliet in effect is willing not only to deny her own family name but take the name of a Montague, the family which hers has been in disputes with for many years.

And she is led in the wrong direction with these ideas by the nurse. Romeo also denies his friend Mercutio and goes ahead and marries. Juliet. Romeo and Juliet both defy their families and friends. Their feelings for each other ultimately cost both of them their lives. The love that they felt for oneanother has blinded them in seeing the right path, and unable to realize the misfortunes that lay ahead for them. Throughout the play It is evident that their are many views of love and how it should be treated. At such a young age as Romeo and Juliet where, some good advice and knowledge of love was need but never found.

Romeo and Juliet where so blinded by so called love for one another that they could not see the right path. With exception to Mercutio, I believe the other characters in the play did littlie to help the couple and only blurred the truth. These two should not have wed and engaged in a loving relationship. They where to young, did not know what love was, and where clearly not a very good match being members of an opposing rival family. With the misguidance of many characters if the play the story turns from a comedy to a tragedy and we see that love is treated very differently by many people.

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Romeo and Juliet – Guilty Deaths

Deaths The Shakespearian play Romeo and Juliet is a well known story about star-crossed lovers whose fates end in tragedy. The deaths of these two lovers can be held responsible on two main characters, Friar Lawrence and the Nurse yet out of the two, who is more liable? Friar Lawrence is a priest who marries the two lovers, gives Juliet a fake potion to prevent her from marrying Paris, fails to send the letter to Romeo telling him about his plan and selfishly runs away from Juliet in fear that he would get into trouble for his involvement.

The Nurse is Juliet’s lifelong caregiver who helps Juliet and her lover get married, becomes their “messenger” and later on in the play, changes her mind on who Juliet should be with. The physical actions and guidance of both the Friar and Nurse demonstrate their liability for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Although, it is undeniable that Friar Lawrence is more to blame than the Nurse on the deaths of Romeo and Juliet through his guidance, advice and physical actions throughout the play.

In the play, Romeo and Juliet are very young and constantly seek advice and guidance of people older and supposedly wiser than them, like Friar Lawrence and the Nurse. What is unclear to them is that the advice and guidance that they receive comes with many consequences, and , it is death. Throughout the course of the Shakespearian play, Friar Lawrence gives the couple a lot of advice and guidance. To avoid marrying Paris, he tells Juliet to pretend to be dead with the help of a special potion he made.

As part of the plan, he was supposed to inform Romeo of this arrangement yet he fails which later costs him his own life along with Juliet’s. “Come I’ll dispose of thee/ Among a sisterhood of holy nuns/ Stay not to question, for the watch is coming/ Come, go good Juliet. I dare no longer stay/” (Shakespeare 5. 3 155) demonstrates how selfish he was as he left the Capulet tomb and let Juliet kill herself instead of attempting to help her. By letting her die alongside Romeo, he is more responsible for their deaths. The second character that holds responsibility for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet through her advice to Juliet is the Nurse.

Throughout, the Nurse seems to admire Romeo. She praises him for his love for Juliet and seems to be fond of their marital union. After Atabani 2 a heated discussion between Lady Capulet, Capulet and Juliet about whether or not she should marry Paris, she changes her mind about Romeo and their marriage. She believes that because he is exiled from Verona that he should be dead to Juliet. Romeo is banished, and all the world to nothing. That he dares ne’er come back to challenge you. Or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth. Then, since the case so stands as now it doth.

I think it best you married with the county. Oh, he’s a lovely gentleman. Romeo’s a dishclout to him. An eagle, madam, Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart. I think you are happy in this second match. For it excels your first. Or if it did not. Your first is dead, or ’twere as good he were. As living here and you no use of him (3. 5 88) All through the play, it is clear that the Nurse is a very mother like character to Juliet therefore when she gave Juliet advice on who to marry, the Nurse was attempting to advocate bigamy.

This upsets Juliet and because of the advice the Nurse gives her, she goes to Friar Lawrence in seek of a remedy for her aching heart. Although both the Nurse and Friar Lawrence may have seemed to have good intentions in giving advice to Romeo and Juliet about their star-crossed love, the Friar’s words of advice makes him more accountable for their deaths. In Romeo and Juliet, the fulfillment of certain actions leads to the play’s tragic ending, death. In the play Friar Lawrence is one of the characters whom commits physical acts that makes him responsible for the deaths of the lovers.

Firstly, he marries the two lovers in a secret ceremony with only the Nurse attending. By performing their marriage, he defies their fates and bonds them as star-crossed lovers, which leads to their devastating deaths. After, the Friar’s realization of their forbidden love he states “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be/ For this alliance may so happy prove/ To turn your households rancor to pure love” (2. 3 46). He marries them against Atabani 3their families in hopes that he may end the feud that divides the Capulets and the Montagues.

By creating a marital union between the Juliet and Romeo, the Friar creates more hatred between the families that builds up to the conclusion. By marrying them, the Friar makes himself more accountable for the suicides of Romeo and Juliet. The second character who is physically liable for the deaths of the star – crossed lovers is the Nurse. After the Prince exiles Romeo to Mantua for murdering Tybalt, the Nurse plays a “messenger” role, in which she continuously goes back and forth between the two lovers. She helps them be Atabani 3 ogether even though she knows that both the Capulets and Montagues would disapprove. The Nurse would also constantly bring news from Romeo to Juliet about their blooming love and later, their marriage. Now, afore God, I am so vexed that every part about me quivers. Scurvy knave! Pray you, sir, a word And as I told you my young lady bid me inquire you out. What she bade me say, I will keep to myself. But first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool’s paradise as they say, it were a very gross kind of behavior, as they say.

For the gentlewoman is young, and therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman and very weak dealing (2. 4 53) are the words of The Nurse while she is explaining to Romeo about her role as a messenger between both Juliet and Romeo. If the Nurse had considered what would happen to this couple, she may not have wanted to become their messenger and risk their lives like she did. As a result of both the Friar and the Nurse’s involvement physically they can both be held accountable for the deaths of the lovers, yet it is evident that Friar Lawrence can be considered more responsible.

Through his guidance, advice and physical actions throughout the play, it is undeniable that Friar Lawrence is more to blame than the Nurse on the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The Shakespearian play Romeo and Juliet written in 1590 explores many different themes including fate, love and death. The deaths of the protagonists Romeo and Juliet can be blamed on the physical actions, guidance and advice of both the Friar and Nurse. This later demonstrates who is more responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

The Nurse’s actions, advice and assistance includes helping the lovers get their marriage, becoming their “messenger” and later on in the play and changing her overall idea about the marriage between Juliet and Romeo. The actions, guidance and advice that Friar Lawrence administrates to both Romeo and Juliet include marrying the two lovers, giving Juliet the potion, failing to send the letter to Romeo in time and selfishly running away from Juliet in fear that he would get into trouble for his involvement make him more responsible than the Nurse.

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Romeo and Juliet – Fate

What effect does the theme of fate have on the play ? Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story where the two lovers meet their unfortunate deaths caused by their feuding families and forbidden love. The play encircles the vital theme of fate, as demonstrated by a series of events that occur. Firstly, the sheer birth of the “pair of star-cross’d lovers” into controversial families is an act of fate. “the fearful passage of their death marked love” purely advises the audience that both characters would meet their deaths.

Located within the prologue, these lines commence the play, jolting it into motion. Shakespeare explores the theme of fate by rendering the audience wonder, to what extent we are able to control our actions. Additionally, the actual meeting of Romeo and Juliet is also an example of fate. At this point, the audience would be torn in two directions. They should be gazing in awe at their true love at first sight, but dread overtakes, as this encounter would eventually lead both to their deaths.

Until death, does their fate continue to pursue and Shakespeare once again questions our ability of free will. “a plague on both your houses” Mercutio exclaims, striking a chord of Romeo and Juliet’s fate. When Mercutio is accidentally slain and as a consequence, Tybalt is killed, a forewarning materializes regarding the lovers’ downfall. After banishment from Verona as a penalty for slaughtering Tybalt, Romeo shouts “O, I am fortune’s fool”, which confirms fate would control his destiny.

Furthermore, fate takes a strike when Friar John was unable to deliver the letter to Romeo on time, therefore leading him to believe in Juliet’s death. Within this love story stars are employed as the metaphor of fate. After Romeo realizes that Juliet is ‘dead’ he cries “.. then I defy you, stars! ” In conclusion, “Romeo and Juliet” validates the theme of fate proficiently as Shakespeare carefully establishes the characters and plot contained by it. Without fate, this unfortunate story would fail to possess such a dramatic emotional outcome on its audience.

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Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet Act 3 Scene 1 Analysis

Romeo and Juliet Coursework In Act 3 Scene 1 of Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare raises the excitement and the tension throughout the scene by using dramatic tension between the characters, provocative and threatening dialogue, strong language effects, and sharp vital violence. The scene begins with Benvolio and Mercutio coming on to stage, with Benvolio suggesting they should go home in case they meet the Capulets and the violence ensues. “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. This pathetic fallacy and strong image of mad blood creates an expectation in the audience of violent events to come. This expectation seems to be met fulfilled quickly as Tybalt enters with other members of the Capulet family and some servants and immediately a dramatic tension is established between the two factions. We are shown that Mercutio is in a difficult frame of mind. “ ‘By my head here comes the Capulets’ ‘By my heel, I care not. ’ ” Clearly Mercutio is in an aggressive mood. Tybalt addresses Mercutio and Benvolio. ‘Gentlemen, good den, a word with one of you’ ” Up to this point, Tybalt is courteous – his quarrel is with Romeo, not with Benvolio or Mercutio. However Mercutio is extremely provocatice and he responds to Tybalt, asking a word with one of them with, “Make it a word and a blow. ” The audience feels there is a fight in prospect. When Tybalt says that Mercutio consorts with Romeo, Mercutio sees an insult where there is none. “Consort? what, dost thou make us minstrels? an thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here’s my fiddlestick; here’s that shall make you dance. Zounds, consort! ” A gentleman cannot accept being compared to a lowly musician, but this is not what Tybalt meant and the audience feel expectation of fear and violence. Now Romeo enters, and now the focus of the tension shifts as a dramatic tension is established between Romeo and Tybalt. Tybalt says to Mercutio: “Well, peace be with you sir, here comes my man. ” It is strange that Tybalt is prepared to swallow such provocation from Mercutio, just as Romeo will soon swallow his.

Tybalt puts Romeo in a situation in which almost no gentleman could refuse to fight. “Thou art a villain. ” he says but Romeo does not respond with aggression. Now a new element of intrigue and excitement comes with a kind of dramatic irony. The audience knows why Romeo does not want to fight Tybalt –they have just become relatives- but the other characters do not know. Romeo seems quite unmanly when instead of fighting Tybalt for his honour he swallows the insult, saying “I do protest I never injuried thee, But loved thee better than thou canst devise. Again the audience knows, can “devise”, the reason, but Mercutio sees it as cowardice. Now the excitement moves up a notch as Mercutio starts the violence and we are to have the sword fight the audience has been expecting. Mercutio condemns Romeo’s peaceful ways. “O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away. (Draws) Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk? ” The ‘vile submission’ shows what a humiliation Mercutio believes Romeo is accepting; the insult ‘rat catcher’ makes it almost certain Tybalt will have to fight.

Now the sword play begins, and the audience not only have the excitement and great dramatic action of two fighters trying to kill each other but also the sight of Romeo trying to stop the fight for the reasons only he and the audience know. With a tragic irony it is Romeo’s efforts to separate the two men that give Tybalt the chance to stab Mercutio, a friend of Romeo’s on the Montague’s side. Now the audience has put in suspense wondering whether Mercutio is going to die or not. Romeo raises their hopes that he may live. (“Courage man, the hurt cannot be much. ); but Mercutio seems to know that he is a dead man. “A plague o’ both your houses! They have made worms’ meat of me: I have it, And soundly too: your houses! ” The dramatic and terrifying image of worm’s meat makes Mercutio’s last words very powerful; and his cursing of the Capulets and the Montagues shows that he blames their useless feud for his death. The scene now takes another turn as Romeo puts aside all thought of peace, and becomes warlike. Benvolio tells him that Mercutio is dead, and Romeo decides on revenge in spite of his marriage to Juliet. This day’s black fate on more days doth depend; This but begins the woe, others must end” The audience is put on more suspense with this foreboding of more strife and death. Tybalt returns, perhaps to continue his quarrel with Romeo but strangely this time, alone and Romeo resolves on violence. “Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now! ” With the passion of this language and the dramatic tension once again onstage between Romeo and Tybalt, the scene approaches its climax.

Tybalt declares that he will send Romeo’s soul after Mercutio’s. “Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence. ” The audience understand that either Tybalt or Romeo must die. Now we have the second sword fight in this scene and this is the climax. As Romeo kills Tybalt he takes his revenge for Mercutio’s death, he gets rid of his main enemy in the Capulet camp, and he puts his relationship with the love of his life in grave danger – this is the peak of the excitement and tension.

Now Shakespeare lets the audience relax a little as Benvolio explains what has happened and the Prince orders Romeo exile but not death. From foreboding at the very beginning of the scene to mortal insults and provocation, to sword fighting and death, to the audience’s realization that something terribly wrong has happened to Romeo and Juliet’s romance Shakespeare uses a wide range of dramatic and language devices to make the scene one of the exciting and enormous tension.

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Romeo & Juliet Alternate Scene

Creative Writing Project Scene Writing BY: Timothy Stevenson Romeo has just arrived in Mantua after being banished permanently by the Prince because of the death of Tybalt. Tybalt was slain as revenge for the murder of his cousin Mercutio, who Tybalt killed earlier. The earlier events of the play included Romeo falling in love at first sight and Juliet reciprocating his love. The two cannot got public which such love, as they are from rivaling houses that hate each other dearly. Romeo is extremely depressed. CHARACTERS

Romeo Montague- son of Sir and Lady Montague, falls in love with Juliet and is banished for the murder of Tybalt Mercellio- lesser known servant of Romeo, seeks him out to give him information Rosaline- unseen character in the first 2 Acts makes her first, verbal appearance MANTUA – DAY Romeo has just settled in Mantua after his night with Juliet, and is sitting on a bench outside of a park, depressed. A bird lands next to him and he studies it. Romeo Fair bird, thou not wary of me? Thou not know who I am? I am Romeo, murderer of kin and Verona exile! I’m a cruel murderer and I long for my own destruction.

As the pearl of light has been stripped from me because of these fatal events, you bird should not be around me. You may be slain as well! You’ve ne’er experienced the destruction that occurs around me. Everything beautiful is stripped and dies slowly in my presence like I am intertwined with the eerie death that takes everything wondrous away and makes everything sad. To be near me is to be near everything evil and undesirable. Fallen Tybalt, my kin, eliminated because of the end of the story of great Mercucio. To exact revenge was to be stripped of the illustrious Juliet. Fear me, bird.

Fear my very presence. The bird pecks him on the hand and it begins to bleed. The bird flies away while Romeo stares at the wound the bird has caused. Romeo Thank you bird! I deserve it and more. To walk into war without a weapon to be slain of such heart gripping pain! How about the apothecary gives me 20 gallons of their finest poison, sweet poison that I can engorge myself to be stripped of my love and the light of this cold world. The world is a dark void without her glow to illuminate even the darkest of caverns. The blackest kettle would be turned white by her presence.

Her gleam’s name is Juliet, oh full Juliet, your beauty encompasses everything and more. And as fate plays such a cruel game, your shameless game…show your face! Show it so that I can slay you most beautifully! The banishment from sweet Verona is most undesirable. I’d appreciate the sweet vengeance of death than the nagging fault of banishment. To know that admirable Juliet is sealed behind the walls of Verona away from me without me able to anything about it…is agony. This is true agony of a tireless heart. Romeo interrupts briefly to look at the cloudy sky. Enter Mercellio, servant of Romeo] Mercellio Romeo, oh fair Romeo! I have most remarkable news! News that’ll alleviate your gloom! Your mood of Juliet has made you an evil character, made you feel less than a man shall ever feel and you continue to drown yourself face first into the waters of sorrow. Art thou is Romeo! Romeo must not tirelessly wane and moan and cry to skies that aren’t listening… ROMEO To alleviate anything means that you must mean death! Nothing can revive me from the mood that I’m in. Nothing can wash the pain of not seeing sweet Juliet ever again…nothing foolish servant!

What simple boast do you plan to tell me? The only news of Juliet with me will bring me happiest, imprudent one. That’s an impossible task that not even the bravest of men can succeed in. To fall in love and to be stripped of it so cleanly is the inferior destiny of my dismal life. Life is nothing without her. News means nil unless it’s new of my return to Verona. I imagine killing myself just so I wouldn’t have to deal with such crushing pain and now as I drown in it I cannot cut my ties to this world as to cut my ties would end with truly never being with her again.

MERcellio You cannot continue life like this forever, brave Romeo. To let this consume you is to give up life itself and starve for the affections of a single woman is absolutely ludicrous. You cannot continue like this sir. ROMEO You know nothing of the pain I’m feeling. You could never experience something so agonizing as such; to hinder the ability of sleep is the pain I’m feeling. Worse than the death of the most important thing to you is the realization that you can never be with the one that means the most to you. You are a complete fool to call me ludicrous…ludicrous!

Thou is ludicrous for not being able to experience this with me, ludicrous for thinking I can just let such emotions waver. The attempt of capturing Juliet and simply vanishing from all eyes keeps me here, keep me from revealing my sheathed sword and slaying you with your foolish words. MERCELLIO Slaying me because of a female is absolutely ludicrous! I have known you for quite some time, good Romeo and you again and again looked for women to reciprocate your love to and asked for the hearts of many women, only to see your heart wrung mercilessly by such. You find this lifestyle un and continue, hoping to find such a woman to return it to you! Because young Juliet arrival of emotion upon you is enough to lay in distraught, thinking about what could and could not have been. Is life that closed of a circle, dear Romeo? ROMEO What is life with a Juliet? There is no life to think of without such a creature, unrealistic until I found her waiting for me in the chains of the Capulet’s. Why have you ventured out for me, dim Mercellio? What have you to tell me? MERCELLIO Ah, yes! To argue with you is to forget my true intentions of seeking you out.

To find you to reveal to you news that may be pleasing to ones ear, though ones mood may completely destroy it as another beautiful beacon searches for Romeo to talk… Romeo interrupts Marcellio in mid-speech, effective cutting him off. ROMEO What woman do you speak of, servant? What is she called? Where is her place of? Lastly, if she isn’t Juliet, I do not desire this information in the least bit. No woman can compare to the excruciating emotion that will overcome me when I see her fairness once again. Oh, Juliet. MERCELLIO This girl isn’t the much desired Juliet you long for…

ROMEO Then what need do I need such information. Go, Mercellio before you regret coming as your life will be stripped from you with my blade. MERCELLIO Please, kind Romeo. This woman states that she knows you and she’s waiting for you…she was timid in meeting you again but she longs to meet you once again. She has nagged to me in the journey how she longs for you once again and is ready to begin with you… romeo Who Marcellio? Speak before I slay you with my sword. This is the last time I will say such a thing before I do it! Your very next word shall be her name!

Romeo quickly stands up and unsheathes his sword. Mercellio quickly leaps to his feet. MARCELLIO Rosaline! Sweet Rosaline has longed to see you again! Romeo drops his sword in shock at Mercellio’s words. ROMEO Astonishing Rosaline? Where art thou? [Enter Rosaline, sullen] Rosaline Romeo, oh Romeo. My heart aches for your sun. You evaded and left your efforts with me to be with the wondrous Juliet, fair beautiful Juliet and left me distraught. Your attempts at me have been refuted and your eye gazed at a younger beauty. Have you forgotten me Romeo? You no longer desire me, and instead desire youthful Juliet?

ROMEO Oh, how fate tests me! Banishment from Verona has caused the most unlikely of meetings! I meet you, here, in the streets of Mantua asking for me! Through me finding love in a beautiful flower races the devil’s cry to change me into nothing! Temptation is at its highest peak than it had ever been and I still find the strength to resist it! You’ve long for me, elegant Rosaline? Ha! How art thou found me? ROSALINE I have longed for you, fair Romeo. I have asked ones, ones that knew of your location, through this I have located you and finally find you in remarkable Mantua.

Can you not see how I long for Romeo, my Romeo? The Romeo that has lust for me with the purest of loves? My fair Romeo? ROMEO Your Romeo! Ah, alas you tempt to woe me into submission with your cries of longing? Thou wrote you poems of love and I have gone unnoticed by your beautiful eye! Thank you! For looking for you I found a much better flower, a sweet innocent flower waiting for me, locked waiting for her lover! The loves I’ve harnessed with tight straps have completely drawn my blood blue with pain and suffocation, as you couldn’t see the blue!

You couldn’t see anything in those appealing eyes, cold as the fiercest of winters and the snow that assists them! Thou trick with in incantations! ROSALINE You no longer see me as a beautiful sun? The sweet essence which you said you wanted, you breathed, the attention you’ve given, the feelings you’ve told me have now disappeared into the dark halls of time? Instead of greeting me with the passion that you’ve always have, you shun me like a common whore, embarrassing me like some common mistress. You seem to not care that I’m here, asking for my Romeo!

ROMEO Why art thou here! ROSALINE I long for my Romeo! The Romeo that made my heart glow with passion and intensity! ROMEO The Romeo you seek is gone, hidden in the shadows, and forever departed. I no longer lust for you Rosaline. You were once a beautiful rose that quickly wilted and the dust has been removed from your vision you want to come to me? I’m lost at sea thirsting for a sweet whiff of Juliet. You have expired like the curds floating atop of milk. MERCELLIO Rosaline has been longing for you a while, good Romeo.

Your attempts at you have not gone unnoticed like a wolf’s cry in the woods, but young Rosaline has been tried many times and has seen many failures in her life, aiding in her wary to appeal to you as well. As a troubled soul now she seek me out, throughout the danger to come and see you Romeo. Have you truly no emotion residing inside of you but the emotion of fair Juliet? Thou doesn’t care that Rosaline left Verona to come and meet with you? Thou are truly dark? Sworn to chastity, poor Romeo is depressed an ignorant to see the feelings of one Capulet that defied all in seeing you?

ROMEO Thou has not wanted me until thou seen me with Juliet! Thou are selfish in her desire to try and steal me! As her cousin, you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself! ROSALINE I have no such desire! You have desire to still be with I! You still want I! As you refute and deny it, you cannot forget about me as you claim you have! I will never be erased from your mind! ROMEO What did you plan to do, beautiful Rosaline, when you came here? Woe me back into my love for you like a foolish kid who has nothing else to do? Because I will not slip into a fatal trap!

I have undying love for Juliet…Juliet… ROSELINE I didn’t come to woe you of anything Romeo and as we speak, I myself am risking banishment and exile from Verona and from my kin! I wanted to admit to you… ROMEO Admit what? What is there to admit? You have nothing viable to say! You’re risking everything for nothing! Aren’t you? ROSALINE Risking everything for nothing is not how I felt, dear Romeo. I felt a different way. I felt I had to tell you how I felt, if you long to hear it. [Romeo looks at Rosaline and as he is about to open his mouth, curtain close]

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