Where Does Romeo and Juliet Take Place? The Significance of Act 3 Scene 5 in the Play

Analyse the dramatic importance of Act 3 Scene 5 you should comment on the place of the scene in the plot; what is shows about the characters; the tensions demonstrated in the scene and the effect of language use on the audience Romeo has met Juliet and to prove that Romeos love is true Juliet decides that Romeo should get married to her. After Romeo and Juliet have got married in Friar Lawrence's cell Tybalt and Mercutio have a fight .As a result Mercutio dies. Romeo is forced to kill Tybalt in guilty revenge and so is banished from the town of Verona. The audience would know that the Prince would have the right to banish Romeo. The Prince could also execute Romeo if he is found in Verona.

As the nightfall's Romeo feels more insecure because he should have left Verona by now so he goes to meet Juliet for the last time not knowing if he will ever see her again. This is a very disturbing scene since the audience know that the two lovers will soon have to separate Juliet has mixed emotions because she doesn't want Romeo to leave but she knows that if he stays he might be caught and executed. Romeo will do as she says but he also knows that he has to go. Juliet mentions the lark and nightingale

"It was the nightingale, and not the lark"

Order custom essay Where Does Romeo and Juliet Take Place? The Significance of Act 3 Scene 5 in the Play with free plagiarism report

450+ experts on 30 subjects Starting from 3 hours delivery

Get Essay Help

Meaning the nightingale will just sing at night so Juliet has more time to be with him, but Romeo knows it was the lark and not the nightingale

"It was the lark, the herald of the morn .No nightingale"

Because the lark will only sing in the morning therefore they have not got much time left. Once Juliet realises that Romeo has to go she admits that it was the lark and says that it is the lark and that it sings out of tune.

The tension builds, as Romeo is about to leave because Nurse calls and says the Lady Capulet is coming and to look about. This will make the audience uneasy and anxious because they might think that Lady Capulet will see them both together and find out. They will want to find out what will happen next if Lady Capulet will out about the marriage of Romeo and Juliet. This adds to the excitement of the play and will keep the audiences attention. The end of this scene is distressing as Romeo and Juliet part; both do not want to leave each other but they have to because of the circumstances that lie before them

"Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu adieu"

This is the last time Romeo speaks. Juliet is distraught. Lady Capulet calls Juliet just after Juliet goes down from the window to let Romeo go. Juliet is so upset that she is crying. This scene is based on dramatic irony; this is when lady Capulet does not know about Romeo and Juliet's marriage and so thinks that she is weeping for her cousin Tybalt. Juliet's words have double meanings she is not crying for Tybalt's death but for the leaving of Romeo. Lady Capulet does not want Juliet to cry because she is about to tell Juliet about the proposal of Paris. "What wilt thou wash him from his grave?" Lady Capulet is being a bit harsh on Juliet and does not understand Juliet's feelings. The audience know that Lady Capulet is not very understanding because Nurse has looked after Juliet and is aware of every habit.
Lady Capulet calls Romeo a villain, because he is the one who killed Tybalt.

"That same villain Romeo?"

This must hurt Juliet greatly because her own mother is calling her husband a villain. This is another example of dramatic irony; when the audience know that lady Capulet is about to tell Juliet about the proposal of Paris. But Juliet does not know this and will not be ready for it either. Juliet is shocked when she hears the news. Not only that she is shocked she is surprised that the wedding will take place so soon. She pleads to Lady Capulet and tries her best to persuade lady Capulet to put the wedding off. "It shall be Romeo whom you know I hate, rather than Paris"
This line again has a double meaning too. Juliet pretends to say this sarcastically but the audience know that she has got married to Romeo anyway. Lady Capulet is not moved and says she can tell her father herself.

When Capulet enters like his wife he to thinks that Juliet is crying because of the death of Tybalt. The audience can see in this section a complete change in Capulet's character. Earlier on in this play Capulet is seen as a very warm and friendly person. He does not even mind seeing Romeo in the party.

While Juliet's is crying Capulet tell her not to and compares her with the weather. Capulet sympathises with Juliet and seems sociable. "Thou counterfeits a bark a sea, a wind" Her tears are compared with "salt floods" and her body as a boat sailing on her tears. Capulet asks lady Capulet about Juliet's hand in marriage for Paris, Capulet calls it a decree, his will and his order. Lady Capulet is disgusted by Juliet's answer and is very spiteful to Juliet.

"I would the fool were married to her grave" in other words she means or wishes that Juliet was dead. This is prophetic because the end of this scene will lead to Juliet's death. It is here where Capulet mood changes completely. Capulet was used to hearing yes for an answer, when he heard that Juliet has said no and has disobeyed him Capulet reacted and is fuming with rage. He thought Juliet would be thankful of having such a "worthy gentleman" but she cannot agree to here fathers wish as she would be committing bigamy.

Capulet has already promised Paris and has agreed on behalf of Juliet but without asking her. A promise in those days was viewed as a contract and a contract could not be broken. Capulet will force Juliet to get married to Paris. Capulet takes his anger on Juliet and tries to scare her so that she changes her mind.

"Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither, out you green-sickness out you baggage"

Juliet begs on her knees but Capulet isn't ready to listen to a word of Juliet.

"My fingers itch" Capulet is extremely close to hitting Juliet, but Lady Capulet calms him down. Capulet is ready to throw Juliet out on the streets on her own if she doesn't listen to him.
Nurse interrupts at this point and she blames Capulet for spoiling Juliet.

But Capulet does not listen to Nurse either and tells her to go away.

This brings Juliet under a lot of stress and will need a friend to sort out all her troubles with. This will put a lot of strain under the audience and they will be eager to find out what will happen next. They have seen Juliet's despair and can understand her feelings. Both parents leave having shown Juliet clearly how the feel. Capulet has said she marries Paris or he will turn her out.

Juliet now needs a shoulder to cry on and so she turns to Nurse, someone who has been there for her for all her life. Juliet expects help and advice from nurse and this is what the audience expect as well, but when Juliet asks her for advice Nurse turns her back on Juliet and tells her what she really thinks. Nurse says that Paris is a lovely gentleman and that Romeo is banished and will not return because he is as good as dead.

"Ohe's a lovely gentleman" "Your first is dead, or't were as good as he was"

"Your first" is Juliet's first love. Nurse has changed her mind about Romeo because she is scared. She feels guilty about persuading Juliet to get married to Romeo and is scared that she might loose her job if Capulet finds out. Nurse knows she has betrayed Lady and Capulet's trust and if they do find out she will be in serious trouble and will get punished. She could also think that this is the best thing for Juliet to do.

When Juliet finds out that Nurse has changed her feelings and will not help her anymore Juliet cannot believe it and asks again if she really does think that

"Speak'st thou from your heart?"

Nurse replies "and from my heart to" Juliet is astonished with this and in irony tells Nurse how helpful she has been. The audience can see that Juliet's last hope for help has left her. And the only person who can help her now is Friar Lawrence.

Juliet's problems are getting worse, she dooms nurse to hell and is really hurt about the betrayal. Juliet tells the audience if there is no solution she will kill her self.

"If all else fail, myself have power to die"

This quote shows that Juliet is under quite a lot of pressure and cannot go on for long. With this she exits.
Juliet has lived through many problems but this is her worst one yet: she is married to someone who has killed her cousin, she cannot tell anyone about her marriage, she has no one to turn to and she is about to be forced to marry someone whom she doesn't even know.

The audience might have gathered that she will not get married to Paris at any rate, so what will she do? Juliet will have to make a decision fast because time is running out. If she goes to Friar Lawrence what advice will he give her? The audience already know that the play ends in tragedy; because of the prologue will she only get peace after death? The audience will want to see what happens.

This scene is important dramatically because of its content. It is full of high emotion and passion between the characters. What happens in this scene also further the plot because the advice Friar Lawrence gives later leads to the death of two lives.

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Run a free check or have your essay done for you

Check my essay Hire Writer