ACT 3, SCENE 1: SOME ISSUES TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR ESSAY

Romeo and Juliet

ROMEO AND JULIETAct 3

ACT III, SCENE I - SUMMARY

Benvolio is concerned they will not “scape a brawl”

Tybalt enters looking for Romeo Tybalt and Mercutio - two of the most

headstrong and passionate members of each side of the feud - conflict will arise

Benvolio tries to avoid confrontation but Mercutio is deliberately provocative

Romeo appears and Tybalt insults him, hoping he will respond to the challenge

Romeo refuses because he is now related to Tybalt through his marriage to Juliet

ACT III, SCENE I - SUMMARY

Mercutio, disgusted by Romeo’s reluctance, fights on Romeo’s behalf

To stop the battle, Romeo steps between them and Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo’s arm

Mercutio’s wound is fatal and he dies cursing: “A plague o’ both your houses!”

Blinded by rage over Mercutio’s death, Romeo attacks Tybalt and kills him

Romeo is forced to flee a mob of citizens as the Prince, the heads of the two households, and their wives appear at the scene

After Benvolio gives an account of what has happened, the Prince banishes Romeo from Verona under the penalty of death and orders Lords Montague and Capulet to pay a heavy fine

SETTING AND MOOD

This scene acts as a violent contrast to the euphoric mood and romance of the previous few scenes

The harsh, uncompromising daylight reality replaces the dark secrecy and moonlight declarations of the previous scenes

The searing heat, flaring tempers, and sudden violence of this scene contrast sharply with the romantic, peaceful previous night

The play reaches a dramatic crescendo as Romeo and Juliet’s private world clashes with the public feud

ROMEO’S REFUSAL TO FIGHT

Romeo appears, euphoric and unaware he’s been challenged to a duel – his mood separates him from the other characters in the scene

In response to Tybalt’s attempts to initiate a fight, Romeo tells Tybalt he loves “thee better than thou canst devise” – he will not fight as he is now a kinsman of Tybalt’s

In Romeo’s mind, he has shed his identity as a Montague and has become one with Juliet, his wife

However, Tybalt still sees Romeo as standing on the wrong side of a clear line that divides the families

Tybalt does not understand why Romeo will not respond to his challenge - traditional assertion of masculine nobility

Romeo and Juliet’s love removes them from the animosity that drives the feud

ROMEO AND CONFLICT

However, the love of Romeo and Juliet is flawed by Romeo acting out of anger rather than his love for Juliet

Ironically, Romeo’s refusal to duel with Tybalt brings about the very acceleration of violence he sought to prevent and Mercutio’s death

Romeo blames himself for Mercutio’s death because he placed his love for Juliet before consideration of his friend and regards himself as effeminate

Romeo thus attacks Tybalt partly out of guilt By doing so, he disregards any effect that this may have

on Juliet His action is impulsive and reckless, his rage overpowers

his sensibility, and his tragic fortunes are sealed By attacking Tybalt in a blind fury, he has become one

with fiery Tybalt; one with the feud

MERCUTIO

The hot-headed Mercutio starts a quarrel the instant Tybalt requests a word with him, by responding, “make it a word and a blow.”

Mercutio’s characteristic wit turns bitter as he is incensed at what he sees as Romeo’s cowardice: ‘calm, dishonourable, vile submission’

As he dies he curses both Montagues and Capulets, who have been the direct cause of his death: “A plague on both your houses” (3 times)

In shocked disbelief, he asks Romeo “Why the devil / came you between us? I was hurt under your arm”

Mercutio’s death is the catalyst for the tragic turn the play takes from this point onward

FATE

Tybalt’s death brings Romeo a moment of clarity - he realises that he is the helpless victim of fate: “O, I am fortune’s fool!”

He is struck by a sense of anger, injustice, and futility, of being ‘unlucky’ and ‘cursed’ by bad fortune

Contrast this with Mercutio’s response to his own fate – he blames the people of the houses of Montague and Capulet, and gives no blame to any larger force

The speed with which Mercutio and Tybalt’s deaths occur, together with Romeo’s marriage and subsequent banishment, all contribute to a sense of inevitability—that a chain of events has been set in motion over which the protagonists have no control

Mercutio’s dying curse upon the houses resonates as the voice of fate itself

CONFLICT

The sudden, extreme violence of this scene serves as a reminder that, for all the love, beauty and romance of the play, this love story takes place against a backdrop of honour, pride, revenge and other masculine notions

The beauty, purity and fragility of Romeo and Juliet’s love stands little chance against this world of violence and brutality

BANISHMENT AND FATE

The Prince listens to the true story of what happened, and declares that Romeo’s behaviour was understandable, but nevertheless must be punished by banishment from Verona – forever

‘..when he is found, that hour is his last’ Romeo and Juliet’s love is now not only censured

and forbidden by their families, it is also thwarted and forbidden by the ruler of Verona

Their relationship puts Romeo in danger of violent reprisal from both Juliet’s kinsmen AND the state

THE FUTURE?

From an atmosphere of hope at the very end of Act II, we have moved (in one scene) to a situation of darkest despair

It is now very difficult for Romeo, and the audience, to see a hopeful future for the young lovers