How does Shakespeares language demonstrate the conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues in Romeo and Juliet- Act 3 scene 1 Essay Example

How does Shakespeares language demonstrate the conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues in Romeo and Juliet- Act 3 scene 1? Paper In the very first lines of Act 3 Scene 1 the audience are warned that there will be trouble. Benevolio is used as a narrator and to create tension with his speech the day is hot signifying that peoples tempers are short. If we meet we shall not escape a brawl meaning if they meet the Capulets there will be a fight, this gives the audience an insight into what will occur. He also talks about the mad blood stirring explaining everyone is on edge and ready to fight. So all in all everyone is feeling very intense and wants a fight. Tybalt then arrives and Mercutio and he argue, this builds up the tension and sets the scene for the ensuing fight. By my heel. I care not. Mercutio is using the words as a gag, partly to tease Benevolio; partly saying that Tybalts arrival doesnt concern him. Make it a word and a blow. Mercutio is inviting Tybalt to talk but to fight aswell; he is also mocking Tybalt and escalating the fight once again. You will give me occasion. Tybalt is telling Mercutio that he will fight him if need be. This proves there are two characters here that will not back down and want to fight. It also links to Act 1 Scene 1 where Tybalt starts the fight between the Montagues and Capulets; it also links to the party when Tybalt wants to punish Romeo for gatecrashing which also leads to this brawl. Thou consortest with Romeo. Tybalt is just trying to find out where Romeo is and asks Mercutio, who twists it into an insult. This gives the audience an insight into his character revealing quite a manipulative side to him as he twists it into an insult again trying to start a fight. Heres my fiddlestick. Again playing on Tybalts words as minstrels consort and minstrels were entertainers and musicians. It is also another way of saying look heres my sword. We will write a custom essay sample on How does Shakespeares language demonstrate the conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues in Romeo and Juliet- Act 3 scene 1? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on How does Shakespeares language demonstrate the conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues in Romeo and Juliet- Act 3 scene 1? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on How does Shakespeares language demonstrate the conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues in Romeo and Juliet- Act 3 scene 1? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Benevolios part in the play is that of a peacemaker. This is proven by the lines part fools! and I do but keep the peace. In Act 1 Scene 1 when the two families start fighting and I pray thee, good Mercutio, lets retire. Either withdraw unto some private place or else depart. In Act 3 Scene 1 where he tries to stop Mercutio and Tybalt fighting. Throughout the play Benevolio is the voice of reason and tries to calm down the other characters. Romeo and Tybalt are opposites in the way they act. Romeo on the one hand is passionate and romantic, which is shown in his language. Tybalt on the other hand is very violent and aggressive which is shown in his actions. The language Romeo uses is often poetic and deep. This days black fate, on more days doth depend; This but begins the woe others must end. Which rhymes and Tybalt the reason I have to love thee doth excuse the appertaining rage. His language always remains courteous and poetic even during conflict. Tybalts language is different. Romeo the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this, Thou art a villain. Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, shalt with him hence. He uses very hostile language mixed with some personal insults. His actions also show he is very aggressive as in Act 1 Scene 1 he begins the fight and Act 3 Scene 1 where he kills Mercutio. Mercutio gets really angry when he sees Romeo submitting to Tybalt. O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! Mercutios speech is then filled with very animalistic imagery. Tybalt you rat-catcher, will you walk? This is in reference to Tybalts nickname- Prince of Cats. So Mercutio is mocking Tybalt and trying to lure him into a fight. I think he is truly wants to slay Tybalt because of the quote above, he is actually saying he wants to take Tybalts life. In Shakespeares time a challenge to fight must have been accepted to preserve a mans honour. This is why Mercutio acts as he does, because Romeo is being dishonourable by refusing to fight and Mercutio cannot abide it. Romeo uses very gentlemanly language to set himself apart from the other characters and make him seem higher in the eyes of the audience. Draw Benevolio; beat down there weapons. Romeo appeals for Benevolios help rather than joining into the fight as the other characters would, again making him stand out from the other violent characters. Romeo often uses poetry in his dialogue while the other characters just seem to insult each other giving him a more placid appearance. Mercutios language differs so extremely which gives an appropriate insight into his character and personality. He has two very different aspects of his personality; the jokey, sociable, lighter side and the aggressive, hateful, darker side. These two sides clash together in his speech creating an odd mixture of jokes and puns against angry curses showing Mercutio is a man at odds with himself, creating an enigma for the audience. In his dying speech he uses a joke even as he dies. No, tis no as deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door. Mercutios main function is to die and cause the fight between the two families to flare up again and to get Romeo banished. If Romeo wasnt banished then what would happen in the rest of the story? It is also similar to his Queen Mab speech as they are both a heated rant at everything and everyone. This again shows the darker side of Mercutios personality as one moment he can be composed and the next brutal and hostile. With Mercutios demise Romeo finally becomes angry. His language and behaviour change as a result. Contrasting previous actions, where he submitted to Tybalt, Romeo desires to fight him and get retribution. He talks about black fate turning to a very angry form of poetry becoming gentlemanly and violent at the same time. The black fate speech ties in with the prologue and Mercutios A curse on both your houses. Romeos love changes to fury at Tybalt and evens talks about how love has made him soft. O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate. Fiery eyed fury be my conduct now! Stating that no more will he back down and allow Tybalt to do as he wants without taking his revenge. Benevolios language show he is telling the truth. He actually describes what has happened for a start and uses lots of adjectives to describe how people acted. Uttered with gentle breathe, calm look, knees humbly bowd. when he talks about Romeo. Unruly spleen. Deaf to peace. to describe Tybalt. Also at the end of his speech he says This is the truth, or let Benevolio die. Indicating that he is confident hes told the truth and is prepared to doe for it. He also describes their deeds in a lot of detail. His agile arm beat down their fatal points. And tot they go like lightning. To again prove hes telling the truth. Compared with Benevolio Lady Capulet is the complete opposite. Some twenty of them fought in this black strife. When only Tybalt, Mercutio and at the end Romeo, who were skirmishing which she didny even witness. And all those twenty but could take one life. She talks about how twenty of them could scarcely kill Tybalt and also draws attention away from the fact Tybalt killed Mercutio, trying to manoeuvre the situation to her own advantage. The actions of the Prince prove that fate (and Shakespeare) has decided that Romeo must live. Immediately we do exile him hence. If he was executed there would be no plot and the play would just end. A pair of star crossed lovers take their life. If the prince had Romeo killed then the fight between the Montagues and Capulets would just escalate and Romeo and Juliet wouldnt be able to commit suicide and end the fighting. In conclusion Shakespeares language elevates the atmosphere with Mercutios cocky jokes, Tybalts nasty insults, Romeo poetry, Benevolios truthfulness, Lady Capulets lies and the Princes final decision. All this fits together to escalate the fighting and keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The language makes each character seem like real people to the audience who can then empathise with them s a result. This is what made Romeo and Juliet such a success, Shakespeare knew how to make the audience believe it was real and get the audience shouting in the fight scenes and crying in the death scenes. If the language and the tension were different and it wasnt there then the audience wouldnt be interested and the play would have failed. Shakespeare uses language to play on human emotion.