Shakespeare Assignment Romeo and Juliet; Act 3 Scene 5 Essay Example For Students

Shakespeare Assignment: Romeo and Juliet; Act 3 Scene 5 Essay Why is Juliet under so much pressure in this scene? Explain the difficulties she faces and comment on the way she reacts to the adults around her. Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is a complex play which shows the tangled web of human emotions. Elizabethan England was an era of male dominance. Juliet finds herself in a patriarchal society, when her father; Lord Capulets word is law. Refusing a decree from her father makes people believe that she is challenging his authority as the head of the household. The scene opens with Juliet trying to persuade Romeo that It is not yet near day. Dawn would bring about the departure of Romeo, as his banishment from Verona makes it impossible for him to stay within the citys walls, while the prospect of Lord and Lady Capulet finding him added to the need for him to leave. Staying would only result in his death, I must be gone and live, or stay and die. Juliet is still convinced it was the nightingale and not the lark. and so Romeo welcomes death if it means he can spend a few more minutes with his love Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so. Romeos departure leaves Juliet with a sense of foreboding as she finally realises the burden of her hidden marriage; almost as if she sees his death. I have an ill-divining soul! As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. So soon after his departure, Juliet is able to fabricate her tears for the death of her cousin rather than for the absence of her love, You let me weep for such a feeling loss. Even as her mother talks of sending someone to kill him, Juliet still keeps her true feelings under wraps, With Romeo till I behold him dead- At such a tender age, Juliet is still able to keep up the facade of hate in front of her nearest and dearest. Despite this, her mothers joyful tidings soon break the carefully constructed mask as she speaks of her marriage to County Paris on Thursday. Her careful father has decided that she shall be made a joyful bride. The shock and anger are clearly notable in Juliets feisty reaction: Now by Saint Peters Church and Peter too, He shall not make me there a joyful bride. Juliet uses defiance at first and dramatic irony to create different meanings to her words: one for the audience, and another for her family. Her mother may have thought that this was just a heavy promise, but it is also Saint Peter who decides who goes to heaven and hell: a bigamous would most definitely not be allowed. How things have gone from bad to worse she does not understand, and her frustration continues as she forgets herself and argues with her mother: I will not marry yet, and when I do, I swear It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, Rather than Paris. She is so lost in her anger and worry, that Juliet almost forgets that her love for Romeo is a secret, in this quote, as the rushed addition of whom you know I hate indicates. She says this to try and persuade her mother that she cares not for Paris but her defiance only proves to rile her. Her mother is cold towards her daughter following her refusal and is almost leaving her for the lions when she tells her to tell him so yourself; and feel the wrath of her father. Lady Capulet is completely supporting her husband and although this is a predictable move, it is also very childish. When her daughter had most need of her, Lady Capulet was no help; if anything she was a hindrance to Juliets plight. This distance between mother and daughter has always been there and in many ways Lady Capulet is jealous of her daughters close relationship with her father which is seen in the manner in which he talks to her. Thy tempest-tossed body. Lady Capulet unknowingly adds pressure onto Juliet as she is so excited about the marriage that Juliet knows she is going to be disappointing her. She also seems jealous of the groom who has been chosen for her daughter. Seeing her turn down the match only causes her to become angry. She also appears to think that if she distances herself from he r daughter, then maybe she will change her mind but this only proves to isolate her. Talk not to me, for Ill not speak a word. How does Shakespeare create an atmosphere of tension in Act 1 Scene 5? EssayIs she not proud? Doth she not count her blest, We can see his anger mount as he almost gives in to the violence and gives his daughter a smack: My fingers itch. This is one of Lord Capulets most powerful lines within this Scene as it demonstrates the lengths he will go to ensure his pride and dignity are intact. He even goes on to curse ever having a child- the same child himself and his wife had thought us blest to have. This fury soon rounds on the Nurse and Lady Capulet where even his wife has to remind him he is overstepping the mark and becoming too hot. We also see become aggressive and insulting towards the Nurse who is trying to intervene on Juliets behalf. You are to blame my lord, to rate her so. . Hold your tongue, Good Prudence, Juliets own feelings on the matter are presented through the manner she continues to conduct herself around her parents. She begs to be heard and given a chance to explain herself, her tone of voice respecting but fearful as well as worried at what else could go wrong. Good Father, I beseech you on my knees, The Nurse is in a position of trust as Juliet confides her hidden marriage and this gives us the opportunity to see how much of a betrayal the Nurses advise is for her. She is a mother-figure in Juliets life. The Nurse may have a pragmatic and realistic approach to this new problem, but all Juliet can see is the sting of betrayal. I think it best you married with the County. We see the tragedy of the tale as Juliet does not listen to the Nurses words. Although to the audience and Juliet this appears to be the highest betrayal, the Nurse is only trying to look after Juliet as well as the rest of the family. To keep the peace and attempt to prevent the family tearing themselves apart, the Nurse tells Juliet that Your first is dead, or twere as good he were. Despite this, the Nurse must know that there is no way the Fria r would conduct this second marriage and so it appears that either the Nurse doesnt care about heaven or hell, or simply doesnt believe in such things. It is shocking to think that the Nurse may care more about Juliet marrying and having a family and babies, than about Juliets own feelings and love for her husband, Romeo. To Juliet, this is the biggest treachery. It is the worst thing that the Nurse could have said. She is almost turning her back on Juliet and sticking up for her parents, even after she was the one to help the couple marry in the first place. The one person who could normally be counted on for comfort and support had just horrified Juliet with her response. We can see a gap begin to form between their relationship as Juliet reels in shock. By the end of the scene, Juliet is completely isolated as her one confidant turns there back on her. Even after this blow, Juliet is able to compose herself and convince the Nurse that she has gone to confessions, when she actually goes to seek the Friars help. She is sarcastic as makes the Nurse feel she is praising her for the comfort. Well thou hast comforted me marvellous much. Juliet is now completely on her own, with the pressures each adult around her places upon the young girl. She is learning the harsh reality of growing up, that adults can let you down. Society doesnt have the answer for Juliet as she has to hide secret after secret. The entire act is like a cauldron of emotions. The modern audience would perhaps empathise with Juliet because she is in love but her parents have forbidden her from seeing them. We sympathise with her as Lord Capulet wont let her follow her heart and will drag thee on a hurdle thither if she refuses to go to the church.