Act III, Scene I the Pivotal Scene in Romeo and Juliet Essay

Since life is too complex to be classified into a single category, then why should a play imitating life be confined to a single genre? In the classic tale of two star crossd lovers, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare dabbles with both the comic and tragic genres (Prologue, Line 6). The play starts in the traditional comic form but undergoes a transformation in Act III, Scene I. In this scene, the death of Mercutio, and consequential death of Tybalt, transform the play into a tragedy. With each death comes a change that alters the course of the rest of the play. Mercutios death results in an inversion of the plays genre. Traditional comic elements are lifted only to be replaced by tragedy. The death of Tybalt constitutes another radical†¦show more content†¦He is neither a Montague nor a Capulet; he is the cousin of Prince Escalus. Considering his relation to the Prince, a figure of authority, Mercutios death can be regarded as the symbolic death of social order. The failure to u phold order is a failure to uphold comedy since the maintenance of social order is regarded as fundamental in comedy. Not only is Mercutios death the symbolic death of social order but also of communication. As previously discussed, Mercutios comedy thrives on his ability to manipulate speech. His profound mastery of language is what makes Mercutio the distinct character that he is. His death, therefore, is also the symbolic death of language, which is a form of communication. The loss of Mercutio, and consequently communication, is what dooms Romeo and Juliet and denies them a future together. Friar John is detained at a quarantined house so Romeo is not informed of Juliet and Friar Lawrences plan. This lack of communication leads to Romeos suicide and ultimately Juliets. Thus, Mercutios death marks the end of communication and in the process, seals Romeo and Juliets fate. On a broader level and more generally speaking, Mercutios murder also represents the death of a genre. As the prominent comical figure in the play, Mercutios death signals the end of the comic genre. In a conventional comedy, Mercutio would not have died because Tybalt would have been stopped by some sort of interference. However, there is no interventionShow MoreRelatedEssay on Dramatic Effects in Romeo and Juliet III.12285 Words   |  10 PagesRomeo and Juliet is a sixteenth-century play written by William Shakespeare. Amongst the most renowned of Shakespeares plays, Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy that focuses on the fated relationship of two star-crossed lovers. The play focuses on themes of love and hate, mostly concerning the feud between the two opposing families, the Montagues and the Capulets. This play came at a time when such social events like courting were not just accepted, but expected. Witchcraft and fate were also stronglyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Jul iet1374 Words   |  6 Pagesto Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet explores the quote â€Å"unbridled passion is to blame for the deaths of the young lovers† throughout the play/The quote â€Å"unbridled passion is to blame for the deaths of the young lovers† is lengthily explored throughout William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The composer achieves this through the themes of individual versus society, youth and naivety, and love and hate. The theme of love and hate plays a pivotal role in the playRead MoreAnalysis Of The Structure Hamlet 1233 Words   |  5 Pagesin a piece of literature is pivotal to the success of the work. If an author can t decide where to start and finish his ideas, what order to put them in, or what form to put his work in then he lacks structure. One great example of an author who does this is william shakespeare. Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and commonly regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. He has written quite the handful of plays including Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. In his work ofRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet Essay3604 Words   |  15 Pages Hamlet was written around the year 1600 in the final years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who had been the monarch of England for more than forty years and was then in her late sixties. The prospect of Elizabeth’s death and the question of who would succeed her was a subject of grave anxiety at the time, since Elizabeth had noRead MoreEssay about William Shakespeares Relevance Today2257 Words   |  10 Pagesoperation of the orbs From whom we do exist and cease to be; Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee, from this, for ever. (King Lear, Act 1, Scene 1, lines 111-116) The opening to the play sets the beginnings of the tragic trap which lays ahead, for both the audience and the characters. Lear in his pivotal central role sits in judgment of the love of his own daughters, much