Shakespeare's Success in Relationships and Drama in Act Scene

How successful do you think Shakespeare has been at developing relationships and dramatic effect in act 3 scene 5? How do you think a modern audience's response would differ from a Shakespeare one?

Romeo and Juliet is a tragic Shakespearian play, written circa 1591-1595, set in the Elizabethan era. Its plot explores relative themes of patriarchy, periled relationships, defiance and arranged marriage, all evident within Elizabethan times. He highlights the strong cause and effect of domestic patriarchy and parental expectations, referring to the gender segregation in Elizabethan society.

As in this era, although England had a female monarch, male dominance was frequent and overpowering in society, as was a primary objective evident through Shakespeare's written techniques, dramatic language and structural devices, all of which I will explore in my essay.

Shakespeare presents Capulet's rage through overdramatic, violent language. For example, "I will drag thee on a hurdle thither", the content of this statement translates into a violent threat, that by Juliet's defiance he is prepared to use physical force to make Juliet obedient to his demands.

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By using such strong death imagery in response to Juliet's own contempt over her arranged marriage, planned by Capulet himself, it shows his want to dominate her decisions, and govern her to his own will. Also, the actual translation from hurdle is a carrier of dead bodies, he doesn't say that he'd pull her by her hair etc, he specifically identifies a hurdle and by that it represents his view on his own daughter, Juliet. As a dead body on a hurdle, if not governed to his expectations, her emotions are dispensable and unimportant, and her presence as such is lifeless.

If defied against he sees her in her only other choice, complete emancipation from his interests, family and wealth - dead, in his eyes. Also, the actual occurrence of death imagery shows the audience the confrontational, bias balance between the father and daughter in arguments, therefore meaning Capulet see's Juliet as his inferior & when his superiority is challenged he treats her accordingly, making it a very unjust and circumstantial relationship. An Elizabethan audience would empathise with Capulet's position, that within his own authority he is trying to suit Juliet to someone adequate, and whilst Juliet is defiant he is trying to do what is best for the family and his own position. This is because people of this society were desensitized to Patriarchy, as gender equality at that time was non-existent, women lacked equal opportunity and were dominated by men, legally and In domestic situations. So Capulet's behaviour would have been acceptable and amongst most, entirely understandable.

This creates a deep contrast to today's society. As due to feminism and strong protest for an egalitarian society women now have more freedom and independence. Which influenced civilisation to change and update to allow women near enough equal opportunities, a voice of a opinion in society and control over their own lives. Therefore a modern audiences response to this scene would differ greatly to an Elizabethan audience, they would be shocked and enraged by Capulet's attitude towards Juliet's yearn for liberation, through her recalcitrance to her arranged and somewhat forced marriage. Which in western society her choice of defiance would be mostly accepted and respected, but as it is not in this scene and is responded with violent, intimidating language, the audience's response would be outrage and they would see Capulet as a controlling, unfair, violent man. Although, some cultures opinions in today's society, particularly Middle Eastern, influenced by religion still actively use arranged marriage, and so would find the marriage planned by Capulet acceptable, although the level of force carried out in Capulet's response would cause varied opinions of acceptance based on individual views.

Shakespeare has used structure by varying the length of speech in act 3 scene 5 to highlight status and dominance within the characters. For example, Once Capulet enters, at the climax length of his speech; his lines come from176 to 195, occupying the largest amount of lines in a single speech throughout the scene, compiled with other larges speeches throughout. This use of elongated speech evident in Capulet's character creates dominance over the script, and as he speaks the most by a large amount throughout the scene in contrast to the small allocated amounts of speech held by the female characters it draw backs to the idea of gender superiority. By verbally dominating the argument it establishes Capulet's authority as head of the house, and head of the conversation by having the most to say whilst overpowering in his eyes, his female inferiors. Relating to male superiority in Shakespearian society, as women were perceived to only speak once spoken too, and by Juliet defying that stereotype and answering back Capulet responds in an overpowering elongated speech.

As his speeches progresses Juliet's input & defiance weakens and her character breaks down slowly into obedience. As at first she is polite but defiant in her will to decline the marriage, such as in the line 'proud can I never be of what I hate', but as Capulet's speeches progress she is subjected to pleading and begging for her fathers approval of her decision, for example in the line 'Good father, I beseech you on my knees' giving Capulet even more control as Juliet spirit has been broken to an extent where she is respectively, verbally begging for her fathers mercy, putting Capulet in a dominant position. This is an effective structural device as it gives the audience a glimpse into the domestic hierarchy, as just by extending a speech it shows that not only Capulet authenticates his authority with violent language, that by extending his arguments to a point where any other character can't get a word in it relates to common real-life arguments, as the more dominant person automatically speaks more, whereas the less authoritive person backs down. This creates a relative link from the audience to the characters, creating a feel of empathy and greater understanding of the relationship between Capulet and Juliet.

Dramatic irony is another key language technique evident in act 3 scene 5, its presence is an active device of giving the spectator an item of information that at least one of the characters in the narrative is unaware of, thus of placing the spectator a step ahead of at least one of the characters. For example, upon Capulet's entrance into act 3 scene 5, Juliet is crying, the audience knows this is because of Romeos tearful departure moments before. But as Capulet & Lady Capulet are unaware of their relationship, He assumes Juliet's anguish is caused by Tybalts death. Capulet's assumption is evident in the line 'How now, a conduit, girl? What, still in tears? , as he asks 'still in tears?' he refers to earlier, as she would have been crying in grief of her cousin. But as Romeo has just departed and she is unsure of their future, she is in tears through that, known by the audience, but not by some characters.

The audience would watch impotently as fate takes its course throughout the scene, and would find themselves divided between the desire to warn, and the sense that what is to come is inevitable. And through that become more drawn into the play, intrigued by a tense atmosphere and engaged in the situation, as they know more than some characters. This works as a successful dramatic language technique as the knowledge of the audience in contrast to some central characters in the play is more developed, and so this creates tension between all areas of people situated there, the audience, the characters knowledgeable of Romeo's and Juliet's relationship, and those un-knowledgeable. This is because the audience's involvement is unlimited and so with their engagement, knowledge and sense of inevitability they are held onto what happens next, the tension between characters and gather their own conclusions and opinions to the future beyond the present scene, therefore creating this dramatic effect Shakespeare was able to entice the audience in to a fuller extent.

Juliet's Relationship with her mother, Lady Capulet, affiliates with Juliet's and her Fathers, Capulet, in a sense of circumstantial function. In Act 3 Scene 5 Lady Capulet comforts Juliet, without the knowledge of the meaning of her dismay but once brushed aside and presents Juliet with her arranged marriage, speaking in empathising language, sweet talking her somewhat for her ulterior motive. For example before presenting the arranged marriage Lady Capulet offers her condolence and comforts Juliet, for example ' some grief shows much of love' this translates to basically saying, Juliet's grief shows she loved Tybalt greatly, so by Lady Capulet simulating compassion in her motherly role it shows a sensitive side, although this could be argued as her further request and declaration does involve Juliet's will, and so by somewhat sweet talking her it is furtherly ensuring Juliet's accordance to her arranged marriage.