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How Does Shakespeare Create Tension In Romeo And Juliet

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Shakespeare develops tension throughout Romeo and Juliet through different devices such as dramatic irony, juxtaposition and oxymorons. The tension developed by Shakespeare is apparent in Act 1 Scene 5, (when Romeo and Juliet meet at the masquerade ball) and in Act 3 Scene 1, (when a fight breaks out and both Tybalt and Mercutio are killed).

In Act 1 Scene 5 the theme of mutiny is evident, which we can see through Capulet's interaction with his nephew, Tybalt. Tybalt, who is always ready for a fight recognises Romeo’s voice and prepares to fight him, only to be reprimanded by his uncle. We can tell from the dialogue that Tybalt is a very aggressive and hasty character. This is perceptible where he says ‘Patience perforce with wilful choler …show more content…

Tybalt’s humour was yellow bile which meant that he was prone to anger, hasty and proud. Tybalt’s line creates a sense of foreshadowing and lingering gloom because the audience at the time would know that Tybalt would die during the play. This is a prime example of when Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to build up tension in Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare also uses dramatic irony when Tybalt says ‘I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, /Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall.’ . Although he’s forced to accept Capulet's decision as the head of the family to allow Romeo to stay. Tybalt says he won’t back down that indicates that he will disregard Capulet's command, as he does in Act 2, Scene 4, when he challenges Romeo to a duel. The audience …show more content…

Romeo initially describes Juliet as a source of light, like a star, against the darkness: "she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night." Romeo no longer symbolises a Petrarchan lover, but has now experienced true love with Juliet. Romeo believes that he can now distinguish between the artificiality of his love for Rosaline and the genuine feelings Juliet inspires. Romeo acknowledges his love was blind, "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." Romeo's use of religious imagery from this point on — as when he describes Juliet as a holy shrine —shows his love for Juliet is deeper and more genuine than his artificial, overdramatic love for

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By going to Romeo and and challenging a fight Tybalt shows that he is willing to do anything, or kill anyone in order to have his way. Romeo even tried to stay away from a fight by saying, “I do protest I never injur’d thee, But love thee better than thou canst devise Till thou shalt know the reason of my love; And so, good Capulet which

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702 Words | 3 Pages

Capulet luckily calms him down and stops Tybalt from acting out. What one doesn’t know, is that Tybalt will remember this intrusion for the rest of the play. This all starts a chain

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Romeo is telling Tybalt that he is putting his impudent words behind him and that he will excuse that insult. Romeo is trying to hold back on building his anger towards Tybalt. By doing so, he is trying to avoid the altercation. If Romeo was to build his anger, he would be more tempted to fight Tybalt. Tybalt is trying to quarrel with Romeo by trying to spark his aggravation.

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496 Words | 2 Pages

One of the first instances of Tybalt's reckless and arguable behavior is when he gets into a heated argument with Romeo at the Capulet party because Romeo has come uninvited, and he declares, "What, dares the slave come hither, covered with an antic face, to fleer and scorn at our solemnity?" (Rom 1.5.60-62). Tybalt's aggressive behavior and insults towards Romeo only serve to escalate the tension between the Capulets and Montagues. Tybalt has

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679 Words | 3 Pages

Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet, has characters that range from the care-free Mercutio, the love-stricken Romeo, and several other personalities that fall in between. Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, is a vicious fighter who will duel anyone to release some of the unexplained rage that he keeps inside. The Montagues are the family that pushes his hatred over the top and when they cross his path, he is always quick to challenge them to a fight. Other than where the Montagues are concerned, the source of his hot-headed temper remains a mystery to those that know him. If closely examined, however, Tybalt’s character could be explained through a few key observations.

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Additionally, when Lord Capulet held a ball, Romeo has sneaked in with his friends which led to Tybalt realizing that he found Romeo at the Capulet party. His aggression towards Romeo contributes to the tragedy, therefore Tybalt is enraged that Romeo was at the party, saying, "Now by the stock and honour of my kin, / To strike him dead I hold it not a sin" (1.5.57-58). This conveys that Tybalt is eager to pursue violence to defend his family's honor, even if it threatens other people’s safety. This accost eventually leads to Tybalt's death which causes Lord Capulet to bring forward Juliet’s marriage to Paris. It created more pressure on Romeo and Juliet’s constrained relationship.

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676 Words | 3 Pages

Tybalt’s compulsive anger outrages When he finds a Montague, Romeo attending the capulet celebration. Out of recklessness, he impulsively stabs Mercutio which initially participates that chain of action leading to the death of Romeo and Juliet. Whenever Tybalt was presented with a simple or peaceful way to settle things he never chose to settle it in a harmonic fashion. Tybalt has a hatred nature when he calls out to Benvolio with a response backfiring that “What art thou among these heartless hinds?

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387 Words | 2 Pages

In the duel between Tybalt and Romeo in Act III, scene i of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt is the most at fault for the tragic outcome because his impulsiveness and haste interfere with Romeo’s positive intents to unify the Montague and Capulet families. First, Tybalt’s hunger for prestige prompts him to initiate the duel between himself and Romeo, Tybalt calling Romeo “a villain” (III.i.62) prior to the duel. Romeo retaliates through subtly mentioning his amorous connection with Juliet; Tybalt argues that a Montague-Capulet union “shall not excuse the injuries/That thou [Romeo] hast done me [Tybalt]” (III.i.67-68). Here, Tybalt interferes with Romeo’s positive intent to “excuse the injuries” that Tybalt believes are Romeo’s fault. Tybalt’s only practical method of resolving the feud is to slay Romeo in a duel, which forces Romeo into desperation and puts Tybalt at fault.

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I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall/ Now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall” (1.4.88-91). Arrogant Tybalt makes it a promise to get back at Romeo. He plans to challenge him, as we find out later in the play. Tybalt pays the price for his monumental ego as well. Like many young people, he does not think of the consequences of his actions and thinks he is

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1192 Words | 5 Pages

Their opposite behaviors add to the plot and development of both of their personalities, while also making it obvious that Romeo's lack of filial piety will contribute to his downfall. Additionally, the day following the party, Tybalt seeks out Romeo to duel him for crashing the Capulet party as a Montague. Tybalt has immense pride in his family name, and will not tolerate any disrespect, so he tells Romeo that "thou art a villain" (3.1.62). In response to this, Romeo tells Tybalt

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194 Words | 1 Pages

Tybalt is hot headed and rash. In the first act of Romeo and Juliet he is already starting fights as stated by him “What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word / As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.”(1.1.63-64). Tybalt’s hate of peace is the most blatant example of his hot headed and rash actions. He is trying to get the Montagues riled up so that he can have a fight.

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630 Words | 3 Pages

Tybalt is very upset about Romeo being there, so he takes the situation to Lord Capulet. Lord Capulet tells Tybalt not to worry about it when he says “Therefore be patient, take no note of him”(ll.v.72), which makes Tybalt very angry. When Tybalt responds by saying “I’ll not endure him.” (ll.v.77), he is being disrespectful and not listening or obeying the adult. He is frankly just back-talking Lord Capulet, which is a sign of rebelliousness.

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243 Words | 1 Pages

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt’s aggressiveness is his most notable flaw. Tybalt first expresses his hatred to the opposing family, the Montague’s, when using words of animosity in the street fight against the Capulets. In the streets of Verona, Italy, a fray arose between the two families, in which Tybalt comes to interfere with the fight by proclaiming, “Where art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? / Turn thee, Benvolio: look upon thy death” (1.1.62-63). Tybalt’s combative personality clearly shows that his intentions of aggression, even convinces a man of peace, Benvolio, to fight for his people against all costs.

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765 Words | 4 Pages

Would situations turn out better if emotions were not a factor? How many decisions are made irrationally and without real thought? In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet the characters are constantly making decisions based on their emotions. Romeo and Juliet were thrown into tough situations with no easy outcomes. Not only were they from rival families, but they were also young teenagers.

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720 Words | 3 Pages

Tybalt believes that Romeo attended the fest to mock and show disgrace to the Capulet and therefore wanted to kill Romeo. however, which in fact is not true as Romeo came to meet Rosaline and is known in the city to be a very nice man. Tybalt’s feeling about Romeo is not due to his actions but because of his passionate hate for Romeo as he is a Montague a family enemy. In addition, Tybalt Mercutio has great hate towards the Capulets and along with his short temper has caused his death and gotten Romeo banished from

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