1 In William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, I believe that the major turning point in the play is in Act 3, Scene 1 – the death of Mercutio and following conflict between Romeo and Tybalt. This can be seen to be of great magnitude by looking at the numerous techniques Shakespeare employs to emphasise the importance of the scene. The first of these techniques is through the characters themselves and how they have developed in relation to earlier in the play. Tybalt is seen to be aggressive and easily tempted into violence. Earlier in the play Tybalt was willing to ruin Capulet’s party by duelling with Romeo, as he hadn’t been invited. ‘It fits when such a villain is a guest: I’ll not endure him.’ ‘Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me, therefore turn and draw’ The former quote was at the party, the later on meeting Romeo in Act 3 Scene 1 – in both cases it is made clear that Tybalt is aggressive and willing to spill blood in the name of his family.
I t is through this, that the theme of feud can be seen to surface. The Capulet and Montague families have been rivals for generations, and it is through this hollow anger that Romeo and Juliet’s love is thwarted later in the play. Romeo’s passionate and impulsive streak is also brought to the foreground in Act 3. I believe this is suggested earlier – this idea culminating at the balcony scene; on merely seeing Juliet he knows instantly that its love and swears he would: ‘adventure… [to] the farthest sea’ for her.
On learning of Mercutio’s death at Tybalt’s hands, Romeo’s passionate tendencies are once again roused as he pursues Tybalt seeking vengeance. Not once does he seem to take into account his recent, secret marriage to Juliet and the effects killing Tybalt would have on it – he merely blames her for making him ‘effeminate’. Benvolio is more passive than either character as can be seen earlier on in Act 3 Scene 1 – he attempts to persuade Mercutio to go indoors as he knows that: ‘… the Chapels are abroad and… shall not scape a brawl.’ Mercutio takes no notice of this as he, like Tybalt, is aggressive and believes he must defend his family’s name; the theme of feud once again the cause behind trouble. The characters’ development is one of Shakespeare’s techniques, but closely tied in with this is another of his techniques – each character’s decisions.
There are several points throughout the scene where the possibilities for conflict being avoided arise, but are ignored. Mercutio makes the first clear choice. Benvolio, as mentioned earlier, pleads with Mercutio to leave the street, but in this instant, Mercutio’s aggressive – almost arrogant – nature win out, resulting in the pair remaining when the Capulets arrive. Soon after, Romeo attempts to split up the fight but this results in Mercutio’s death. There are several factors that composed his decision to intervene – the main one being the recent marriage to Juliet. However, after Mercutio’s death this is all ignored as Romeo decides to chase after Tybalt.
The characters’ development and decisions they make is linked to another of Shakespeare’s main themes throughout the play – fate. From the outset we are informed that Romeo and Juliet are: ‘star-crossed lover [who will] take their life’ Continued through the play is the prophetic symbolism of the tragic end that is waiting, with fate ruling over, controlling each minor aspect of Romeo, Juliet and their companions lives. An example of both death and fate being mentioned together is at the point when Romeo must leave Juliet after he has been banished for slaying Tybalt. Romeo falls to the ground where Juliet sees him as: ‘one dead in the bottom of a tomb.’ Immediately after se curses fate: ‘O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle.’ This holds great tragic irony, as soon Juliet will actually be seeing Romeo’s dead body in a tomb, partially as a result of fate. In conclusion, I can see that Mercutio and Tybalt’s deaths are the major turning point in ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Shakespeare reinforces this scene to be of great importance by saturating it with various techniques including character development, character decisions, themes of fate, feud and death, tragic irony and prophetic symbolism.
All combine to show this to be a scene of great relevance, as there is great change in the play after Act 3 Scene 1 compared to previous ones.