Engagement in Act 1 scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet Essay

Discuss how Shakespeare engages and sustains the audiences attention in Act 1 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet

Act 1 scene 5 with the servants at the beginning is used to change the scene by; moving props around, but at the same time adding light humor with the dialogue to keep the play flowing. Save me a piece of march pane this humor is used by lightening the scene with servants worrying about a piece of marzipan, compared to the intensity of the love and hate in the Capulet vs. Montague strife, the humor lightens the situation keeping the audiences attention by giving the audience a break from the hatred of the families. Their dialogue is also informing the audience that the party is about to begin. Juxtaposition is used at the beginning of this scene. Directors may cut this part of the scene out of films because it is not necessary to them as they dont physically need to change the sets. Directors may shoot scenes in different places whereas a play needs to keep flowing.

Romeos expectations before the party are for him to get over Rosaline. She broke his heart and he is going to the party as a chance to mend his broken heart. This is the reason he agrees to go with Mercutio. His expectations are mainly those of his own and his friend. Although Juliets expectations are quite different with her parents choosing for her to marry Paris, the night of the party is the night she is going to meet Paris for the first time. She doesnt want to upset her parents as they have chosen a husband for her. Juliet is only going to the party for her parents sake, She is expected to fall in love with him by her parents, and too be happy with him. Neither Romeo nor Juliet went into the party expecting to find love elsewhere.

Section 3 is the main part of the play, as Romeo first meets Juliet; it makes the audience feel he is fickle as he goes to the party to get over Rosaline, then he falls in love with Juliet when he first sees her. This seems quite sudden and shocking. Without even speaking to Juliet how could he know he loves her? Juliet is described as a Dove amongst Crows implying that Juliet is a radiant beauty, are crows are usually associated with beauty. When Romeo first meets Juliet he is mesmerized by her beauty, he doesnt want to take his eyes of her. The audiences attention is kept with this part of the play because Romeo is being quite fickle, contempary audiences would have been upset or angry by this, as it was normal for one man to love only one woman. Whereas a modern audience would find this romantic, as love can be found in the strangest places. Questions could be asked by the audience such as are his feelings sincere? This is because one minute he is aching for Rosaline, the next he is speaking with Juliet, flirting with her, and falling in love. Whereas the contempary audience would have thought badly of Juliet because she has been arranged to marry Paris and is now disobeying her parents wishes. This was not usually done in Shakespearean times as daughters would have been disowned which was a big deal then, on the other hand modern audiences would find there meeting romantic and quite intimate.

Shakespeare uses imagery to show Romeo and Juliets first meeting to show how they are falling in love as they are speaking to each other. The use of a sonnet is cleverly used by Shakespeare as sonnets where usually associated with romantic poems. In the text religious imagery is being used with Romeo calling Juliet a saint this implies she is pure and he thinks that he in unworthy of her.

The nurse is used by Shakespeare to move the plot on and go onto the next scene. Madam, your mother craves a word with you this shows the interruption of Romeo and Juliet as well as both of the finding out that they are from opposing families. The nurse keeps the attention to the play by it being all sweet with Romeo and Juliet and then the nurse throwing in an obstacle in this case telling them they are from feuding families keeping the play interesting.