As a director of Act 1, scene 5, how would I convey the dramatic tension through Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

As a director of Act 1, scene 5, how would I convey the dramatic tension through Romeo and Juliet? Essay Romeo and Juliet is certainly one of Shakespeares most loved pieces and throughout it, he conveys the deepest emotions which seem to touch our innermost feelings. The fighting between the Capulet and Montague families, both alike in dignity, appears to bring us into the war- struck world of Verona. We are driven through a powerful journey through Shakespeares words of wisdom and certainly bring out our intimate sensations, all in only two hours of theatre. Romeo and Juliet is a fearful passage of their death- marked love and throughout the course of the play, we are taken through an emotional journey into the minds of the star- crossed lovers, bringing out examples of dramatic tension into context. The heart- breaking tour into the mentality of the two young hearts causes even the strongest of people to shed a tear. However, sometimes the re-enactments of such scenes as Act 1; scene 5, fail to capture the contrast and without doubt, the dramatic tension is not conveyed in the way nee ded to connect with our emotions. Taking the part of the director, I have decided on a few dramatic techniques needed to make Romeo and Juliet as moving as possible for a modern audiences viewing. Throughout the course of Romeo and Juliet, a variety of imagery and context is used to portray feelings of the characters as well as their attitudes. For example, at the beginning of act 1: scene 5, at the Capulet ball, Romeo first notices Juliet from the other side of the room. In my performance, at this point in the play, I would have them on opposite sides of the room, to signify how they are so close yet so far from being together. Also, I would have a strong light on Romeo to show his importance whereas a soft light on Juliet would illustrate her gentle nature. I would also signify the dark and light that is referred to throughout this scene by making Romeo wear and black suit and Juliet to wear a white dress. At this point in the play, the atmosphere would be quite calm, with quite slow dialogue because Romeo is falling in love at first sight. For a Shakespearean audience, this would be more significant than a modern audience because social attitudes have changed and in those d ays, love at first sight was seen as a very controversial issue. So, when Romeo uses imagery to describe the beauty of Juliet, the effect is more poignant for a modern audience whereas a Shakespearean audience would be astonished. We will write a custom essay sample on As a director of Act 1, scene 5, how would I convey the dramatic tension through Romeo and Juliet? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on As a director of Act 1, scene 5, how would I convey the dramatic tension through Romeo and Juliet? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on As a director of Act 1, scene 5, how would I convey the dramatic tension through Romeo and Juliet? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is the beginning of act 1, scene 5 that Romeo sees Juliet and he uses a selection of deep, intimate and poetic language to signify Juliets beauty. For example, Romeo refers a lot to images of light and dark; he says O she doth teaches the torches to burn bright! In my opinion, this means that Romeo is seeing Juliet as a light in his dark life. This is because at this time, Romeo is still supposedly in love with a girl called Rosaline (act 1; scene 1), and with his feelings of rejection, he sees his life in a narrow- minded fashion, in darkness. In effect, when Romeo sees Juliet, he feels light in his life again and falls straight in love with her. Romeo also refers to Juliet as a snowy dove trooping with crows. Also, through imagery, Romeo uses examples of texts that put him down and consequently make Juliet seem even more gracious. For example, he says touching her make blessed my rude hand. This means that Romeo thinks that compared to Juliet, he is so undignified that even so m uch as touching her, would make him refined again. The audience would now see Juliet as a pure, beautiful lady; portrayed by her white clothing and soft lighting and Romeo as someone who is actually infatuated and maybe a bit overwhelmed because he is making speeches that in some ways, are so deep that we begin to wander how he has come up with them so quickly. Throughout the scene, Shakespeare uses iambic pentameter and rhyming couplet. For example, Romeo quotes did my heart love till now, for swear it sight! I neer saw true beauty till this night. Here Romeo is questioning his sight to whether or not they are seeing right as before he thought he was in love with Rosaline but now, he feels even stronger feelings towards Juliet. Shakespeare uses rhyming couplets in this scene to symbolize the love that is flourishing between Romeo and Juliet. Romeo would be presented as quite vulnerable because hes so young and at that age, its typical of such a young man doing such things. However, a Shakespearean audience would not see it in this way because they didnt tend to take into account that age would affect someones actions, so they consequently would see Romeo as quite a rebellious. In the next part of the scene, Tybalt enters with Capulet. At this point in the play, Tybalt is extremely irritated because he has just seen Romeo (Montague) at the party and when he notices this, he realises the extent and humiliation he would face when people realise that a Montague has entered a Capulets residence. I think that there are therefore, two interpretations for why exactly Tybalt was livid. Firstly, he would be mortified with the fact that a Montague penetrated into the house of Capulet in the first place. Also, I think in a way, he may have thought that Capulet allowed such a thing to occur and invited the Montague to his house. In this case, he would be absolutely furious and therefore be shouting such abuse as he was; like villain Romeo. And our foe. These are in modern time, very mild abuse expressions however, in Shakespeares time such language was thought of as appalling and certainly only used in such desperate measures as this. In this scene, I would direct Tybalt to be exceptionally enraged; possibly throwing his arms from one place to another a few times, near the end when he becomes more forceful. For example, when he says why, uncle, tis a shame! hes trying to tell his uncle, Capulet, that it is such an awful thing that has happened, I would also have Tybalt speaking in a thunderous, livid voice that would echo through the theatre, to show how infuriated Tybalt actually was. For example, I think it would be very effective when Tybalt says fetch me my rapier boy! that he speaks in a forceful manner because at this point in time, he would be very authoritative and at the peak of his anger. Also, in my opinion, at this particular point of speech, Tybalt is supposed to come across as very influential, because hes asking a servant to bring him his sword; as if he has the status in the relationship and should be obeyed. However, as Capulet enters, I think it would be quite effective to make him lower his tone of voice slightly, as he realises the difference in status. At this point in the play, the lighting would start of as a strong light on Tybalt and a soft lighting on Romeo in the background. However, I think as Capulet enters, there would be two strong lights on each of the characters to show both of their power and through this lighting, the audience will realise both of the arguments that are portrayed are authoritative and both of them are coming from relatively upper class people. I also think that at this point in the scene, the staging would mean that at the front of the stage would be the dialogue between Tybalt and Capulet and in the background the audience would see Romeo, gazing at Juliet. I think that this effect would be beneficial for the scene as the audience see the contrast between the arguments at the front with the tender scene at the back. Showing that even though Tybalt is talking about Romeo to be a slave, coming to scorn at their solemnity, the evidence from the back of the theatre shows Romeo to be quite gentle and vuln erable because following a girl round is quite, in modern times an immature action to do. In this scene, with the dialogue, I would choose to emphasize slave, foe and villain. I would also choose to accentuate the speech when Tybalt says scorn at our solemnity and makes my flesh tremble because, in my opinion, these lines certainly portray the accurate amount of resentment that Tybalt is feeling at this point in time. Also when Tybalt says scorn at our solemnity he would look disgusted because it shows more aggression and the act that he looks disgusted shows how angry he is with the fact a Capulet is in his house as it is alliteration in a sound which sounds almost malevolent or evil. This section, in context to the scene as a whole sets the atmosphere of anger and brings out the first glances of the antagonism that the characters are feeling at this point in time. It also begins the trail of tension between the characters and the dramatic tension begins to take a lead part in the act. For example, the argument between Capulet and Tybalt begins a string of affairs which lead to death, painful experiences and also the declaration of love because as they argue; Romeo approaches Juliet and they first kiss; in the next part of the scene. From the part of the great argument between Capulet and Tybalt to the meeting of Romeo and Juliet is probably one of the biggest changes of ambience in the whole of Romeo and Juliet. The change shows the difference between two immensely powerful scenes which both have impact on the outcome of the play. From a intense scene of arguments beforehand, the atmosphere of the meeting of Romeo and Juliet is very romantic and in my opinion, where before I would have loud, vigorous tone of voices, in this scene I would have very soft talking voices, in a slow manner; to symbolize the love which is created between the young hearts. For example, at the beginning of this meeting, Romeo starts off by saying if I profane with my unworthiest hand this shrine, the gentle fine is this, my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth with a tender kiss. I would have Romeo approach Juliet from behind, as if by surprise to entice her and to extend the theme of masks and disguise. Another main part that I would have in a slow speech would be just before the first kiss; Then move not, while my prayers effect I take. Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged. Before this part of the speech Romeo and Juliet refer to their love as a sin and the kiss would be the biggest sin of all. Especially in a Shakespearean audiences company because such revelations would be considered a huge surprise. However, for a modern time audience, this would not seem as wrong as it did in history since attitudes have changed towards these ideas. To direct my scene, I think I would need to consider both audiences and thats why I think that I would have them touch lips softly first, then back off before coming back together again as they are young therefore for a modern audience, their vulnerability would be illustrated here. This part of act 1 scene 5, is written as part of a sonnet. A sonnet is normally a love poem and therefore the reason for Shakespeares writing it in a poetic fashion of a sonnet is because I think he wanted to capture the love themes described. Also, I think Shakespeare wrote this in a sonnet way because it is a love scene and the fact it was written in a sonnet gives him a chance to explore ways to link the lovers through their speech For example, Romeo says Have not saints lips and holy palmers too? Then Juliet replies Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. At this point in the play Romeo and Juliet are trying to convince themselves that there is nothing wrong with kissing because they are virtually worshipping. For a Shakespearean audience, the constant religious imagery is very relevant because at the time, there would be religious people in the audience who could relate to this description. For my performance, to make it more authentic that the youngsters had fallen in love so quickly, I would start by Romeo and Juliet both looking for a long time into each others eyes, when they finally meet, because they are both probably not used to such confrontation and therefore would be quite nervous that it happened to them. I would also, as they speak to each other, keep them looking into each others eyes until the kiss, when they both, look at the connection of their hands, as they talk about the pilgrims prayers. To show their feelings for each other, I think they would start by linking hands, as prayers, while they say Saints do not move though grant for prayers sake and then move not, while my prayers effect I take.. these stages are leading up to the kiss and throughout them, they are getting closer and closer until they are finally touching; no longer by hands but by lips. I think that when Romeo is talking, he should try touching Juliets hair to show how much hes infatua ted with her. As Romeo and Juliet kiss, the nurse walks in. Once more, the atmosphere changes and the dramatic tensions are also quite high. This is because the nurse would be astounded to have found the two kissing. At this point, before the nurse walks in, I would have dimmed lights on the kiss to symbolize the intensity. These dimmed lights would also bring the audience to be more engaged because they are concentrating on one part on stage. I would create dramatic tension in this part of the scene by having soft music playing throughout it however, when the nurse walks in on the kiss, the music would stop. In this scene, Romeo and Juliet find out each of them is from the opposite family. Here the dramatic tension is extremely high and both characters appear to be more emotional because of this. To show how hurt they are by the news, I would have them both walk off and talk to themselves for the next line. For example, when Juliet says my only love, sprung from my only hate, she would wake slightly away from the nurse. It is very serious that each f them is from the family rival because there is an extra problem. For example, as well as worrying about what her family is going to say about her kissing someone without their permission, she has to worry about the fact that hes what the family hate. It is significant that it is the nurse who reveals to each of them the news because, shes merely a worker for the Capulet household so isnt obliged to tell the truth. Through Romeo and Juliet meeting and finding out the true identities of each other, this can lead to more fighting between the fa milies and also, as a result, more family members dying. When Juliet speaks, she signifies the true severity of the situation by some of what she says. For example, when she says my grave is like to be my wedding bed, this means that she believes she is going to die before she is married. Also, I think in my performance I will have the nurse emphasize words like the son of your only enemy! this would create a harsh tension of the scene as the truth hits Juliet as it isshe has fallen in love with who she is expected to hate, a Montague. Overall, act 1, scene 5 is a significant and important scene because it is the pivotal point of the play and from then on, everything changes. For example, in act 1, scene 5 Romeo and Juliet find out each of their identities and the problem is born between the two family grudges being linked by love. Also, the themes of love and war are contrasted greatly as we are taken from different parts, another theme approaches. Also, in act 1; scene 5, a lot happens. As well as the first meeting and kiss of Romeo and Juliet, also there is the revelation to each o them about the family name. In act 1; scene 5, there is also a lot of dramatic irony which is used to connect the audience to the play and seem like they have an important part to play in the surprise because they knew beforehand. I think that these ideas of love and war could be portrayed to a modern time audience by using a racial theme running through because at this day and age, there is a lot of discrimination between racial groups. For example, in this scene love and hate collide. I would re-enforce this by having a stop of music as well as a lot of lighting to help pick out the key- parts of the scene To a modern audience, I think they would feel more emotion if they heard music whereas in a Shakespearean audiences viewing they would find the idea of volume control in voices more emotional as they didnt have special effects to look like they were crying or lighting and sound to portray emotions.