Written by William Shakespeare and first performed in 1596, the play Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy. Despite being written over 400 years ago, Romeo and Juliet is still widely popular, as it has the ability to capture people’s interest from the very first scene and leave a lasting impression for years after. Shakespeare captures the interest of the audience in the opening act through language, dramatic actions and powerful emotions.
Shakespeare captures the interest of the audience in the opening act of Romeo and Juliet using language. An example of this is the prologue, written in iambic pentameter. It offers a solid, rhythmic quality, and when read properly sounds mysterious and beguiling, therefore piquing the audience’s interest. Shakespeare also uses crude language as a way to capture the audience’s interest. He writes “ … The heads of the maids? / Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads.” (I, i, 22-23). Shakespeare uses language to develop two foul Capulet servants whose banter would have been considered hilarious by …show more content…
Mankind are attracted and interested by drama, whether it be visual or aural, and Shakespeare has figured this out and applied it to the first act of Romeo and Juliet. An example of visual and aural drama is: “...As I hate hell, all Montagues and thee. / Have at thee, coward / they fight.” (I, i, 65-67). The men of the Montague and the Capulet houses have just drawn their swords and started to fight, bringing tension and interested apprehension into the audience. Another example is “...Strike! / Beat them down! Down with the capulets! Down with the Montagues!” (I, i, 68-69).This would be found as very interesting by the audience, because it contains visual and aural drama (the citizens previously came on stage with weapons, yelling and screaming), as well as mention of the entire town condemning the feud between the two
Shakespeare captures the interest of the audience in the opening act of Romeo and Juliet using language. An example of this is the prologue, written in iambic pentameter. It offers a solid, rhythmic quality, and when read properly sounds mysterious and beguiling, therefore piquing the audience’s interest. Shakespeare also uses crude language as a way to capture the audience’s interest. He writes “ … The heads of the maids? / Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads.” (I, i, 22-23). Shakespeare uses language to develop two foul Capulet servants whose banter would have been considered hilarious by …show more content…
Mankind are attracted and interested by drama, whether it be visual or aural, and Shakespeare has figured this out and applied it to the first act of Romeo and Juliet. An example of visual and aural drama is: “...As I hate hell, all Montagues and thee. / Have at thee, coward / they fight.” (I, i, 65-67). The men of the Montague and the Capulet houses have just drawn their swords and started to fight, bringing tension and interested apprehension into the audience. Another example is “...Strike! / Beat them down! Down with the capulets! Down with the Montagues!” (I, i, 68-69).This would be found as very interesting by the audience, because it contains visual and aural drama (the citizens previously came on stage with weapons, yelling and screaming), as well as mention of the entire town condemning the feud between the two