Romeo and Juliet Group

Question:

noob
noob
Student
High School - 12th Grade

How do Mercutio's and Benvolio's responses to Romeo's arrival in Act II, scene 4 create a dramatic effect in "Romeo and Juliet"?

I am having difficulty in understanding the relationships between characters and the way the realationships create a dramatic effect.

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Posted by noob on Friday August 1, 2008 at 7:59 AM and tagged with act 2 scene 4 romeo and juliet, character, dramatic effect, mercutio and benvolio, romeo and juliet.

Answers:

  1. lit24
    lit24 Teacher
    Doctorate

    eNotes Editor

     In act 2 sc.4 Benvolio and Mercutio are clueless about Romeo's whereabouts and  Mecutio angrily remarks:"Where the devil should this Romeo be?" Both of them are unaware that Romeo has now fallen in love with Juliet and that he intends to marry her. They think that he is still pining for Rosaline and because of this he will not be able to face Tybalt who has challenged him for a duel. At this moment Romeo enters.

    Dramatic Irony results because we know that Romeo is now in love with Juliet and not with Rosaline whereas his two companions think that he is still pining away for Rosaline and Mercutio  sarcastically remarks on his serious  and moody appearance:"without his roe,like a dried herring." On being questioned about his mysterious disappearance Romeo does not reveal the facts to his companions but merely remarks:"my business was great." Immediately, both of them think that Romeo has spent the night with another woman and begin to tease him playfully with many sexual jokes in which Romeo also joins in, soon the moody and serious Romeo becomes his usual sociable self: "now thou are socialble."

    The important question is why doesn't Romeo reveal the truth to his two friends: Is it because it is too premature, or is it because that they will make fun of him, or is it because he does not trust them?

    The questions are important with regard to understanding the contrast between romantic love and frienship.

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    Posted by lit24 on Friday August 1, 2008 at 8:21 PM