Discussion Topic
Mood and Atmosphere in Romeo and Juliet
Summary:
The mood and atmosphere in Romeo and Juliet transition significantly from scenes of excitement and secrecy to tension and tragedy. In the balcony scene, the mood is romantic yet anxious, as Romeo and Juliet express their love amidst concerns of being caught. Act 3 intensifies the emotional atmosphere, starting with a dark and foreboding mood as Mercutio and Tybalt die, leading to Romeo's banishment. The mood shifts from lighthearted banter to suspenseful and violent, reflecting the characters' impulsive actions and the tragic consequences that follow.
What is the mood of the balcony scene in Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet?
It's sneaky. Romeo trips upon Juliet talking about how she feels about Romeo and then he gets nervous: Shall I hear more or shall I speak at this?
Once he reveals his location, they are in it together. About 5 times, Juliet shares her fear of Romeo getting caught for being there; no doubt she's concerned for her association with him as well.
Of course love is the central agenda of their discussion, but the growing secrecy and sneakiness evolve as she hears the nurse calling and as they make a plan for when they are going to see each other again.
In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare , the mood of the balcony scene in Act Two is one of excitement, expectation and a little fear on the part of the audience. In terms of the mood of the characters, Romeo is entranced by having fallen in...
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love with a new girl (having quickly forgotten about the old!) Juliet is both curious and inspired by the new feelings inspired in her by Romeo. The audience however, remains mindful of the extreme danger that Romeo is in - he is ,after all, trespassing not only on another family's property, but also that of a hated feuding one. The audience is in two minds as to mood. One part of their wish is to find out what happens, and for the guy to get the girl - but the other wish is for Romeo to stay safe by not being discovered and caught.
What adjectives describe the mood in Act 3 of Romeo and Juliet?
Mood refers to the emotional atmosphere of a text, the emotions that it conveys to and/or creates in the reader.
Act 3, scene 1: In this scene, Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt until Tybalt kills Mercutio, and then Romeo slays Tybalt. The mood of this scene is dark and foreboding, especially when Mercutio curses both Romeo's house and Tybalt's. There's a sense that events are spiraling out of control now.
Act 3, scene 2: In this scene, Juliet awaits Romeo's appearance in her bedroom on the night of their secret marriage. We know, of course, that there has been a tragedy of which she is not yet aware. The mood of this part of the scene is awkward and tense due to the dramatic irony. Juliet, in her ignorance, is so hopeful and excited, but we know her hopes will be dashed when she learns what has happened. When the nurse arrives and tells Juliet of Tybalt's death at Romeo's hands, the mood becomes much more tragic, as Juliet is torn between loyalty to her husband and loyalty to her cousin. The nurse goes to find Romeo, but we know that this marriage will likely not be a happy one because of what Romeo has done.
Act 3, scene 3: Romeo is in Friar Lawrence's cell, bemoaning his fate. The mood here is sad, again, because Romeo tried to make the right decision concerning Tybalt but lost his temper. It's a little tense, too, because Romeo seems unappreciative that he's merely been banished rather than condemned to die, and the friar scolds him for it. When the nurse arrives, there seems a bit of a bright spot; Romeo is revived by Juliet's ring, and we are hopeful, with him, that there can be some happiness for them yet.
Act 3, scene 4: Lord and Lady Capulet plan Juliet's hasty marriage to Parris. While the characters themselves are hopeful, the audience—who knows that Juliet is already married—again experiences the awkward discomfort of dramatic irony.
Act 3, scene 5: Romeo and Juliet are in bed, not wanting to part. We likely feel some giddy nervousness here, as they do, because we know there's a chance the couple could be caught together. They feel so happy until Romeo goes to leave and then Juliet has a terrible foreboding feeling that she is looking down on Romeo in a tomb. We feel this sense of foreboding, of trouble looming, as well. Then, when Lady Capulet tells Juliet about the wedding to Parris, the mood becomes painful and upsetting, especially when Lord Capulet threatens to throw Juliet out. Juliet faces a difficult decision, and the threatening feeling affects us too. The sense that events are out of control is intensified.
There's a link to our enotes "Themes" link below. And I've given you some adjectives (and other words) that I think fit the mood of the scenes in Act 3. All the scenes have separate sections so there's lots of sets of adjectives for each scene!
Act 3, Scene 1. (the fights, Mercutio's death, Tybalt's death)hot, ominous, out of control, uneasy, dangerous, impulsive, shocking. And at the end, with the prince, the mood is sombre, severe.
Act 3, Scene 2 (Juliet's soliloquy, her conversation with the nurse). To begin with, excitable, nervous, soaring, and then, once the Nurse has entered, surprising, confused, panicky - and when Juliet has heard the news - despairing, self-dramatising.
Act 3, Scene 3 (Romeo and Friar Laurence, the Nurse enters, Romeo's plan) despairing, neurotic, moody, extreme, sulky, unwilling, desperate - and, at the very end, slightly optimistic and hopeful.
Act 3, Scene 4 (Capulet and Paris talk) a little sad, but
blokey, matey, resourceful, polite, charming.
Act 3, Scene 5 (Romeo and Juliet wake up together) romantic,
sad, despairing, scared, ominous, then (Juliet and Lady Capulet) reflective,
mournful, isolated, then (Capulet's anger) terrifying, violent, dominant, and
(Juliet left alone at the end), isolated, lonely, desperate.
What is the effect of mood changes in Romeo and Juliet, Act 3?
In Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, the things that most dramatically change the mood of the play are:
Tybalt picks a fight with Mercutio and while Romeo tries to break up the fight, Tybalt slips under Romeo's arm and kills Mercutio. Romeo has done everything he possible to placate Tybalt, refusing to fight with him (as they are now related). However, once Mercutio dies, Romeo goes looking for Tybalt, and when they fight, Romeo kills the other man.
So Romeo is first guilty of killing a member of the enemy family of the Capulets. But he is also guilty of killing one of his wife's family members. And this is something Juliet will for a short time struggle with.
However, when the incident comes before Prince Escalus, he does not order Romeo's death, under the circumstances, but he banishes Romeo, who may never return to Verona again. Romeo believes that he might as well be dead—as being separated from Juliet means death.
Ha! Banishment! Be merciful, say 'death'. / For exile hate more terror in his look, / Much more than death. Do not say banishment. (III, iii, 13-15)
Romeo and Juliet have their one night of wedded bliss; too soon, Romeo must leave or be killed for still residing in Verona.
If all of this is not enough, Juliet's parents insist that Juliet marry Paris within the week, and threaten to disown her if she does not. Then the Nurse tells Juliet to forget Romeo and marry Paris, even though Juliet is already married. At this point, Juliet turns her back on the Nurse, no longer confiding in her.
It is during Act III that things begin to unravel. It will be because of these occurrences and circumstances that Juliet will take steps to avoid marriage to Paris, and the misadventures of our star-crossed lovers will lead to their tragic end.
What is the tone and atmosphere in Act 3, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet?
The tone of a piece of literature is the attitude the author takes toward the audience, a subject or a character. The mood or atmosphere is the feeling created in the reader by the scene or passage. Act III, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is considered the turning point of the play. It begins the descent toward death and suicide of five of the main characters.
The tone throughout this scene is displayed in the passion of the principal characters. Benvolio is anxious and concerned. Mercutio, on the other hand, displays his typical arrogance and biting humor. Later, he will become bitter and cursing in his tone as he dies after the fight with Tybalt. Tybalt is angry and belligerent. Romeo, who at first is cheerful (he has just married Juliet), later becomes intense and driven.
The mood or atmosphere can be found in the words of Benvolio and Mercutio. The very first lines spoken by Benvolio suggest suspense and they put the audience on the edge of their seats. His warning to Mercutio to get off the street incites a mood of anticipation:
I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire.
The day is hot, the Capels are abroad,
And if we meet we shall not ’scape a brawl,
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.
O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!
Alla stoccato carries it away. [He draws.]
Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?
What is the mood in Act 3, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet?
When this scene opens, the mood is both unsettled and agitated. It is a hot day, for example, and Benvolio wants to avoid a meeting with the Capulets because a fight is certain to break out.
Benvolio's fears are soon confirmed. Tybalt, a Capulet, suddenly appears, and the mood quickly becomes tense. Tybalt says he is looking for Romeo but his words prompt Mercutio to touch his sword, a sign that he is ready to fight.
Romeo's arrival does little to alter the tense mood. Mercutio and Tybalt begin fighting and the mood switches to one of violence. Mercutio's death maintains this violent mood: Romeo takes revenge by killing Tybalt.
The mood briefly switches to one of sadness at Lady Capulet mourns the death of her nephew. But, this does not last: the mood grows angry and tense, once again, as the Prince declares that Romeo is banished from the city for the murder of Tybalt.
Shakespeare often likes to match the mood of the characters to the weather. At the beginning of the scene, as Benvolio mentions how hot it is, it can be inferred that the young men's tempers are ready to ignite, they are restless, emotions are awhile, youth in hot passions..... No wonder a brawl broke out.
What is the mood in act 3, scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet?
Whenever we think about mood we are actually talking about the feeling or atmosphere that a given story evokes. Thus a horror story could evoke a mood of fear and trepidation, or a story about nature in the countryside could evoke a mood of peace and tranquility. The important thing is to consider what happens and then to think about what emotional feeling it has on you. When we consider Act III scene 1 of this excellent tragedy, we can see that there are two distinct moods. There is one of lighthearted humour that accompanies the banter between Mercutio and Romeo as they engage in their verbal battle of wits, and then there is a much darker, suspenseful mood as Tybalt kills Mercutio and is then killed by Romeo, concluding in the Prince's exiling of Romeo:
Let Romeo hence in haste,
Else, when he is found, that hour is his last.
Bear hence this body and attend our will.
Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.
Note the way in which Romeo's grief and rage against his situation is captured in his line, "O, I am fortune's fool!" The mood has changed distinctly from the easy, light-hearted one at the beginning of the scene to one of tragedy, as Romeo has been forced to kill Juliet's kinsman, who is actually now his kinsman now that he has married Juliet.