Act 1, Scene 3 differs from prior scenes in that it shows a view of the play: “Romeo and Juliet“, from a woman’s perspective, as opposed to the male world of violence and power shown earlier. This is important transition because it allows the audience to empathize with these characters differently and shows an alternative attitude towards the life they live, with varying intentions and ideas. Some audience members would understand and relate to the characters shown here more than in previous scenes, allowing them to fully-immerse themselves in the play’s world and making it seem more realistic.
Introducing the major female character in the play for the first time, the scenes before create suspense and guide the audience through the story by telling them about her. This scene follows Paris’ visit to Capulet, in which he, Paris, requests the hand of Capulet’s daughter Juliet in marriage. The audience learns in Act one, Scene two that Juliet is fair, respectable and wealthy, through this, because for a wealthy Count, Paris, to desire to marry her, she would have to possess those traits. The business-like marriages of the time would only have allowed Paris and Juliet to be joined in wedlock if they and their families were of a similar status in society. Continue reading Sample Essay on Romeo and Juliet