Important+scene+or+event5

IMPORTANT SCENE OR EVENT:__**
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In 'Romeo and Juliet' two important scenes or events are:
 * The fight scene between Tybalt and Romeo
 * The ending scene at the Capulet vault


 * __FIGHT SCENE:__**

In this scene Tybalt is waiting for Romeo as he had sent him a challenge of a duel. This was in response to Romeo and his friends turning up at the Capulet mask ball. Tybalt feels insulted as they were not invited to the ball and are his sworn enemies. Romeo turns up late as he has just secretly married Juliet. Tybalt tries to provoke Romeo into a fight by insulting him however Romeo is reluctant to fight his wifes cousin. In response Mercutio (Romeo's friend) takes on the challenge but is fatally wounded by Tybalt. As he dies he curses both the Montague and Capulet families. He sees the hatred between the families as being responsible for his death, not just Tybalt.

Angered and grief stricken by Mercutio's death, Romeo fights Tybalt. He eventually kills Tybalt in the heat of passion. When he realises what he has done he is remorseful and overwhelmed. The Prince of Verona had previously stated that the next person to disrupt the peace would be executed. The Prince arrives on scene and announces that because Romeo did not start the fight he is to be banished instead.

__**WHY IS THIS SCENE IMPORTANT?**__

This is an important scene as it is a catalyst for all the events which follow. Because of Romeo's banishment and to escape marriage to Paris, Juliet and the Friar devise a plan that will make Juliet seem as though dead. A messege meant for Romeo to tell him of the plan does not arrive and he believes Juliet is truly dead. Romeo buys poison and drinks it at the Capulet tomb. This is not before he kills Paris to get inside. Juliet wakes as he drinks the poison and then stabs herself so she can join him in death. Romeo's mother dies of a broken heart.

As well as being a climax point this scene also shows the main theme of the play which is the destruction caused by hate. Tybalt's hatred for Romeo and the Montague family results in his death. Likewise Romeo's impulsive hatred for Tybalt over killing his friend Mercutio leads to his evetnual death. This scene also shows that hatred usually results in the death of innocent people, this is shown through the death of Mercutio. Upon his death Mercution curses both the Montague and Capulet families. He sees their hatred for each other as being ultimately responsible for his death rather than just Tybalt. Many other innocent peope also die later in the play as a result of hate.

Another reason this scene is important is that it again alludes to the role of fate in the lives of Romeo and Juliet. After Romeo kills Tybalt he cries out "I am fortunes fool". This reinforces the idea that people have little freewill and that their actions are goverened by fate.


 * "I tender thy name as dearly as mine own. Therefore be satisfied"
 * "They have made wormsmeat of me...A plague on both your houses"
 * "I am fortunes fool"
 * "Romeo is banished"


 * __ENDING SCENE:__**

In the ending scene Romeo finds out that Juliet is 'dead'. He states that he will 'defy' the stars to be with her and plans to kill himself. He buys poison from an apothecary and heads to the Capulet vault. As he enters the vault he encounters Paris who thinks he is trying to desecrate the tomb. Romeo kills Paris and then finds where Juliet's body is laid. He drinks the poison and lays beside her. Juliet wakes to find Romeo's dead body beside her. At this point the Friar arrives. He is afraid of his role in the incident being found out and tries to make Juliet leave with him. Juliet refuses and the Friar flees the scene. Griefrstricken Juliet takes Romeo's dagger and stabs herself.

The play ends with the both Montague and Capulet families vowing to end the feud. The Prince of Verona tells them that all have been punished by their hatred, even himself as Paris was his kinsman. Romeo's mother also dies of a broken heart.


 * __WHY IS THIS SCENE IMPORTANT?__**

This scene is important as it helps illustrate all three main themes of the play:
 * Fate versus freewill
 * Destruction caused when passion overrides reason
 * Destruction caused by hate

Fate is alluded to again in the ending scene. Throughout the play their are constant references to the stars and whether humans have any control over their lives. Shakespeare questions the role of fate versus freewill. Right from the start of the play Romeo and Juliet are referred to as star-crossed lovers. It is implied that no matter what decisions they make they are destined never to be together. This prediction is realised in the ending scene where Romeo states that he will 'defy' the stars. Little does he know that in poisoning himself he is actually helping the prediction as Juliet is not actually dead. When Friar finds Romeo dead and Juliet wakening from her slumber he tells her that "a greater power" (fate) than they can control has "thwarted their intents". This reinforces the idea that it is fate who controls human destiny and not free will.

Passion overriding reason is shown by Juliets actions in this scene. Throghout the play Juliet lets reason guide her actions. However in the ending scene she is so overwhelmed by grief that she reacts impulsively, letting passion effect her decisions. Juliet dies as a result of passion overriding her reasonably nature.

The destructive nature of hate is the main theme shown by this scene. As a result of the Montague and Capulet's hatred each lose thier children. Many innocent people also die along the way including Mercutio and Paris. Romeo's mother also eventually dies of a broken heart. This scene clearly demonstrates the destruction that hate has caused to both the Montague and Capulet families and also the people of Verona. The Prince of Verona sums up the message when he states that "all are punished".


 * __QUOTES:__**
 * "I defy you stars"
 * "A power greater than we can contradict hath thwarted out intents"
 * "Oh happy dagger, here is thy sheath"
 * "See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. All are punished