AboutTue Sorensen Expertise I am an authority on the complete works of Shakespeare, and can answer any questions relating to his plays, poetry and life. I specialize in interpretation, double-meanings and translation into modern language.
Experience I was a top-rated Allexperts expert on this same subject several years ago.
Organizations Former member of the Danish Shakespeare Society, as well as an active participant in the scholarly SHAKSPER mailing list.
Education/Credentials Three years of studying English literature at the University of Aarhus, Denmark
i am supposed to wright a essay on 4 turning points on act
3 of romeo and juliet.
i am suppose to explain each turning point in act 3.
1)identify the event
2)explain the circumstances that contibuted to the event
3)explain how this event will negatively affect or help to
determine the eventually outcome of the play
i need to know 4 of the events and how the events will
affect the play?
Answer Hello,
The turning points in act 3 are in scene 1 and scene 5.
Scene 1: Mercutio is killed, then Tybalt, and Romeo is banished from the city.
Scene 5: Romeo and Juliet consummates their marriage, and Juliet is subsequently informed that she is to be married to Paris.
The events of scene 1 happen very quickly after each other, so I'm not sure if they should count for one, two or three turning points. I think they should count for two: Mercutio's death is one, and the other is Tybalt's death for which Romeo is then banished.
Mercutio is Romeo's greatest friend, so it is a source of great sorrow and anger to Romeo when Tybalt kills Mercutio. Romeo then commits the crime of passion of killing Tybalt, which to a great extent defines the remaining course of the play. Romeo is now an exile, and cannot return to Verona until such time as the Prince allows him to. It's a mess!
In scene 5 Romeo violates his banishment and visits Juliet, and they finally have their wedding night, from which they awaken in the begining of the scene. I would count this as a turning point, since the two lovers are finally able to actually love each other as husband and wife. But perhaps the most important turning point is when Juliet is then told that she must marry Paris. She cannot do this, of course, and knows that she will rather die. This is one of the key turning points that foreshadow the tragic end of the play.
That would be four turning points. I believe you can probably do your essay now. Remember to include textual references and quotes from your edition of the play.
