Tybalt's Vow For Revenge On Romeo example essay topic

Act 1, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet functions as one of the most significant scenes of the play. Scene 2 holds an important place in the plot construction of the play as a whole as it functions as a catalyst for future events which lead to a tragic outcome. In this scene, Romeo is asked to read an invitation list by an illiterate servant of the Capulet's. It is fate that Romeo is the one whom the servant asks because this one action sets off a chain of 3 events that ultimately lead to a tragic end.

Because Romeo has done the servant the favour of reading the list, he is invited to the feast. It is at this feast that the first event in a series of three events occurs: Romeo meets and falls in love with Juliet. This is an important development as the play is based on Romeo and Juliet's love for each other. Second, another important event takes place at the masquerade ball when Tybalt wants to kill Romeo for intruding at his family's feast. He is prevented from killing Romeo by his uncle, and is insulted by his uncle as well.

Tybalt then vows, "I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, / Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt " rest gall" (90-91). Tybalt's vow for revenge leads to a fight between the two in 3.1. Third, this fight is a precursor to Romeo's banishment from Verona for his part in killing Tybalt. Thus, Romeo is separated from his beloved, and he does not receive the important message from the Friar regarding the plan of Juliet's faked death, and Romeo subsequently commits suicide to join his love in death.

Scene 2 functions as a significant scene because the three events which transpire as a result of Romeo reading the list lead to Romeo and Juliet's tragic end. The first major event in 1.2 occurs when the Capulet servant asks Romeo to read the guest list to him because he is illiterate. Romeo obliges, and in doing so is invited to the feast. This event is extremely important to the play as a whole because had another person read the guest list Romeo would not have been invited to the ball. Romeo's acceptance of the invitation functions as a catalyst for further important events in the play. The significance of being invited to the ball is that Romeo's presence at the ball allows him to meet Juliet with whom he falls deeply in love.

This meeting is the central part of the plot construction. Once he and Juliet meet, their fate is sealed. They become so in love that only death can separate them. It is essential that Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love, as this becomes the basis for the play as a whole.

The play centres on the obstacles that are thrust in the way of the young lovers. The second important event that occurs as a result of Romeo's reading of the list and his attendance at the ball is the Tybalt's vow for revenge on Romeo. Tybalt takes great offense to Romeo's presence his immediate desire is "to strike him dead" (1.5. 59).

His uncle, Lord Capulet, comes onto the scene and demands, "Why, how now, kinsman, wherefore storm you so? (1.5. 60). After explaining that Romeo's presence is offensive because he is a "foe" (61) of the Capulet family and therefore, is obviously "attempting to scorn at our solemnity this night" (63), Tybalt is instructed by his uncle to "let him alone" (65). After further protestations, Tybalt is severely reprimanded by Capulet who is trying to avoid furthering the feud between the Capulets and the Montague's. Capulet calls Tybalt a "goodman boy" (76), and accuses him of playing at being "the man" (81). Tybalt blames these insults on Romeo and declares, "I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, / Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt " rest gall" (90-91).

This event sets up Tybalt's plot for revenge on Romeo that leads to Romeo's subsequent banishment from Verona. The third major event that transpires out of Romeo's attendance at the ball in 1.2 and Tybalt's vow for revenge is Romeo's banishment from Verona. Tybalt's revenge is inspired by the insult of Romeo's presence at the Capulet ball. Tybalt vows revenge because his uncle's defense of Romeo has humiliated him. Thus, the next time Tybalt comes across Romeo, he tries to engage Romeo in a fight by calling him a "villain" (3.1. 61) and accuses Romeo of causing him "injuries" (66).

In an attempt to stop Mercutio and Tybalt from fighting, Romeo comes between the two and unwittingly aids Tybalt in killing Mercutio. Romeo then fights Tybalt to avenge Mercutio's death. Because of Romeo's hand in killing Tybalt, he is banished from Verona. Romeo's banishment is the next event in a chain of events leading from his assistance in reading the list to the Capulet servant. Romeo's banishment from Verona affects his and Juliet's love in major ways. As a result of Romeo's banishment, the two lovers are separated, causing them both great misery.

Romeo banishment is also the reason why he is not aware of the Friar's plan for Juliet to fake her death, nor does he receive the message from the Friar about their plans. Consequently, he commits suicide to be with Juliet whom he believes is dead. Therefore, Romeo's banishment is a causal factor in the tragic end of the play. Act 1, Scene 2 plays a huge role in determining the outcome of Romeo and Juliet. Reading the guest list for the Capulet servant sets off a chain of events that decide the tragic ending for Romeo and Juliet. First, Romeo meets Juliet at the ball.

It is upon first sight that Romeo falls in love with Juliet. Second, Romeo's presence at he ball is an affront to Tybalt, and functions as Tybalt's reason for revenge. Third, Tybalt's vow for revenge is fulfilled in the fight scene of 3.1. Hence, Romeo is banished from Verona and consequently separated from Juliet.

He is also not aware of Friar Laurence's plan to reunite the two lovers, and does not receive the Friar's message relating the plan of Juliet's faked death. As a result, Romeo commits suicide to be with Juliet. Had Romeo not been the one to read the invitation list, the chain of events leading to Romeo and Juliet's deaths would not have been set into motion. This scene plays an important role in the plot construction of the play as a whole because it is a catalyst for the other events in the play to occur. These events must happen in order for the play to exist as a tragedy.

Bibliography

Shakespeare, William. "Romeo and Juliet". The Riverside Shakespeare. 2nd ed. Eds. Herschel Baker et al. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997.1101-1145.