Dramatic irony could be secrets and makes the audience feel really involved with the deception, misunderstanding, suspense and comedy of Romeo and Juliet. Act 1, Scene 1 When Benvolio urges Romeo to go to the feast to look at other woman to forget her, he argues that that could not happen and this is ironic because we know that he will meet Juliet at the feast; One fairer than my love! The all-seeing sun neer saw her match since first the world begun.
It is also dramatic irony again when Romeo feels that something bad is going to happen by going to the feast because we know that by attending, he will meet Juliet which will cause him to die in the final scene; My mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin this fearful date with this nights revelsby some vile forfeit of untimely death. Act 1, Scene 4 When Romeo tells Mercutio that he had a dream last night, Mercutio tells Romeo that dreams are things that people want to see and usually false; Dreamers often lie.
However, Romeo is convinced that dreams tell the truth; They do dream things true. This is ironic because in Act 5, Scene 1, we know that Romeos dream about Juliet is false. Juliet never finds out her father knew Romeo and thought him rather well before he killed Tybalt-perhaps she could have talked to him: A bears him like a portly gentleman; and to say truth, Verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well-governd youth, I would not for the wealth of all this town here in my household do him disparagement. Act 2, Scene, 2
Juliets promise to Romeo to Follow thee my lord throughout the world is full of dramatic irony and foreshadows the final scene of the play, when Juliet follows Romeo into death. Act 2, Scene 3 When the Friar suspects that Romeo had not been in bed tonight, he misinterprets Romeo and thinks he had been with Rosaline; Romeo hath not been in bed tonightwast thou with Rosaline?. This is ironic because he has just fallen in love with Juliet and was going to ask the Friar to marry them that day, Romeo has forgotten all about Rosaline. Act 2, Scene 4
Mercutio continues to ridicule Romeo as a Petrarchan lover for employing the love poetry of the sonnets. However, his speech is ironic because he still believes that Romeo is in love with Rosaline and he never discovers Romeos love for Juliet; Why is this not better than groaning for love?… this drivelling love is like a great natural that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole. Mercutio, who has little patience with the emotional aspects of love is delighted that Romeo has as he thinks has gotten over his lovesickness; Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo.
Mercutio, during the play purposely misunderstands other characters for a comical effect but is unaware that he is misunderstanding Romeo and this adds to the overall effect. Act 3, Scene 1 When Mercutio starts a quarrel with Tybalt, Tybalt is rather cool, not the quick-tempered character he usually is but ironically, we know he is saving his blade for Romeo; You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, and you will give me occasion. Mercutios final speeches are full of dramatic irony.
He curses the two houses, A plague oboth your houses and in the final scene, we know the two families will be punished for their hatred; the deaths of their only children. He also inquires after Tybalt; Is he gone and hath nothing? This is ironic because we know the Romeo take revenge so that Tybalt will have something; a deadly wound like Mercutios. He also jokes about his wound and death; No, tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a churchdoorask or me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.
This is ironic because Mercutio himself and the audience know that he will die but at first his friends think he is joking; Courage, man, the hurt cannot be much. The final irony for this scene follows that of Act 2, Scene 4. Mercutio never learns for what cause he was wounded; Romeos love for Juliet. He believes he was wounded for a fight, not for love and in shocked disbelief he asks Romeo; Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm. Tybalt was also confused when Romeo called him his friend and doesnt realise he is fighting his own cousin. Act 3, Scene 4
Capulets impulsive decision to hasten Juliets day is ironic. He does not know that Juliet is already married and that to Romeo, son on Lord Montague and we know that this is the turning point for the play because we know that his rash decision will provide extreme difficulties. Also, Capulets confidence that Juliet will obey his command and consent to marry Paris is ironic because we know that Juliet has already disobeyed her father by marrying Romeo earlier that day and secondly, Romeo and Juliet are together upstairs enjoying their wedding night while Pairs and Capulet are talking below.
Act 3, Scene 5 When Juliet asks Romeo if they will ever meet again, this is ironic because we know that this the last time they see each other alive but they do see each other; Romeo mistakes Juliet to be dead but Juliet sees her Romeo truly dead; O thinkst thou we shall ever meet again? As Juliet and Romeo take their farewell, Juliet sees Romeo like a dead corpse in a tomb and this is ironic because we know that Juliet will see her dead Romeo in the Capulet tomb; O God, I have an ill-divining soul! Methinks I see thee nowas one dead in the bottom of a tomb.
Lady Capulet, unaware that Juliet mourns for Romeos banishment rather than Tybalts death, tries to comfort her daughter by her plans to have Romeo banished. This is ironic because it would only make Juliet cry harder and indeed, Romeo kills himself by drinking poison in the last scene. Juliet replies to her mother and she misinterprets her, thinking Juliets sorrow will be lifted if she poisons Romeo and brings his corpse back to convince Juliet; Indeed I never shall be satisfied with Romeo, till I behold him deadO how my heart abhors to hear him namd and cannot come to him.
This is dramatic irony because Juliet is sorrowful because she cannot see her Romeo and is another way, she does behold him dead in the last scene. When Lady Capulet, tells Juliet the tidings of her wedding with County Paris, Juliet replies; I will not marry yet, and when I do, I swear it shall be to Romeo, whom you know I hate, rather than Paris. This is ironic because she is already married and to Romeo. Hearing this, Lady Capuet wishes I would the fool were married to her grave and this is also ironic because Juliet does seem to marry her grave in Act 4, Scene 5 because her parents though her unmarried.
Act 4, Scene 1 When Juliet surprisingly meets Paris at the Frairs cell, she answers his statements with cool wit and irony. When Paris addresses her as his wife, Juliet answers That may be, sir, when I may be a wife. Paris will interpret this that he could call her wife after he marries her who will become a wife but we know that Juliet is married and she means that only Romeo can call her his wife. When Paris tells Juliet not to deny to the Friar that she loves him, Juliet confesses to Paris that she loves him; I will confess to you that I love him.
Paris would have though she meant the Friar but we know she means Romeo. When Paris says that her faces is his, Juliet replies that it is not hers while Paris would have though she meant Gods, not Romeos; It may be so, for it is not mine own. Act 4, Scene 2 When Juliet tells her father she met Paris at the Friars cell she tells him she gave Paris what becomed love I might, not stepping over the lines of modesty. To Capulet, the statement confirms Juliets obedience to his wishes but we know that as Romeos wife, Juliets devotion to him is absolute. Act 4, Scene 5
This whole scene if full of dramatic irony as the Capulet family and County Paris mourn Juliets death. However, we know she is alive and will wake later. Act 5, Scene 1 Romeo thinks that his dreams portend good will because he dreamed that Juliet found him dead but revived him with her kisses; My dreams presage some joyful news at handmy lady came and found me deadbreathd such life with kisses in my lips that I revivd. This is ironic because the tragedy is quickly unfolding and we know that Juliet tries to kiss some poison off Romeos lips before killing herself to join him. Act 5, Scene 3
When Paris is killed by Romeo, his last wish is, If thou be merciful, open the tomb, lay me with Juliet. This is ironic because like Mercutio, Paris never finds out about Juliets love for Romeo and Paris suffers unrequited love from Juliet just as the early Romeo suffered rejection from Rosaline. Romeo is dazzled by Juliets beauty even in death and thinks that she looks as she is still alive because her cheeks are not pale; Crimson in thy lips and in they cheeks. This is ironic because we know that she isnt really dead; Deathhath had no power yet upon thy beautyWhy art thou yet so fair?
Shall I believe that unsubstantial death is so amorous?. We know that Romeo was seeing Juliet recover from the effects of the vial because earlier, the Friar said The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade and worse, we know she will wake straight after he has died. The effect of dramatic irony: Tension, humour, premonition, sorrow Dramatic irony could be secrets and makes the audience feel really involved with the deception, misunderstanding, suspense and comedy of Romeo and Juliet.
