https://padlet.com/e_holmes/kel49m6ys774 Lizzie, Vicky and Devika en-us 2017-03-08 11:27:45 UTC 2025-11-24 16:55:33 UTC hello@padlet.com e_holmes https://padlet.com/e_holmes/kel49m6ys774/wish/158616499 Click the icons below to add links to docs or film links]]> 2017-03-08 11:28:45 UTC https://padlet.com/e_holmes/kel49m6ys774/wish/158616499 https://padlet.com/e_holmes/kel49m6ys774/wish/159511078
Love leads to Violence
In Act 3 Scene 1 Shakespeare hints towards the theme that love leads to violence. This is shown through the fight that occurs between lines 75 and 85. During this scene Shakespeare writes "But love thee better than thou canst devise,Till thou shalt know the reason of my love." Romeo tries to placate Tybalt and and avoid a fight from occurring as he loves Juliet. His passionate love for her prevents him from wanting to start a fight with her cousin as he knows that it will most probably upset his new wife.  Shakespeare writes "Tybalt you rat-catcher, will you walk?" This proves that rather than stopping the inevitable fight, Romeo's reluctance to draw his sword only leads to further anger Mercutio and lead him to accept the challenge that Tybalt has presented to Romeo. This ends with Mercutio dying and Romeo killing Tybalt as an act of revenge. Therefore, Shkespeare shows that love leads to violence as Romeo's friendly love for Mercutio leads him to kill Tybalt as an act of revenge. 

Meaning of Gender
In Act 3 Scene 1 Shakespeare shows the stereotypical view on males which is presented through Mercutio, who is seen as a flirtatious male who enjoys quarreling. Shakespeare writes "Thy beauty hath made me effeminate/And in my temper soften'd valour's steel", line 104, which questions Romeo's masculinity in Act 3 Scene 1. Furthermore, Romeo's reputation as a man is seen as "stain'd" which is ironic as Mercutio has been stained by his blood. In addition to that, line 104 is also hinting towards the opinion that love weakens a man and makes them more feminine as a man is supposed to be a rough and aggressive figure throughout the play. The use of the word "effeminate" could also be referring to the belief that an "effeminate" man likes women too much and therefore, hanging around women too much would make them more womanly, rather like the modern myth of catching the "cooties". In addition to that, Romeo also fights Tybalt which shows that by avenging Mercutio's death he has reasserted his masculinity. Hence, Shakespeare successfully conveys the idea that each gender has a role which is shown through their behaviors and that one can only be male or female, harsh or gentle, and not a mix, which is what Romeo tried to be when he was trying to avert the fight that would soon take place with Mercutio and Tybalt.

Society vs Individuals
In Act 3 Scene 1 Shakespeare conveys the theme of Individuals vs Society. Romeo and Juliet are forces to conflict with the social world around them which include their friends, family, political authority and even religion. They are prepared to give up their identities, socially, as well as their family names, Montague and Capulet, in order to escape and start a life of their own. Shakespeare writes "Therefore, farewell." This proves Romeo's valiant efforts to prevent the fight that will soon take place between Mercutio and Tybalt. Romeo's attempt to forestall the fight could be interpreted as Romeo trying to stop being a Montague, which shows that he is against society and its rules as he refuses to respond to Tybalt's challenge for his love, Juliet. Therefore, Shakespeare conveys a theme of individuals vs society by putting Romeo and Juliet, two star-crossed lovers, against the social and political society that they live in. ]]> 2017-03-12 17:26:29 UTC https://padlet.com/e_holmes/kel49m6ys774/wish/159511078 https://padlet.com/e_holmes/kel49m6ys774/wish/159582205 This scene starts out with Benvolio and Mercutio walking under the hot sun of Verona. Benvolio suggests that they go inside, in case they come across any Capulets and start a fight. Mercutio replies by saying that Benvolio is just as quick to anger as any other man in Italy, and he shouldn't go around criticizing others for being easily angered. Then Tybalt and Petruchio enter, with others. Benvolio warns Mercutio of them, but he doesn't care. Tybalt comes up to them and asks to speak with one of them, but Mercutio just starts provoking him. Romeo then enters, and is immediatly called a villain by Tybalt. Romeo (who is now married to Juliet secretly) refuses to respond to this provocation, saying he has a good reason to love Tybalt and doesn't want to fight him. Tybalt demands that he draw his sword, but Romeo asks him to not fight with him until he knew the reason for his love. Mercutio, who is angry that Romeo will not fight, draws his sword and challenges Tybalt, and makes fun of his name (which was a common name for cats). Tybalt and Mercutio start their duel. Romeo atempts to stop it, and steps between them, but Tybalt still manages to stab Mercutio under Romeo's arm. As Tybalt and his men rush off, Mercutio falls. As he dies, he curses both the Capulets and the Montagues, and proceeds to make a pun about his own death. Romeo is furious, and thinks that his love has made him weak and cowardly. He challenges Tybalt, who has stormed back onstage, fights him, and kills him. Benvolio urges romeo to run away. Romeo is shocked at himself, and runs away. ]]> 2017-03-13 07:49:48 UTC https://padlet.com/e_holmes/kel49m6ys774/wish/159582205