After Act III, scene i, how does Romeo and Juliet change from a comedy to a tragedy?

In Shakespearean (Elizabethan) times, the dramatic genre of 'comedy' didn't have the same definition as it does today. Shakespeare's plays are considered to fall into three genres: histories, tragedies, and comedies. A Shakespearean history is based on a true story. A Shakespearean tragedy focuses on characters; one main character has a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall, and most of the main characters die in a tragedy. A comedy is based more on situations than on characters, and everything usually turns out all right in the end.

Today, a comedy is supposed to be funny. All Shakespeare's plays have comedic elements, and the first two acts of Romeo and Juliet are somewhat light-hearted and fun. These two acts might also be considered more comedic because there is an emphasis on the situation: Romeo is desperately in love with Rosaline until he meets Juliet. Juliet returns his affections, but they can't be together because they are from feuding families. At the end of the second act, the play could continue as a comedy.

In Act III, scene i, however, the elements of tragedy come into play. Romeo's tragic flaw is that he is passionate and a slave to his feelings, and therefore quick to anger. Romeo does not want to fight the Capulets at the beginning of Act III, scene i, but Romeo loses his temper after Tybalt kills Mercutio and chases after Tybalt, shouting, "Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him!" Romeo was saying that, because Tybalt killed Mercutio, he will fight Tybalt until one or both of them is dead. Romeo's tragic flaw leads to his downfall when his rage leads him to kill Tybalt. It is Romeo's angry slaying of Tybalt that starts the action toward Romeo and Juliet's deaths at the end of the play.

In addition, Act III, scene i is the beginning of the tragedy because it is in this scene that the first main characters are killed: Mercutio and Tybalt. In a Shakespearean tragedy, most of the main characters are killed, so this killing off of main characters indicates the play will be a tragedy.

Act III, scene i is an important turning point in the story. If you want to read Act III, scene i with modern English translations and annotations, .