Question

Read the excerpt from Act III, scene i of Romeo and Juliet.

Tybalt: Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries 40
That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw

Romeo: I do protest I never injur'd thee,
But love thee better than thou canst devise,
Till thou shalt know the reason of my love:
And so, good Capulet, which name I tender 45
As dearly as my own, be satisfied.
Why is this an example of dramatic irony?

because Tybalt is usually a peace-loving character
because Romeo does not really feel kindness toward Tybalt
because Tybalt is unaware that Romeo has married a Capulet
because the audience is relieved to know that a dual will not occur

Answer 1

because Tybalt is unaware that Romeo has married a Capulet

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows a key detail that other characters on stage do not. The audience knows that Romeo has married Juliet, Tybalt's cousin. However, Romeo is the only one on stage that knows this in the scene. When Romeo states that the Capulet name is a "name I tender as dearly as my own", Tybalt and Mercutio are confused and don't understand what he is talking about.

Answer 2

the answer is because Tybalt is unaware that Romeo has married a Capulet