Tillman HollowayGuarav KunwarYoel Alperin2-23-14

Act V Scene I tells the beginning of the end. It starts out with the dream motif in which Romeo proclaims that in his dream, Juliet found him dead but then kissed him back to life. This is a reference back to Act I scene IV, where in the Queen Mab speech, Mercutio proclaimed, “Dreamers often lie.” This foreshadows and incorrect version of scenes to come. When Balthasar enters, he is wearing boots, a theatrical symbol for coming doom. Balthasar tells Romeo that he saw Juliet in the Capulet vault dead. Romeo proclaims, “I defy you stars!” He thinks the stars, a motif for fate, are trying to keep him and Juliet apart and that they want him to stay alone forever.” To “defy the stars” Romeo decides that the only way he and Juliet will ever be together is by killing himself at her grave. Balthasar is Romeo’s foil by telling him to stop being crazy and think rationally. Romeo ignores Balthasar’s words of wisdom and starts to prepare for his journey. He asks Balthasar if he has received a letter from the Friar to which Balthasar replies that he has not. This reminds the audience of the significance of the letter and that haste, a recurring theme in the play will bring the characters to their doom. Though all the characters in the play act hastily, the currier does not, leading to the haste of Romeo. Romeo begins to plan for how he will die. He knows of an Apothecary who sells medicines and has poisons. Though poison is illegal to sell in Mantau, Romeo knows that the Apothecary will sell to him because he is wealthy and the Apothecary is not. Romeo asks the Apothecary for a poison that will kill “as violently as hasty powder fired,” a reference to Act II Scene V where the Friar states that, “ These violent delights have violent ends, and in their triumph die; like fire and powder which, as thy kiss, consume.” Romeo convinces the Apothecary to sell the poison even though it carries a death sentence. The Apothecary only agrees because he is starving. He says “My poverty, but not my will, consents,” meaning that in any other circumstance, he would not agree to sell. Romeo gives him a large sum of money for the poison, which he says, is worse poison to men’s souls. Romeo rants for some time about how money is the root of all evil and bids the Apothecary good-well as he continues on to the grave of Juliet. In our production of Act IV Scene I, costuming plays an important role. Romeo wears black to symbolize sin and morning with a red shirt underneath to symbolize his constant haste. His silver watch shows his past wealth in which he uses as leverage against the Apothecary. Balthasar wears blue to symbolize loyalty, wisdom and truth, a white shirt underneath the blue to show that he is pure and innocent. His khaki pants are off white to show that he is being deceitful though he doesn’t mean to. Final the Apothecary wears green to symbolize his desperation and brown to symbolize the poverty of his class.