Romeo and Juliet- summary and key moments Act 1

Capulet servants begin a fight with the Montague servants

Benvolio ( a Montague) tries to make peace but Tybalt tries to make sure a fight breaks out.

1.1. 4.20-4.42

Tybalt. What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?  Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.

Benvolio. I do but keep the peace: put up thy sword, Or manage it to part these men with me.

Tybalt. What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:  Have at thee, coward! 

Prince Escalus breaks up the brawl and issues a firm warning- death if they ever fight again!!

1.1 6.10- 6.20

“If ever you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.”

Romeo has been keeping to himself preferring night to day. He blames his unrequited love for Rosaline.

Benvolio advises him to look at other girls- that will cure him!!

_____________________________________________________________________________

1.2- begins at 13.44

Paris wishes to marry Juliet- but she is only 13!!

Capulet invites Paris to a party that night where there will be many beautiful women.

Romeo finds out that Rosaline has been invited to a party. Benvolio tells him he will see nicer women there.

1.3

Lady Capulet and the nurse discuss Juliet’s age. The nurse reminisces about Juliet’s childhood.

Lady Capulet begins to speak to Juliet about marriage. 22.30- 22.40

Lady Capulet. Marry, that 'marry' is the very theme I came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet, How stands your disposition to be married?

Juliet. It is an honour that I dream not of.

Lady Capulet gives her reasons why Juliet should marry- She praises him highly.

1.4

Romeo and his friends, carrying torches and masks, prepare for their visit to Capulet’s party.

Romeo says he is to too unhappy to dance as he is so Melancholy- 25.29- 25.32

Romeo. Not I, believe me: you have dancing shoes With nimble soles: I have a soul of lead So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.

Romeo is unsure but he decides to go along with the others to Capulet’s party.

1.5- setting for this scene is the great hall in the Capulet’s mansion 30.45

Capulet welcomes the guests- Romeo catches sight of Juliet for the first time.

He is captivated by Juliet’s beauty 33.09

Romeo. [To a Servingman] What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand / Of yonder knight?Servant. I know not, sir.

Romeo. O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,  As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.

The fiery and pugnacious Tybalt recognises Romeo’s voice and is furious that a Montague should gatecrash.

Capulet scolds Tybalt for wanting to pick a fight- Tybalt leaves the party in a rage and threatening vengeance.

Play all from 33.09-

Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting blends into a sonnet- perhaps to show how right they are for each other?? 36.20

Romeo. [To JULIET] 

1 If I profane with my unworthiest hand 2 This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: 3 My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand 4 To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

Juliet. 

5 Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, 6 Which mannerly devotion shows in this; 7 For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,  8 And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

Romeo. 

KEY MOMENT!!!!

9 Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

Juliet. 

10 Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

Romeo. 

11 O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; 12 They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

Juliet. 

13 Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.

Romeo.

14 Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. 

Romeo realises that Juliet is a Capulet. Juliet is also shocked- she has fallen in love with one of her family’s hated enemies. 38.55-39.16

Juliet. Go ask his name: if he be married. My grave is like to be my wedding bed.

Nurse. His name is Romeo, and a Montague; The only son of your great enemy.

Juliet. My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me,  That I must love a loathed enemy.

Homework- complete any 2 of these tasks- label them clearly!!

Write an agony aunt’s advice to Romeo

Benvolio tells Romeo that his cure for his infatuation with Rosaline is to look at other girls.

Imagine you are an agony aunt for a magazine. Romeo writes to you with his problem. Write his letter and your advice in reply.

Rosaline’s Diary

Until he sees Juliet, Romeo believes he is in love with Rosaline. She never appears in the play so give her a voice. How does she feel about Romeo’s infatuation? What did she say as she kept him at a distance refusing his advances? And how does she feel when she hears he has fallen for Juliet? Remember, she is Juliet’s cousin, so she’s a Capulet too.

The television report at the Capulet party

You have been sent by a television station to report on the Capulet’s party. Your news editors says, “don’t forget to interview the servants- they’re the ones who will really know! And the lively Helena is a real chatterbox. You’ll be given a five minute slot in tomorrow’s News.

Tybalt’s point of view

Tybalt meets his friends as he leaves the Capulet’s party. Tell his story of the party and his past experiences of the Montagues.

Act 22.1

Nothing to note her except the chorus sonnet

2.2

Romeo, hidden from Juliet, sees her at an upstairs window- he compares her beauty to the sun and stars. 43.30

Romeo.  [JULIET appears above at a window] But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief,  That thou her maid art far more fair than she:  45.10- 45.20…O, that I were a glove upon that hand, That I might touch that cheek!

Juliet declares her love for Romeo in spite of his belonging the hated Montagues. 45.50-46.05

Juliet. O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?  Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

When Romeo reveals himself she fears for his safety.

Juliet warns Romeo that if her family finds him here they will kill him.

She is embarrassed that he has heard her reveal her love- she asks if he loves her.

Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love, but both are fearful

Juliet is wary about the suddenness of their love. To Romeo it all seems dreamlike and unreal.

Juliet promises marriage- she will send a messenger tomorrow to ask the time and place

Romeo and Juliet reluctantly part

Romeo promises to seek Friar Laurence’s help

Romeo. I would I were thy bird.

Juliet. Sweet, so would I: Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, 1050That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

Romeo. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! 

Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell, 1055His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.

2.3 starts at 54.44 settting outside Friar Laurence’s cell

At daybreak, Friar Laurence is gathering flowers and herbs

He reflects that like people they contain both evil and good

Friar Laurence fears Romeo has spent the night with Rosaline- but Romeo tells of his love for Juliet and asks the friar to marry them.

He scolds Romeo for being fickle. Friar agrees to marry R and J because he believes their marriage will end the feud.

For this alliance may so happy prove,  59.36To turn your households' rancour to pure love.

2.4

Mercutio jokes with Benvolio about Tybalt’s challenge to Romeo and about Romeo’s infatuation with Rosaline.

Romeo arranges to marry Juliet that afternoon at Friar Lawrence’s cell

She cautions Romeo not to deceive Juliet:

but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into 07.05- part 2a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman is young; and, therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing.

He will send a rope ladder to the nurse so that he might climb to Juliet’s room in Capulet’s house.

Romeo. And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey wall: 8.00- part 2 Within this hour my man shall be with thee And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair; Which to the high top-gallant of my joy Must be my convoy in the secret night. Farewell; be trusty, and I'll quit thy pains:  Farewell; commend me to thy mistress.

2.5

Juliet is impatient for the nurse to return.

She compares the speed of love with the slowness of the old.

9.44

Juliet. The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse;  In half an hour she promised to return. Perchance she cannot meet him: that's not so. 

O, she is lame! love's heralds should be thoughts, Which ten times faster glide than the sun's beams, Driving back shadows over louring hills: Therefore do nimble-pinion'd doves draw love, And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings. Now is the sun upon the highmost hill Of this day's journey, and from nine till twelve Is three long hours, yet she is not come. Had she affections and warm youthful blood, She would be as swift in motion as a ball; My words would bandy her to my sweet love, And his to me: But old folks, many feign as they were dead; Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead. O God, she comes! [Enter Nurse and PETER] O honey nurse, what news? Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away.

Juliet becomes more and more impatient

Play all of this scene.

2.6

Friar advises moderation in love not violent excess

Friar Laurence. These violent delights have violent ends  14.24And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume: the sweetest honey Is loathsome in his own deliciousness And in the taste confounds the appetite: Therefore love moderately; long love doth so; Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow. 

Romeo and Juliet leave to be married.

Balcony

Decide how realistic the balcony should be in a stage production. Afterwards, put your ideas into

Practice and design your own balcony.

Try your own improvisation on Shakespeare’s setting. A boy in love talks with a young girl at an upstairs window; or a girl, downstairs, talks to a boy who is on an upstairs landing….make up your own situation!

ACT 33.1 16.24

Benvolio fears meeting the Capulets knowing a fight will surely follow. Mercutio laughs at his fears.

Mercutio taunts Tybalt, but Tybalt ignores his insults because he is looking for Romeo.

Romeo refuses Tybalts challenge to fight (why?) and tries to reason with him

19.05- cd 2- to

Tybalt. Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford No better term than this,—thou art a villain.

Romeo. Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting: villain am I none; Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.

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

Romeo. I do protest, I never injured thee,  But love thee better than thou canst devise,  Dramatic IronyTill thou shalt know the reason of my love: And so, good Capulet,—which name I tender As dearly as my own,—be satisfied. Up to 19.42

Mercutio is disgusted. Angered by Romeo’s refusal to fight, challenges Tybalt.

Mercutio. Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you shall use me hereafter, drybeat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pitcher by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.

Tybalt. I am for you. Up to 20.14

Romeo tries to make peace but his intervention is fatal for Mercutio who is mortally wounded- he curses them all

“A plague o'  both your houses!” x3

Romeo fears his love for Juliet has weakened his courage. Learning that Mercutio is dead, he vows to kill Tybalt, slays him, then flees.

Benvolio. O noble prince, I can discover all The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl: There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.

Lady Capulet demands that Romeo must die (Play the rest of this scene)

Lady Capulet. Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child!  24.18- cd 2O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague. O cousin, cousin!

KEY SCENE!!!!

Benvolio tells the story of how Mercutio and Tybalt died

Romeo he cries aloud,  25.20-cd 2'Hold, friends! friends, part!' and, swifter than his tongue, His agile arm beats down their fatal points, And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled; But by and by comes back to Romeo, Who had but newly entertain'd revenge,  And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere I Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain.

Prince Escalus orders that, for killing Tybalt, Romeo be banished from Verona

Prince Escalus. And for that offence Immediately we do exile him hence: 

let Romeo hence in haste, Else, when he's found, that hour is his last.

3.2 begins at 27.25 cd 2

Juliet is unaware of the murderous events of the day- she is filled with love for Romeo and longs for night to come.

She thinks of Romeo, after her death, as like a star in the night sky.

Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night,  28.38Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night 

The nurse mourns for Tybalt but Juliet thinks that Romeo has died!!

She wishes that she could die too and lie beside Romeo in death. Foreshadowing

She learns that Tybalt is dead and Romeo is banished. She accuses Romeo of seeming beautiful but acting vilely.

Nurse. Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished;  31.41 cd2 Romeo that kill'd him, he is banished.

Juliet. O God! did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood?

Nurse. It did, it did; alas the day, it did!

Juliet. O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! 

Juliet is devastated by the thought of Romeo’s banishment. She threatens to kill herself.

Nurse. Will you speak well of him that kill'd your cousin?

Juliet. Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? 

My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain; And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband: 

She is cheered when the nurse promises to find Romeo and send him to her bedchamber.

3.3 36.38

Friar Laurence tells Romeo of the prince’s sentence- he is to be banished- this appals Romeo

Exile is the same as death as life for him exists only with Juliet in Verona.

Romeo. Ha, banishment! be merciful, say 'death;'  37.27For exile hath more terror in his look, Much more than death: do not say 'banishment.' Why has he been banished and not sentenced to death?

Friar tells Romeo he should be grateful for Prince Escalus’s mercy.

Romeo cannot be comforted because banishment means he cannot be with Juliet.

On hearing the nurse tell of Juliet’s sorrow Romeo tries to stab himself- Friar condemns his suicide attempt. Foreshadowing

Nurse. O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps; And now falls on her bed; and then starts up, And Tybalt calls; and then on Romeo cries, And then down falls again.

Friar reminds Romeo of his good fortune and plans how he can eventually be recalled from exile. Friar sends Romeo to Juliet warning him to leave early for Mantua and await news.

Friar Laurence. Go hence; good night; and here stands all your state: Either be gone before the watch be set, Or by the break of day disguised from hence: Sojourn in Mantua;

3.4 setting- Capulet’s house

Capulet tells Paris that because of Tybalt’s death he has not yet talked to Juliet about marriage.

Capulet. Things have fall'n out, sir, so unluckily,  47.38 cd2That we have had no time to move our daughter: Look you, she loved her kinsman Tybalt dearly, And so did I:

Capulet instructs his wife to tell Juliet that she is to be married to Paris.

He decides the wedding will be in three days’ time with only a few invited guests. Dramatic irony-he doesn’t know she is married already.

3.5

After their wedding night together Juliet tries to persuade Romeo that it is not yet dawn, not yet time for him to leave.

At first he says he must go but then decides to stay and face capture and death.

49.48

Juliet. Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day:  49.48 cd2It was the nightingale, and not the lark, That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear; Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate-tree: 

Believe me, love, it was the nightingale. Romeo. It was the lark, the herald of the morn, No nightingale: look, love, what envious streaks 

Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east: Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. I must be gone and live, or stay and die.

Juliet accepts that it is morning and time to part. The nurse warns the lovers that Lady Capulet is coming.

It is the lark that sings so out of tune,  she admits it is daytimeStraining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps. 

As Romeo leaves Juliet’s words are full of foreshadowing.

Juliet. O God, I have an ill-divining soul! 53.05 cd2Methinks I see thee, now thou art below, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb: Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.

Lady Capulet mistakes Juliet’s tears for Romeo as grief for Tybalt’s death.

Lady Capulet promises to have Romeo poisoned in Mantua.

I'll send to one in Mantua,  55.06 cd2 Where that same banish'd runagate doth live, Shall give him such an unaccustom'd dram,  That he shall soon keep Tybalt company: And then, I hope, thou wilt be satisfied.

Lady Capulet tells her she must marry Paris on Thursday. Juliet is defiant and refuses to do so.

Lady Capulet. Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn,  56.15The gallant, young and noble gentleman, The County Paris, at Saint Peter's Church, 2220Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride.

I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear,  56.52It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, Rather than Paris. 

Capulet comes in and mistakes Juliet’s tears for sorrow for Tybalt.

He then flies into a rage on hearing that Juliet has refused to marry Paris. He threatens and insults her.

He threatens to disown her if she will not obey him and marry Paris- Lady C refuses to defend Juliet.

Thank me no thankings, nor, proud me no prouds,  58.45 play up to 1.01.33But fettle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next, To go with Paris to Saint Peter's Church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. Out, you green-sickness carrion! out, you baggage! You tallow-face!

Capulet. Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch! I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, Or never after look me in the face:

Thursday is near; lay hand on heart, advise: An you be mine, I'll give you to my friend; And you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, 

Juliet seeks comfort from the nurse- but the nurse urges her to marry Paris- why does she do this?

Juliet feels betrayed and vows never to trust the nurse again. She decides to get help from Friar Laurence.

Exercise 1

1. What do you think of the nurse’s advice2. How has your understanding of Juliet grown in this scene? 3. Imagine that the nurse meets three of her friends. They are eager to know what happened in the Capulet household that day. Imagine

their conversation.

Exercise 2

Banishment

1. If there a modern equivalent of the punishment of banishment?2. Is banishment really worse than death as Romeo claims?3. What doesn’t Juliet simply decide to join Romeo in Mantua?

Exercise 3

Design wanted poster and character sentence

1. Romeo is banished on pain of death. Design the poster that is pasted up on the walls of Verona to announce his sentence.2. List each character who appears in this act. Write a single sentence for each which begins “What I want most is…”

ACT 4 starts on cd 3

4.1

Paris tells Friar Lawrence that Capulet, believing Juliet is grieving for Tybalt, wishes to have her married soon.

Capulet thinks an early marriage will ease her sorrow.

(Note- Paris is related to Prince Escales and therefore has a very high status in Verona. If he marries Juliet, the standing of the Capulet family will rise giving them more social prestige than the Montagues)

Paris. Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt's death, And therefore have I little talk'd of love; For Venus smiles not in a house of tears.  Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous That she doth give her sorrow so much sway, And in his wisdom hastes our marriage, 

Juliet’s replies to Paris are filled with double meaning

Paris. Do not deny to him that you love me.

Juliet. I will confess to you that I love him. (She is actually referring to Romeo)

After Paris leaves Juliet asks Friar Lawrence for help- she threatens to kill herself if she has to marry Paris

If, in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help,  2.48Do thou but call my resolution wise, And with this knife I'll help it presently. 

Therefore, out of thy long-experienced time,  Give me some present counsel, or, behold, 'Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife Shall play the umpire,

Friar Lawrence presents a plan to prevent Juliet’s marriage to Paris

Juliet declares that she will do anything to escape the wedding.

He will give her a potion to make her seem dead- she will be placed in the Capulet vault.

When she wakes up Romeo will be there and he will take her to Mantua with him.

If, rather than to marry County Paris, Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself, Then is it likely thou wilt undertake A thing like death to chide away this shame,

…. And, if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy.

Take thou this vial, being then in bed,  And this distilled liquor drink thou off; When presently through all thy veins shall run A cold and drowsy humour, for no pulse 

The plan!!!

Shall keep his native progress, but surcease: No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest; 

And in this borrow'd likeness of shrunk death  5.52Thou shalt continue two and forty hours, And then awake as from a pleasant sleep. 

Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie. In the mean time, against thou shalt awake, Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift,  And hither shall he come: and he and I Will watch thy waking, and that very night Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua.

And this shall free thee from this present shame; 

She is extremely eager to take the potion

Juliet. Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear!

4.2 starts at 6.48

Capulet is busy with the wedding preparations- Juliet enters and promises to obey her father in the future.

Henceforward I am ever ruled by you. 7.46

Capulet is delighted- he decides she will be married tomorrow!!

4.3 starts at 9.13

Juliet sends her nurse and mother away- She then plucks up the courage to drink the potion.

If it does not work she will kill herself with a dagger rather than be married- she is full of fearful thoughts but she drinks the potion.

What if this mixture do not work at all? 10.27

Shall I be married then tomorrow morning?

No, no, this shall forbid it; lie thou there.

(Laying down her dagger)

….Romeo, Romeo, Romeo ! Here’s drink! I drink to thee. 12.34

4.4

It is early morning and the wedding preparations are well under way.

Capulet fusses busily with the wedding preparations. He tells the nurse to wake Juliet

4.5

The nurse attempts to rouse Juliet- she thinks she is dead and wakes the house with her cries

Lady Capulet and express their grief- Paris, unaware, enters to take Juliet to church.

Lady! lady! lady!  15.30Alas, alas! Help, help! my lady's dead!  O, well-a-day, that ever I was born! Some aqua vitae, ho! My lord! my lady!

Capulet- Death lies on her like an untimely frost  16.50Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.

Lady Capulet. Accursed, unhappy, wretched, hateful day!  18.33

…But one, poor one, one poor and loving child, But one thing to rejoice and solace in, And cruel death hath catch'd it from my sight!

Alack! my child is dead;  20.01And with my child my joys are buried.

The Capulets, the Nurse and Paris Mourn for Juliet. The friar attempts to offer consolation saying that Juliet is now in a better place.

Why is Friar Lawrence so calm? He tells them they should stop crying because Juliet is now in heaven- he tells them prepare for the funeral.

Exercises on Act 4Exercise 1

Design your own poster for a production of Romeo and Juliet

Exercise 2

Looking at each scene in Act 4, write a paragraph on each describing the important role Juliet plays in each scene.

Act 5 24.40

5.1

Romeo, in Mantua, talks joyfully of his strange dream: he dreamt that he died but Juliet revived him with kisses.

KEY SCENE!!!!

I dreamt my lady came and found me dead—  25.13Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think!— And breathed such life with kisses in my lips,  ForeshadowingThat I revived, and was an emperor. 

But Balthasar brings him terrible news.

Her body sleeps in Capel's monument,  25.58And her immortal part with angels lives. I saw her laid low in her kindred's vault, 

There is no word from the Friar. Romeo resolves to kill himself that night in the tomb with Juliet.

Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee to-night. 26.56

The apothecary who sells poisons comes into his mind. The penniless apothecary sells poison to Romeo even though he knows the penalty for doing so is death. Romeo leaves for Verona and Juliet’s tomb determined to drink the poison there.

Come, cordial and not poison, go with me  29.54To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee.

5.2

Friar John tells how an unlucky mischance prevented him from delivering Friar Lawrence’s letter to Romeo.

Friar Lawrence determines to break into Capulet’s monument to be with Juliet when she wakes.

Poor living corse, closed in a dead man's tomb!

5.3

Paris visits Juliet’s tomb to lay flowers and to mourn.

He is anxious not to be observed, so orders his page to keep watch and whistle to warn him someone is coming.

Whistle then to me,  32.17As signal that thou hear'st something approach. Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee, go.

Romeo arrives with Balthasar but he then dismisses Balthasar.

Balthasar decides to stay and watch. As Romeo begins to force entry and Paris steps forward to challenge him.

Paris tries to arrest Romeo but is slain by him.

Stop thy unhallow'd toil, vile Montague!  35.15Can vengeance be pursued further than death? Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee: 

I beseech thee, youth,  35.37Put not another sin upon my head, By urging me to fury: O, be gone! 

Romeo despairs when he finds out whom he has killed

Romeo. In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face.  36.30Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris! 

He grants Paris’s dying wish by laying him next to Juliet’s body.

Paris. O, I am slain!  36.17[Falls]  If thou be merciful, Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet.

Romeo gazes at Juliet and admires her beauty

For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes  37.40This vault a feasting presence full of light. Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr'd. [Laying PARIS in the tomb]

O my love! my wife!  38.18Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty: Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,  Dramatic IronyAnd death's pale flag is not advanced there. 

He asks Tybalt for forgiveness

Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet?... Forgive me, cousin! 

Romeo is determined to stay with Juliet

I still will stay with thee; And never from this palace of dim night depart again: 39.39here will I remain With worms that are thy chamber-maids; O, here Will I set up my everlasting rest, And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last! Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A dateless bargain to engrossing death! 

He then drinks the poison

Here's to my love!  40.50[Drinks] O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. [Dies] When he enters the vault the Friar finds Romeo and Paris dead

Romeo! O, pale! Who else? what, Paris too?  42.38And steep'd in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour Is guilty of this lamentable chance! The lady stirs.

Juliet begins to awaken

[JULIET wakes]

KEY MOMENT!!!!!!!!

Where is my Romeo?

Friar tells her what has happened

Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead;  43.23And Paris too.

Juliet refuses to leave the tomb and because she prefers to join Romeo- she then stabs herself.

Juliet. Yea, noise? then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!  44.20[Snatching ROMEO's dagger] This is thy sheath; [Stabs herself] there rust, and let me die.

[Falls on ROMEO's body, and dies]

First Watchman. Sovereign, here lies the County Paris slain; And Romeo dead; and Juliet, dead before, Warm and new kill'd.

The prince and the Capulets enter disturbed by the commotion and shouting.

The Capulets and the Montagues look at their dead children and we learn that Romeo’s mother has died of grief.

Montague. Alas, my liege, my wife is dead to-night;  46.20Grief of my son's exile hath stopp'd her breath: 

Friar Lawrence tells his story to the Prince: the marriage, the killing of Tybalt, Romeo’s banishment, Capulet’s attempts to force Juliet to marry Paris, the Friar’s desperate plan…..and much more

Friar Laurence. I will be brief, for my short date of breath  47.25- play the restIs not so long as is a tedious tale. Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet; And she, there dead, that Romeo's faithful wife: I married them; and their stol'n marriage-day Was Tybalt's dooms-day, whose untimely death Banish'd the new-made bridegroom from the city, For whom, and not for Tybalt, Juliet pined. You, to remove that siege of grief from her, Betroth'd and would have married her perforce To County Paris: then comes she to me, And, with wild looks, bid me devise some mean To rid her from this second marriage, Or in my cell there would she kill herself. Then gave I her, so tutor'd by my art, A sleeping potion; which so took effect As I intended, for it wrought on her The form of death: meantime I writ to Romeo, That he should hither come as this dire night, To help to take her from her borrow'd grave, Being the time the potion's force should cease. But he which bore my letter, Friar John, Was stay'd by accident, and yesternight Return'd my letter back. Then all alone At the prefixed hour of her waking, Came I to take her from her kindred's vault; Meaning to keep her closely at my cell, Till I conveniently could send to Romeo: But when I came, some minute ere the time Of her awaking, here untimely lay The noble Paris and true Romeo dead. She wakes; and I entreated her come forth, 

And bear this work of heaven with patience: But then a noise did scare me from the tomb; And she, too desperate, would not go with me, But, as it seems, did violence on herself. 

Capulet and Montague make up their quarrel. They promise to set up a statue of Juliet and Romeo.

Capulet. O brother Montague, give me thy hand: This is my daughter's jointure, for no more Can I demand.

Montague. But I can give thee more: For I will raise her statue in pure gold; 3275That while Verona by that name is known, There shall no figure at such rate be set As that of true and faithful Juliet.

Capulet. As rich shall Romeo's by his lady's lie; Poor sacrifices of our enmity!

Prince Escalus. A glooming peace this morning with it brings; The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head: Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things; Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished: For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. Rhyming couplet

Exercises on Act 5

Exercise 1

You have been commissioned to write the obituaries of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet for the Verona Herald.

Consider what might be included in an obituary then compose one for either Romeo or Juliet.

Exercise 2

Write a memoir entry for Friar Lawrence. It is ten years since the death of Romeo and Juliet. What does the Friar now think looking back over this distance of time? He married them hoping it would end their feud- he also abandons Juliet in the tomb- what does he think of that? What has he been doing in those ten long years?

They speak glowingly and lovingly of one another’s children