Act III The Downfall
Scene I A plague o'both your houses [pg. 123] O, I am fortune's fool! [pg. 125] This scene is a reminder to the audience that Romeo and Juliet's lives/love affair is occurring in a male dominated society Verona's society is consumed by masculine honor, pride, and honor This scene also illustrates R&J's fragile state
Scene II Romeo and Juliet's love is tested as the conflict between the 2 families increases Audience sees Juliet maturing, as she acts as a brave and loyal woman/wife She states that her loyalty must remain with her husband's, not with Tybalt's Juliet even reminds the nurse of where her own loyalty should lie
Scene III The Friar remains hopefully and tries to explain to Romeo of how lucky he is Romeo's passionate nature is, yet again, illustrated He collapses onto the floor and throws a fit during his conversation with the Friar Is completely grief stricken; refuses to see his banishment as a gift from Prince Refuses to listen, threatens to kill himself
Scene IV Capulet's reasoning for moving up Juliet's wedding date is unclear Maybe Capulet wants to bring some joy to Verona after Tybalt's death...or maybe Capulet has realized that his family needs all of the political power that they can get Regardless of Capulet's intentions, Juliet's powerlessness as a woman is reinforced Is another reminder that women in Verona have no political or social power
Scene V Foreshadowing on pg. 159 Juliet: O God, I have an ill-driven soul! Me thinks I see thee, now thou art so low, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Either my eyesight fails or thou lookest pale. Romeo: And trust me, love, in my eye so do you. Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu. The next time Juliet sees Romeo is right after he has committed suicide.
Scene V... Foreshadowing: pg. 173 Juliet: I'll to the Friar to know his remedy. If all else fail, myself have power to die This scene demonstrates Juliet's full maturity She has transformed from girl to young woman The Nurse is a symbol of Juliet's childhood Juliet no longer needs the nurse. Juliet will no longer seek her advice She is obedient and dependent upon her husband, Romeo
Scene V... Even though Juliet disobeys her parents, she cannot leave Verona and go live with Romeo in Mantua Women had no way of leaving society Juliet recognizes her powerlessness, but she does not revert back to acting like a little girl She is determined to use her power any way that she can Thus suicide, for Juliet, represents her desire to control and direct her own life This is the assertion of authority over the self
Act IV
Scene I Friar Lawrence's character is the most scheming within the play He encourages Romeo to go to Mantua Stages Juliet's death Secretly marries R&J He is never presented as a negative character Is always illustrated as a character who is wise and resourceful Never takes the blame for the characters' tragic death
Scene II Paris's intentions with Juliet seem to be honorable and pure He is somewhat of a neutral character. He favors the Capulet family but only because of his love for Juliet He loves Juliet but does not illustrate any discontentment with the Montagues Like everyone else in the play though he does not know about R&J's relationship Paris represents a real and frightening danger for Juliet
Scene III Once again, Juliet demonstrates her strength as she decides to follow through on her decision to drink the poison She takes full responsibility for herself She determines its worth to her The drinking of the potion hints at future events
Scene IV Illustrates the emotional roller coaster throughout the play Tragedy vs. comedy Illustrates the complexity of human emotion Life is full of both happy and sad moments Is Romeo and Juliet really a tragedy?
Scene V Paris's grief for Juliet also seems legitimate The Capulet's love for Juliet is illustrated This allows for character development and growth Lets the audience see Lord and Lady Capulet as more complex characters They truly love Juliet and want whats best for her Lord Capulet has place a tremendous amount of hope into his only child
Scene V... Peter and the musicians [pg. 205] This portion of the play is often cut from performances The scene seems ill placed This portion of the scene illustrates another perspective onto Juliet's fake death Scene is supposed to be comedic As the scene progresses, it becomes clear that the servants do not really care about Juliet's death. They are more concerned that they are now out of a job The great tragedy in the play is not a tragedy to everyone
Act V...This is It!
Scene I & II Then I defy you, stars Another reference to the star-crossed lovers Romeo's defiance against his own fate Apothecary: A seller of drugs The selling of poison in Mantua will lead to serious consequences Friar John's character: Illustrates another chance happening event
Scene I & II... Illustrates the characters inability to escape their doomed fate Outbreak of the plague Balthasar tells Romeo of Juliet's fake death Romeo also begins to recognize his doomed fate Unfortunately, he only believes that he will be separated from Juliet As Romeo tries to defy his destiny, he brings about his own fate
Something to Think About... Throughout the play, Shakespeare consistently links the intensity of young love with suicidal impulses. Romeo's threat of suicide in scene III, for instance, clearly illustrates and foreshadows R&J's suicide in Act V. Time and time again, Shakespeare illustrates that suicide is the only response to the overwhelming experience that is brought upon by [young] love.
Scene III Prince's last words... A story of more woe/ Than this of Juliet and Romeo Shakespeare pairs young love with suicide throughout the play...why? Is it for dramatic effect Or is it an essential element of romantic love? No social or political powers have any effect on the lovers' decisions
Scene III... The death of Romeo and Juliet The yoke of inauspicious stars. From this world-wearied flesh Kissing Juliet, Romeo drinks the poison and dies Juliet's last words: O happy dagger, This is thy sheath. She dies after stabbing herself with Romeo's dagger
Scene III Their death transforms the world that they were just living in Their death enables them to escape Love conquers all/hope is not lost These violent delights have violent ends/and in their triumph die Do we as an audience feel saddened by their death?