Romeo and Juliet Act IV

Act IV Paris and Juliet are to marry on Thursday. Paris says this will help Juliet as she grieves for Tybalt. Line-by line Juliet speaks the following line: “O bid me leap, rather than marry Paris.” Juliet would rather die than marry Paris. Friar Lawrence creates a potion to put Juliet to sleep for 42 hours. She is to agree to marry Paris. Then take the potion Wednesday night.

Act IV (continued) Juliet begs for her fathers forgiveness and agrees to marry Paris. Capulet then moves her wedding date to Wednesday rather than Thursday. This creates a series of problems: Juliet has to take the potion 24 hours sooner. She fears that the potion will not work. She fears that she will suffocate in the tomb. She fears that she will wake and go insane. Friar now has less time to notify Romeo of the plans.

Act IV (cont.) The nurse finds Juliet dead and the Capulet’s mourn her death. She is to be buried in the tomb. Will Romeo receive the details of the plan in time?