Romeo and Juliet Act 3 Scene 1 Date: Objectives Finish Act 3 Scene 1 See two characters get killed. By the end of the class, students should have a deeper understanding of who to blame for the events of the play. Warm –up – write the quote, answer the questions “I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give Romeo slew Tybalt. Romeo must not live” Have you ever heard of ‘an eye for an eye’? You hurt someone and in return that person hurts you. Our question is this: Is that fair? Should the sentence be the same as the crime? And should victims and their families be the ones to decide the punishment?

Today’s Reading Act 3 Scene 1 1.20 – 1.27 Benvolio and Mercutio will discuss the family feud before Tybalt challenges Romeo. Romeo will try to be friendly with Tybalt as he just married Tybalt’s cousin. Mercutio, not understanding any of this, will fight Tybalt. In a dirty, underhanded way then, Tybalt shall kill Mercutio. 1.27 – 1.32 Romeo is enraged that is friend is dead and it is his fault. He will seek revenge on Tybalt and kill him. The Prince arrives to see what in hell is going on. Audiobook at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYDFQL_LfeY

Notes – Act 3 Scene 1 part 1 The entire play has been leading to this. Since the street brawl in Act 1 and the party scene in Act 2, Tybalt has wanted to fight. The secrecy of Romeo and Juliet’s marriage contributes to all the deaths in the play. Had any character in this scene known about the marriage, the fight would not have happened. The fact that Romeo does not want to fight, without giving the reason, angers Mercutio who feels he must defend Romeo. As well as this, Romeo gets in the way of the fight, allowing Tybalt to sneak a fatal blow into Mercutio.

Notes – Act 3 Scene 1 part 2 Mercutio, who is neither a Montague or a Capulet, curses both families for his death: “ A plague a’ both your houses! They have made worm’s meat of me” Romeo’s gentle nature is replaced by anger, he loses self-control and he quickly kills Tybalt. Wise and kind Benvolio persuades Romeo to run away and tries to explain what happened to the Prince. When Lady Capulet calls for Romeo’s death, the Prince banishes Romeo instead. Though this is a kindness, it will have dire consequences for him as well as Juliet.

Exercises In pairs, complete the following task. On a page, draw a line down the middle. On one side, list the reasons Romeo should be punished for his acts in the scene. On the other, list the reasons Romeo should not be punished for what he did. Pretend to be the prince or a jury then and pass judgement on him.

Exercise In trios or groups of three, discuss and perform the following. Come up with something simple you can disagree about (30 seconds worth). Have one person in the middle stand there while one person either side argues. End the argument with one person FAKE stabbing the other under the middle persons arm. Whoever ‘dies’ then shout the line “ A plague on both your houses”.

Questions – Point, “reference”, explain. What is Benvolio worried about in the opening lines of this scene? Who do you believe starts the fight? Explain why you think so? How can Romeo be blamed for any of the events in this scene? What is your opinion of Tybalt from this scene? Is the Prince’s judgement fair in your opinion?

Cooldown Question Do you think Romeo was right to kill Tybalt and if so, is Lady Capulet right to call for Romeo’s Death?