R&J Annotated Notes Act Four

Scene One

Line 30 Paris notices how J feels, is concerned about her  clue that Paris truly cares about her, would have been a good match for her Paris notices how J feels, is concerned about her  clue that Paris truly cares about her, would have been a good match for her

Lines J asks FL for help (no one else to turn to), claims that she is ready & willing to commit suicide if he can ’ t help her J asks FL for help (no one else to turn to), claims that she is ready & willing to commit suicide if he can ’ t help her

Monologue Lines FL ’ s Plan: FL ’ s Plan: agree to marry Paris agree to marry Paris go to bed alone on Wed night go to bed alone on Wed night drink potion that FL will make for her drink potion that FL will make for her potion will cause J to fall into sleep that resembles death (no breath, no pulse, no warmth)  everyone will think J = dead potion will cause J to fall into sleep that resembles death (no breath, no pulse, no warmth)  everyone will think J = dead J will stay asleep for 42 hours J will stay asleep for 42 hours FL will send R letters telling him about J FL will send R letters telling him about J R will meet J in tomb when she wakes up R will meet J in tomb when she wakes up R & J will run away to Mantua R & J will run away to Mantua

Lines FL ’ s entire plan = UNREALISTIC FL ’ s entire plan = UNREALISTIC Too much can go wrong Too much can go wrong Too much depends on timing Too much depends on timing Better idea: why doesn ’ t FL use church to protect J & reveal marriage? Better idea: why doesn ’ t FL use church to protect J & reveal marriage? Sometimes, thinking TOO MUCH can lead to problems Sometimes, thinking TOO MUCH can lead to problems

Act Four Scene Two

Lines Fate: Lord Cap changes wedding date from Thurs to Wed  FL has one fewer day to reach R w/ letter Fate: Lord Cap changes wedding date from Thurs to Wed  FL has one fewer day to reach R w/ letter

Act Four Scene Three

Soliloquy Lines Says goodbye to LCap & N (not going to see them again?) Says goodbye to LCap & N (not going to see them again?) J’s Fears: J’s Fears: potion will not work  J has dagger ready to commit suicide potion will not work  J has dagger ready to commit suicide potion is actually poison  FL wants to kill her to protect himself, secrets potion is actually poison  FL wants to kill her to protect himself, secrets J will wake up before R arrives, run out of air, suffocate & die J will wake up before R arrives, run out of air, suffocate & die J will wake up before R gets to tomb & be surrounded by ghosts of dead Caps (esp T) J will wake up before R gets to tomb & be surrounded by ghosts of dead Caps (esp T) J imagines she sees T ’ s ghost attacking R drinks potion (shows J ’ s strength & courage) J imagines she sees T ’ s ghost attacking R drinks potion (shows J ’ s strength & courage)

Act Four Scene Five

Lines Personification: Lord Cap claims that Death = his son-in-law, Death has taken J as wife before Paris could Personification: Lord Cap claims that Death = his son-in-law, Death has taken J as wife before Paris could

Lines FL claims that J is in a better place now & is happier  they shouldn ’ t be sad FL claims that J is in a better place now & is happier  they shouldn ’ t be sad

Lines Foreshadowing: FL says women aren ’ t meant to have long marriages  best marriages are when woman dies young Foreshadowing: FL says women aren ’ t meant to have long marriages  best marriages are when woman dies young

Lines Fate: FL claims that “ something above ” is punishing families for feud (punishment = “ death ” of J)  stop making “ higher power ” upset Fate: FL claims that “ something above ” is punishing families for feud (punishment = “ death ” of J)  stop making “ higher power ” upset