1. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
Act III
Review

2. Act III. scene i Setting: Public place in Verona
Monday Afternoon
Conflict: Tensions are high between Montagues and Capulets after last night’s party
Revenge (for insults + murder)
Characters:
Benvolio
pleads with Mercutio to go home
knows something bad could happen
“And if we meet we shall not scape a brawl, for now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.”
when tension rises with Tybalt, he asks them to take it elsewhere
tries to tell the Prince the truth
Mercutio
believes Benvolio is just as likely to fight as any other
fights with Tybalt
dies… after issuing “a plague a’ both your houses!”

3. Characters Cont. Tybalt Romeo comes looking for Romeo
provokes Mercutio by insinuating he “consorts” with Romeo
challenges Romeo for his insult at the party (really prompted by his scolding from Lord Capulet)
kills Mercutio
returns only to die from Romeo’s sword
Romeo
tries to get out of the challenge
speaks of his love for the Capulets
steps between Mercutio + Tybalt
challenges Tybalt to avenge Mercutio’s death

4. Blame Mercutio blames Romeo: Romeo blames Juliet: Romeo blames fate:
“Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm” (88-89)
Romeo blames Juliet:
“O sweet Juliet, / Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, / And in my temper soft’ned valor’s steel” (99-101)
Romeo blames fate:
“O, I am fortune’s fool!” (122)

5. Aftermath…
Lady Capulet wants Montague blood (Romeo) for Tybalt’s death
She can’t believe Benvolio’s story because he is a Montague
Montague believes Tybalt’s death in reaction to Mercutio makes them even (eye for an eye)
Prince sentences Romeo to exile- if he does not leave, he will be killed

6. Act III. scene ii Setting: Capulet’s house Characters:
Juliet
Spends the early afternoon dreaming of love and Romeo. Her heart breaks at news of the death (first Romeo, then Tybalt). She cannot speak against her love, her husband.
Nurse
Returns from getting cords for the rope ladder and says, “he’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead!” (meaning Tybalt, but Juliet believes she means Romeo)
*Juliet wants to spend her wedding night with Romeo before he is banished.
She believes herself to be a widow already…

7. Act III. scene iii Setting: Friar Lawrence’s cell
Monday night
Conflict: Romeo awaits news of his punishment and his bride
Characters:
Romeo
believes death would be better than banishment
asks the Friar for ways to end his life
Friar Lawrence
brings Romeo news of his banishment
counsels Romeo to be patient ~ sees the Prince’s decision as “merciful”
can’t believe Romeo’s childish, foolish over-reaction
“Thy tears are womanish, thy acts denote/ The unreasonable fury of a beast.” ( )
Nurse
comes to the friar to find Romeo
can’t believe Romeo is weeping like Juliet, calls him out
“Stand up, stand up, stand, and you be a man.” (89)
gives Romeo a ring from Juliet

8. Act III. scene iv Setting: Capulet’s House
Monday night
Conflict: Paris continues to push for Juliet’s hand
Characters:
Capulet
can’t believe Paris would come again at this hour on this day
decides marrying Paris on Thursday might life Juliet’s spirits
Paris
we see his persistence here
could greed be an issue?

9. Act III. scene v Setting: Capulet’s orchard
Late Monday/ dawn Tuesday
Conflict: After her time with Romeo, Juliet learns of her fated (second) marriage
Characters:
Juliet
doesn’t want Romeo to leave
doesn’t want day to come, but knows Romeo must leave before he is caught and killed
wants letters from Romeo daily
asks fortune (fate) to return Romeo quickly
says marrying Paris will not make her happy, she’d rather marry Romeo (taken as an insult)
feels isolated at the end
Romeo
tells Juliet he would rather die than be without her
does not doubt he will see Juliet again

10. Characters cont. Capulet Lady Capulet Nurse
can’t believe Juliet would refuse his plan
ultimatum: marry , or we’ll kick you out
speaks terribly of her; they are cursed to have her
Lady Capulet
believes Juliet continues to mourn for Tybalt
IRONY- she thinks Juliet should weep for Tybalt’s killer, Romeo
plans to send someone to Mantua to kill Romeo
tells Juliet of the plan to marry Paris
Nurse
advises Juliet to do what she is told because Romeo will not be back

11. Important Quotes
Who are the speakers? Why are these lines so significant?
“More light and light, more dark and dark out woes!”
“And trust me, love, in my eye so do you;/ Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu!”
“Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch!”
“Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend!”
“I’ll to the Friar to know his remedy”
“If all else fail, myself have power to die.”