1. Act III
The Downfall

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. Act IV

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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?

14. 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

15. 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

16. Act V...This is It!

17. Scene I & II “Then I defy you, stars” Apothecary: A seller of drugs
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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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?