In this scene, we have a build up of tension. We have different expectations as each character enters. When the nurse enters, and announces that Juliet's mother is on her way to Juliet's chamber, the audience starts to realise the importance of Romeo's presence. He had been banished. Romeo couldn’t be seen, otherwise he would surely be put to death, as the consequence for Tybalt's murder.
When Juliet says, “Then, window, let day in and let life out” she grows up and realises that life and their love can't continue. Their love is doomed.
Lady Capulet enters, just as Romeo has descended from the chamber. The tension relaxes. Lady Capulet can see Juliet is upset, and assumes this is due to her grief for Tybalt. Juliet tells her mother “Let me weep for such a feeling loss”. This is dramatic irony, as Juliet is referring to Romeo, who she has just “lost” and not Tybalt as her mother thinks. The audience knows she's talking about Romeo. Juliet continues to make references to Romeo, and she says “ Ay, Madam, from the reach of these hands...”. Her mother would think Juliet wants to take revenge on Romeo for the death of her cousin, but instead Juliet is really saying that she wants to get her hands on Romeo again, as a reference to the night before.
Lady Capulet continues to be oblivious to all of the comments made by Juliet, and she is satisfied as she thinks Juliet wants Romeo dead. Lady Capulet tells Juliet that her father has a plan “to put thee from thy heaviness”. She means her father’s plan (for Juliet to be married) will stop her sadness. Again, this is a form of dramatic irony, as a marriage that her father arranged would be the worst thing for Juliet. Juliet is already married, but she cant tell her parents. Romeo is meant to have been banished. Also, she cant commit bigamy and marry again, but, she also cant disobey her father, and refuse.
Capulet enters, and asks if Juliet knows about the proposal. He sees her in tears. Lady Capulet explains that Juliet isn’t grateful, and doesn’t want to get married. Suddenly, the “careful father” turns aggressive and violent. He is meant to have and show caring for his daughter instead, he turns out to be money-obsessed and angry and starts to insult Juliet. Paris is a rich man, and Capulet wants to marry Juliet to him because of that.
Capulet calls Juliet immature, and says if she doesn’t marry Paris, he would drag her to the church on a hurdle. Hurdles were used in executions. The condemned people were carried out on hurdles (on a wooden frame). This is a reference to saying that Juliet is a condemned woman.
Juliet is in despair. We (the audience) would expect Lady Capulet to have some sympathy for her daughter, as she has probably been through the same argument with her father, when she was told she was to be married. Lady Capulet couldn’t disagree and disobey her husband.
Capulet goes on to insult Juliet furthermore, by calling her a “hilding”. He says that if Juliet doesn’t go through with the wedding, he will disown her. Juliet would truly be in a predicament now.
Capulet, and Lady Capulet exit, leaving the nurse to ‘comfort’ Juliet. Instead of sympathising with her though, the nurse tells Juliet to marry Paris. She says that Romeo has gone, and Juliet should take what is on offer, and take advantage of a good proposal, as Paris is a good man. She even calls Romeo a dishclout! This isn’t what Juliet would want to be hearing. The nurse was one of the few people who knew about her marriage to Romeo, and seemed to approve. The nurse supported the wedding, by arranging all of the details with the friar.
Juliet would be feeling very alone, as the nurse, who practically raised her from when she was a baby, is telling her to forget Romeo. Her parents think he is a villain and are arranging to have him poisoned. But when the nurse insults Romeo that really would be the final straw. Juliet can’t believe what she is hearing.
Juliet tells the nurse to tell Capulet that she will be going to confess. This is what would’ve happened before an Elizabethan wedding. She is really going to see the friar to ask for help with her situation with Romeo.
The scene ends with Juliet saying, “I’ll to the friar to know his remedy; If all else fail, myself have power to die”. The reference to suicide indicates how the ending will conclude.
This scene raises questions, such as ‘is death necessary to bring the situation to a conclusion?’
Act 3 scene 5 is a vital scene in the play as we learn a lot from each character, and it shows the violent passion underlining love in the play.
