This is where Act III scene v begins. They wake up in bed together and Romeo has to leave for Mantua. Romeo leaves the Capulet’s house just as her parents come in. Her father says that Juliet must marry Paris, but Juliet protests and says that she does not want to marry him. Her father gets angry and says that her family will disown her if she does not marry and her mother agrees. Juliet is confused so she goes to Friar Lawrence for advice. He gives her a potion that she must drink the night before her wedding, that will make her appear to be dead. After she is laid to rest, the Friar and Romeo will secretly retrieve her, and she will be free to live with Romeo.
The night before her wedding she drinks the potion and when her mother comes to wake her in the morning, she appears dead. The friar sent Romeo a letter telling him of their plan, but he failed to receive it. When he hears the news that Juliet is dead, he decides he would rather die than live without her. He buys a potion that will kill him then goes to visit Juliet’s tomb. He meets Paris there, they fight, and Romeo kills him. Romeo then says his last goodbyes to Juliet before drinking the potion and killing himself. Juliet awakes and sees Romeo’s dead body beside her. Juliet then picks up Romeo’s dagger and kills herself.
Juliet is besotted with Romeo. There is a romantic atmosphere between them, and Shakespeare shows this by Romeo and Juliet’s speech to one another. They speak in rhyming couplets, showing how in love they are with each other. Romeo says ”I must be gone and live, or stay and die.“ And Juliet replies ”Yon light is not daylight, I know it, I.“ This suggests that they have a lot in common and are compatible. It is almost like finishing off each others sentences, which also shows that they are alike.
Juliet tries to persuade Romeo to stay with her and not leave. ”It is not yet near day. It was the nightingale, and not the lark …Believe me love, it was the nightingale.“ She is telling Romeo that it is still night as the nightingale was singing and not the lark. She is trying to persuade Romeo to stay as she loves him and does not want him to leave. Romeo then says he will accept her judgement and risk death. This shows that he has trust in her. Romeo knows that he will die if he gets caught but stays. This shows how deep his love is for Juliet, that he is risking his life just for Juliet. Juliet is determined to be with Romeo. They both know that it is going to be a struggle but are so in love they are strong-minded and do their best to make their relationship work. In Juliet’s time, marriage customs were different than in this day and age. Girls’ parents would usually have to choose a husband for their daughter. Younger girls would not necessarily marry men their age, as their family would choose an older, wealthier man. Young girls were seen as the property of their family and Juliet knew that she wouldn’t be able to tell her parents of her love because Romeo is a Montague and the Capulets would not approve of him. This would be quite a hard decision to make as religion was more important and believed in than the present day. Juliet knew that she was breaking one of the Ten Commandments, to obey her mother and father, and that she would go to hell when she died. Nonetheless, Juliet was willing to do so for Romeo.
Juliet’s relationship with her mother and father changes in Act III scene v from how it was at the beginning of the play. Previously, Juliet was very obedient and respectful to her mother. She addressed her as ‘madam’ and was very polite towards her. However, in Act III scene v Juliet changes. She shows strength and confidence and she is not afraid to voice her opinions. She is strong-minded and tells her mother and father that she will not marry Paris. She is also manipulative and deceitful towards her mother. When her mother is saying how much she dislikes Romeo, Juliet appears to agree, but uses words that can also mean that she loves Romeo. ” Indeed I shall never be satisfied with, till I behold him-dead-is my poor heart so for a kinsman vexed. “ Lady Capulet thinks Juliet means that she will never be satisfied with Romeo until he is dead, as she is grieving Tybalt. However, Juliet means that she will never be satisfied until she has Romeo and is upset that Romeo has to move away. Juliet is breaking one of the Ten Commandments by deceiving her mother and prioritising Romeo over her family.
Juliet has a different attitude towards her father. She is polite to him but also manipulative. ”Good father, I beseech you on my knees/ Hear me with patience, but to speak a word.“ This suggests that Juliet is on her knees, as if she is begging. This shows that she respects her father. She calls him ”Good father“ and tries to flatter and persuade him. When Juliet’s father is talking to her he is very rude and disrespectful towards her. ”I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. / Out you green-sickness carrion, out you baggage, /You tallow-face! “ This contains plosive sounds adding to the dramatic impact of the scene. Capulet is very angry and this suggests that it is quite an important issue, and that he was furious with Juliet. Juliet’s relationship with her father appears to be very unpredictable and volatile.
Consequently, I think that Act III scene v is very dramatic and powerful. I think that as a reader, it is excellent as the speed of the scene makes the play much more exciting and interesting. I also imagine that it would have the same effects on a Shakespearean audience. They would have known that Act III was the climax of the play and therefore would contain the events that lead towards Romeo and Juliet’s deaths.
