Act 3 Plot
How does Romeo react to Tybalt challenging him to a duel?
He declines at first, but draws his sword to try to disarm the other men's weapons
Who is already visiting Friar Lawrence when Juliet visits him under the pretense of confessing?
Paris
Who informs Romeo of Juliet's apparent death?
Balthasar
What has happened:
ROMEO: Courage, man, the hurt cannot be much.
MERCUTIO: No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as / a church door, but ’tis enough. ’Twill serve.
Mercutio has been fatally wounded
At what point does the play begin to look like a tragedy?
Mercutio's death
How does Friar Lawrence react to Romeo's banishment? How does Romeo react to it?
FL: relieved
F: extremely upset because he can't see Juliet
Why does Friar Lawrence offer to help Juliet?
She threatens to kill herself if he can't help her get out of marrying Paris.
How does Romeo convince the apothecary to sell him poison? How does the apothecary feel about selling the poison?
He reminds the apothecary that they are super poor and need the money from selling the poison.
The apothecary feels forced to sell it.
What is Romeo observing when he says: “Thou art not conquered. Beauty’s ensign yet / Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, /And death’s pale flag is not advancèd there” (5.3.94-96)
Juliet does not look dead; her beauty has not left her and her cheeks and lips are still red.
In what way is Friar Lawrence responsible for the tragedy?
He had the best intentions, but by proposing complex plans and providing Juliet with the potion, he could be said to be the source of the lovers' confusion.
What does Lady Capulet demand of the Prince when she finds out Tybalt has been murdered?
Prince, as thou art true, / For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague.
How does Friar Lawrence intend to let Romeo know of their plan so he can run away with Juliet?
Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift, / And hither shall he come
What does Romeo give Balthasar before sending him away? What does Balthasar do after being sent away, and why does he do this?
Romeo gives him money.
Balthasar decides to hide close by because he fears the look in Romeo's eyes. He is worried about him.
What is meant by the line: Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open, / And in despite I’ll cram thee with more food.
“I force the coffin to open so that it will take me in as well” referring to Romeo killing himself
Act 3: After the Nurse explains to Romeo how upset Juliet is over Romeo killing Tybalt, Romeo draws a dagger against himself. How does Friar Lawrence react and how does this apply to a greater theme in the play?
Friar Lawrence accuses him of being too 'womanly' for his reaction: "Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art. / Thy tears are womanish ..."
Applies to greater theme of masculinity and insecurity
Who draws their sword first when Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel?
Mercutio
How does Juliet regain her father's favour?
She agrees to marry Paris
How does Juliet first attempt to kill herself after finding Romeo dead?
She tries to get poison from his lips by kissing him.
What is ironic about Lord Capulet's decision:
Monday, ha ha! Well, Wednesday is too soon. /O’ Thursday let it be.—O’ Thursday, tell her, / She shall be married to this noble earl.
He pushes the date of the wedding back to not be too hasty, while Romeo and Juliet married in great haste
Act 3: The Nurse exclaims "He's dead!"; How does Juliet react?
She thinks the Nurse is referring to Romeo, but then she hears that Romeo is actually Tybalt's murderer and Romeo has been banished. She is sad about Tybalt's death, but 10,000x more upset about Romeo's banishment:
That “banishèd,” that one word “banishèd,”/ Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts.
In what way is Juliet paralleled with Romeo by the end of this act?
She has been abandoned: Her father is kicking her out unless she marries Paris, her mother refuses to help her delay the wedding, and the Nurse encourages her to marry Paris. Romeo has been banished. She has no one left to support her.
How does Capulet personify Death in Act 4?
O son, the night before thy wedding day
Hath Death lain with thy wife. There she lies,
Flower as she was, deflowerèd by him.
Death is my son-in-law; Death is my heir.
Why does the gesture of raising gold statues for the lovers seem underwhelming to the audience?
Capulet and Montague show that they value wealth as much as their children. Romeo and Juliet valued love above all else. It feels 'too little too late' to make up for the tragedy.
What is Juliet saying about her feelings towards Romeo:
Villain and he be many miles asunder.—/God pardon him. I do with all my heart, / And yet no man like he doth grieve my heart.
She forgives him for killing Tybalt. Also, Romeo is the source of her grief, but he is not like the villain her mother has described.
Is Romeo really 'fortune's fool'? Provide 3 reasons for or against his belief in fate.
varies