Act III
soliloquy - a lengthy speech in which a character—usually alone on stage—expresses his or her thoughts to the audience.
aside - a brief remark by a character revealing thoughts or feelings to the audience, unheard by other characters.
monologue - a lengthy speech addressed to other characters on stage, not to the audience
Scene Summaries
Scene 1
Fatefully, during the hottest part of the day, Benvolio and Mercutio run into Tybalt, who previously (in Act II) challenged Romeo to a duel. When Romeo shows up and acts pleasantly toward Tybalt—who is now his cousin—Mercutio cannot stand it, and fights with Tybalt. Romeo tries to break up the fight, which leads to Mercutio receiving a deadly blow from Tybalt. Mercutio makes jokes despite his injury, but declares “A plague a both houses” (III.i.86). Mercutio dies off stage, but Benvolio delivers the news to Romeo shortly before Tybalt returns. Romeo declares that “Either thou or I, or both, must go with him,” meaning that either Tybalt or Romeo or both must pay for Mercutio’s death with his own life (III.i.123). Romeo kills Tybalt and flees. Benvolio’s monologue explains the events to those who show at the scene, including the Montagues, the Capulets and the Prince. Rather than sentencing Romeo to death for the fight, the Prince banishes him because he fought Tybalt over Mercutio’s death and Mercutio was related to the Prince. The end of the scene has examples of iambic pentameter (blank verse) and rhyme to call attention to these important details that shape the rest of the play.
Scene 2
From her soliloquy at the beginning of the act, we learn that Juliet is anxiously awaiting her wedding night with Romeo. The nurse returns with the cords for Romeo to climb into Juliet’s room and the bad news of the fight. At first the nurse does not reveal who is dead and Juliet thinks it could be Romeo. When Juliet learns that Romeo killed Tybalt, she is upset because Tybalt is family, but she comes to realize that Romeo is now her family and her loyalty must lie with him. She is very upset over his banishment, stating, “that one word ‘banishéd,’ / Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts” (III.ii.113-114). Juliet believes she won’t have her wedding night, but the nurse says she will go find Romeo and bring him to comfort Juliet.
Scene 3
Romeo is hiding at Friar Lawrence’s cell, and when the Friar tells him that he is sentenced to banishment rather than death, Romeo does not react well. He believes that banishment is a fate worse than death because it will separate him from his dear Juliet. He talks about ending his own life, and much of the Friar’s advice falls on deaf ears. Upon the nurse’s arrival, Romeo inquires about how Juliet is taking the news an wants to know if she still loves him. He offers to stab himself, and Friar Lawrence delivers a lengthy monologue scolding Romeo for acting so silly and outlining a plan. He points out that had Romeo not killed Tybalt, Tybalt would have killed him. Furthermore, Romeo will live in Mantua until he can come back to Verona, announce his marriage and be pardoned by the Prince. Friar Lawrence tells Romeo to go to Juliet as planned and leave for Mantua afterward. He also states that he will send word to Romeo in Mantua via one or Romeo’s servants.
Scene 4
Lord Capulet arranges for Juliet to marry Paris on Thursday—only a few days away. He thinks that it will cheer her up in the face of her cousin Tybalt’s death. They plan for a very small ceremony as too much celebration would be uncouth.
Scene 5
Romeo and Juliet, having spent the night together, are saying goodbye. Neither wants Romeo to leave for his banishment, but acknowledge that he must. Their discussion includes foreshadowing. As Romeo descends from her balcony, and both are very sad about his departure, Juliet states:
O God, I have an ill-divining soul!
Methinks 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. (III.v.54-57)
Romeo replies “And trust me, love, in my eye so do you. / Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu!” (III.v.58-59).
The scene continues after Romeo’s departure with Juliet’s parents delivering the news of her upcoming marriage to County Paris. First Lady Capulet comes in to tell Juliet about it, and Juliet refuses. When she refuses to her father, he lashes out very angrily calling her many names. He tells her he will disown her if she does not marry Paris on Thursday. Though Juliet begs her mother to delay the marriage, she refuses to help her. Juliet asks the nurse for comfort, and the nurse says that Juliet should marry Paris because the odds of her and Romeo working out are slim. When she is alone, Juliet concludes that she will discuss what to do with the friar and states, “If all else fail, myself have power to die” (III.v.244).
Romeo in Act III
Shows great self-control in ignoring Tybalt’s insults
Is heroic when he won’t preserve his own honor, but yet he endangers his life to avenge Mercutio’s death
Reacts wildly and won’t listen to long range plans - sees only the immediate future and greatly exaggerates his fate
Displays his tragic flaw - he thinks with his heart and not with his head—love and passion completely overtake him
Juliet in Act III
Grows up and changes from a child to a woman when she realizes her allegiance is now to Romeo and she no longer confides in anyone close to her
Is clever and deceiving when she convinces her mother that she does indeed hate Romeo when nothing could be further from the truth
Changes from a subservient, obedient daughter into a self-sustaining individual who is now totally self- reliant
aside - a brief remark by a character revealing thoughts or feelings to the audience, unheard by other characters.
monologue - a lengthy speech addressed to other characters on stage, not to the audience
Scene Summaries
Scene 1
Fatefully, during the hottest part of the day, Benvolio and Mercutio run into Tybalt, who previously (in Act II) challenged Romeo to a duel. When Romeo shows up and acts pleasantly toward Tybalt—who is now his cousin—Mercutio cannot stand it, and fights with Tybalt. Romeo tries to break up the fight, which leads to Mercutio receiving a deadly blow from Tybalt. Mercutio makes jokes despite his injury, but declares “A plague a both houses” (III.i.86). Mercutio dies off stage, but Benvolio delivers the news to Romeo shortly before Tybalt returns. Romeo declares that “Either thou or I, or both, must go with him,” meaning that either Tybalt or Romeo or both must pay for Mercutio’s death with his own life (III.i.123). Romeo kills Tybalt and flees. Benvolio’s monologue explains the events to those who show at the scene, including the Montagues, the Capulets and the Prince. Rather than sentencing Romeo to death for the fight, the Prince banishes him because he fought Tybalt over Mercutio’s death and Mercutio was related to the Prince. The end of the scene has examples of iambic pentameter (blank verse) and rhyme to call attention to these important details that shape the rest of the play.
Scene 2
From her soliloquy at the beginning of the act, we learn that Juliet is anxiously awaiting her wedding night with Romeo. The nurse returns with the cords for Romeo to climb into Juliet’s room and the bad news of the fight. At first the nurse does not reveal who is dead and Juliet thinks it could be Romeo. When Juliet learns that Romeo killed Tybalt, she is upset because Tybalt is family, but she comes to realize that Romeo is now her family and her loyalty must lie with him. She is very upset over his banishment, stating, “that one word ‘banishéd,’ / Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts” (III.ii.113-114). Juliet believes she won’t have her wedding night, but the nurse says she will go find Romeo and bring him to comfort Juliet.
Scene 3
Romeo is hiding at Friar Lawrence’s cell, and when the Friar tells him that he is sentenced to banishment rather than death, Romeo does not react well. He believes that banishment is a fate worse than death because it will separate him from his dear Juliet. He talks about ending his own life, and much of the Friar’s advice falls on deaf ears. Upon the nurse’s arrival, Romeo inquires about how Juliet is taking the news an wants to know if she still loves him. He offers to stab himself, and Friar Lawrence delivers a lengthy monologue scolding Romeo for acting so silly and outlining a plan. He points out that had Romeo not killed Tybalt, Tybalt would have killed him. Furthermore, Romeo will live in Mantua until he can come back to Verona, announce his marriage and be pardoned by the Prince. Friar Lawrence tells Romeo to go to Juliet as planned and leave for Mantua afterward. He also states that he will send word to Romeo in Mantua via one or Romeo’s servants.
Scene 4
Lord Capulet arranges for Juliet to marry Paris on Thursday—only a few days away. He thinks that it will cheer her up in the face of her cousin Tybalt’s death. They plan for a very small ceremony as too much celebration would be uncouth.
Scene 5
Romeo and Juliet, having spent the night together, are saying goodbye. Neither wants Romeo to leave for his banishment, but acknowledge that he must. Their discussion includes foreshadowing. As Romeo descends from her balcony, and both are very sad about his departure, Juliet states:
O God, I have an ill-divining soul!
Methinks 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. (III.v.54-57)
Romeo replies “And trust me, love, in my eye so do you. / Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu!” (III.v.58-59).
The scene continues after Romeo’s departure with Juliet’s parents delivering the news of her upcoming marriage to County Paris. First Lady Capulet comes in to tell Juliet about it, and Juliet refuses. When she refuses to her father, he lashes out very angrily calling her many names. He tells her he will disown her if she does not marry Paris on Thursday. Though Juliet begs her mother to delay the marriage, she refuses to help her. Juliet asks the nurse for comfort, and the nurse says that Juliet should marry Paris because the odds of her and Romeo working out are slim. When she is alone, Juliet concludes that she will discuss what to do with the friar and states, “If all else fail, myself have power to die” (III.v.244).
Romeo in Act III
Shows great self-control in ignoring Tybalt’s insults
Is heroic when he won’t preserve his own honor, but yet he endangers his life to avenge Mercutio’s death
Reacts wildly and won’t listen to long range plans - sees only the immediate future and greatly exaggerates his fate
Displays his tragic flaw - he thinks with his heart and not with his head—love and passion completely overtake him
Juliet in Act III
Grows up and changes from a child to a woman when she realizes her allegiance is now to Romeo and she no longer confides in anyone close to her
Is clever and deceiving when she convinces her mother that she does indeed hate Romeo when nothing could be further from the truth
Changes from a subservient, obedient daughter into a self-sustaining individual who is now totally self- reliant
