Romeo and Juliet - Act Three

Act Two ends on a high note. Juliet and Romeo are finally married. (Less then twenty-four after they have met.) Act Three cuts that high note short. Scene One opens with Mercutio and Benvolio hanging out in the city. The air is hot and there are many Capulets around. Benvolio knows this and advises Mercutio that they should leave, because of the Capulets and the fact that people anger more easily in the heat. Mercutio sees no need to leave and begins to tease Benvolio. Mercutio teases Benvolio by switch their characteristics. The two seem to be enjoying themselves until Tybalt arrives.

            Tybalt arrives demanding to know where Romeo is. Mercutio begins to play word games with Tybalt, shorting Tybalt’s already short temper. Benvolio tries to keep peace between the two. Romeo then arrives on the scene. Tybalt tries to anger Romeo, so he will fight him. Romeo does not respond to the challenge, instead he tells Tybalt that he loves him, like he is family. (Which he is since Romeo has now married Juliet but Tybalt does not know that.) Mercutio answers the challenge for Romeo and draws his sword. Romeo tries to break the two up but it is useless. For while Romeo is standing in between the two, Tybalt reaches around Romeo and stabs Mercutio.

            Tybalt then flees from the scene. Mercutio realizes he has just been fatally wounded and begins to cruse the two households. Benvolio asked his friend if he is hurt. Mercutio replies that it is just a scratch but calls for his page to bring him a surgeon. Mercutio lies on the ground in pain but continues to joke with his friends and make fun of Tybalt. Mercutio then switches to cursing the households. Benvolio help Mercutio into a house and out of the street. Romeo takes on a monologue. He talks about how his friend is dying because of him and his love for Juliet has seemed to soften him, so he did not fight Tybalt himself. Benvolio returns with news that Mercutio is dead.  Then Tybalt returns on the scene. Romeo because of his grief challenges Tybalt to a fight. Romeo kills Tybalt after awhile into the fight. Benvolio knows that if Romeo gets caught he could be killed, so he urges his friend to run.

            A Citizen tells Benvolio that he must talk with Paris.  The Prince, his attendants, Montague, Lady Montague, Capulet, Lady Capulet and others arrive on the scene. Benvolio tells the Prince what happened, while Lady Capulet cries for Tybalt. Lady Capulet tries to convince Prince to kill Romeo, while Montague tells Prince that Tybalt would have been killed anyway and Romeo is not to blame. Prince decrees that Romeo will not be killed but banished. So the scene ends.

            Scene Two has Juliet in a monologue about how she can not wait for Romeo to join her that night. She wishes that the night comes quickly. She talks about how much she loves Romeo. She says that when he dies he should be made stars, and the night sky will be more beautiful then ever before. She switches back again to how impatient she is for night to come. The arrive of Nurse stops her monologue. Juliet asks Nurse why she is so upset. All Nurse says is he is dead and Romeo’s name. Juliet hears this and thinks that Romeo is dead and she starts wailing. Finally Nurse tells her that Romeo is not dead but Tybalt, and that Romeo killed Tybalt. Nurse tells Juliet that Romeo is now banished. Juliet starts moaning about how her cousin is dead and her husband is banished because he killed her cousin. Nurse says that Romeo is a bad man and his charm was just an act. Juliet is angry when she hears this and claims that she can’t speak ill of her husband (even though she just did a few lines before), and says that she rather everyone else dead then have Romeo dead or even worse banished. She hides alone in her bedroom, while Nurse goes to talk with Romeo at Friar Lawrence’s cell. Juliet gives Nurse her ring as a token for Romeo of her love and Scene Two ends.

            In the beginning of Scene Three Romeo has no idea he has been banished, he does not know what his punishment is. Friar Lawrence finds out for him and lets him know that his punishment is banishment. Romeo tells Friar Lawrence that he rather his punishment have been death. He tells Friar Lawrence that while in banishment there is no Juliet. Friar Lawrence tells Romeo that he should be thankful that the Prince spared him from death but Romeo refuses to look on the bright side. The two go back and forth until Nurse arrives. By this time Romeo is on the ground sobbing. Nurse tells the males that Juliet is in her room sobbing. This makes Romeo feel even worse about this and threatens to kill himself. Friar Lawrence tells Romeo that he should not kill himself but reminds him to be thankful. He tells Romeo that he shall leave town after he spends the night with Juliet. Later they will find away for the two to be reunited. Nurse gives Romeo Juliet’s ring as a message from Juliet that she loves him. That cheers Romeo up. Scene Three comes to an end.

            Scene Four opens with Capulet, Lady Capulet and Paris. Capulet is asking Paris if he would still like to marry Juliet. Paris says yes but reminds Capulet that a death does not call for a marriage. Capulet says that a marriage might just cheer up sobbing Juliet. (Remember he does not know that she is married to Romeo, he thinks that she is crying because Tybalt is dead.) Capulet tells Paris that he should marry Juliet in two days. Paris agrees. Scene Four ends with Capulet going off to bed.

            Scene Five starts with Romeo and Juliet saying their goodbyes. The two do not want to separate but are force to because of dawn and Nurse calling for Juliet. (Remember if Romeo is found in the city after dawn he is to be put to death.) Romeo leaves and shortly after, Lady Capulet arrives. Juliet is crying because Romeo has just left but Lady Capulet thinks that she is crying over Tybalt still. She tells her daughter that she has been crying for too long, instead she should be finding was to average his death.  Juliet responds using word play to all her mother’s comments so that her mother thinks she wants to kill Romeo but really she wants to spend more time with him. Lady Capulet breaks the news that Juliet is to be married to Paris and Juliet throws a fit. Capulet enters and hears of how Juliet feels about this marriage and is outraged. He feels that he has put to much time in this proposal for Juliet to react this way. He tells Juliet that he should leave his house or be used for his friends’ delight if she does not accept this marriage. After he makes this announcement he leaves. Juliet turns to her mother to beg for her help but her mother does not wish to help her. After her mother leaves Juliet beg Nurse for advice. Nurse gives Juliet advice but she did not say what Juliet wanted to hear. She tells Juliet that she should just marry Paris, for he will be better to then Romeo. Juliet tells Nurse that she is going to Friar Lawrence’s cell for confession and that Nurse should let her parents know. After Nurse leaves Juliet talks to herself about how she does not like Nurse’s advice. She says that she would rather kill herself then marry Paris. So Act Three ends.