Romeo and Juliet – Full play summary.

William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet opens with the prologue which explains the entire play which basically explains that the play is set in the beautiful Italian city of Verona, an ancient feud between two families of the same social standard erupts into new violence, and the inhabitants of the city get their hands stained with the blood of their fellow citizens. Two star-crossed lovers of the enemy families fall in love and take their lives. Their unfortunate deaths put an end the feud and for the next two hours, we will watch the story of their doomed love caused by their parent’s fury, which nothing but the death of their children could stop. If you listen carefully, it will make up for what is left out of the prologue.

In the first scene of Romeo and Juliet, we are shown an example of the feud between the two families, with servants of the Montague and Capulet houses having a street brawl that ends in the family patriarchs and city officials being dragged in and having to deal with the consequences. Montague and lady Montague In this scene, we meet Prince Escalus who ends the conflict between the servants and issuing a decree that prohibits any further fighting between the two families with the risk of being exiled.

Later that day Capulet meets with the County Paris, who wishes to marry his daughter, Juliet. The two discuss Paris’s desire to marry Juliet. Capulet is overjoyed, but also states that he does not wish for his daughter to marry so young and that she is not yet 14 years old. He asks County Paris to wait two years and then they will arrange a marriage. He assures County Paris that he is his chosen suitor for his daughter and invites Paris to a masquerade feast that he is holding that night so that he may begin to earn Juliet’s love and win her heart. Capulet dispatches a servant, Peter, with a list of invitees for his traditional feast. As Capulet and County Paris walk away, Peter states that he cannot read and will suffer the difficulty of pursuing this task.

Meanwhile, Romeo Montague expresses passionate grief over his one love, Rosaline to his cousin Benvolio. Benvolio tries to convince Romeo to forget about his love and move on. There the two companions run into Peter, a servant of Capulet who happens to be carrying a list of invitees to Capulets old accustomed feast. Peter asks them to read it for him as he is illiterate and Romeo sees that Rosaline’s name is one of those on the list. Before departing, Peter, invites the two of them to the feast as long, assuming that they are not Montagues. Benvolio tells Romeo that going to the feast will be the perfect opportunity for Romeo to compare Rosaline to the other beautiful women of Verona. Romeo agrees to go with Benvolio, but only because Rosaline herself will be there.

News of Paris’s proposal to Juliet has come back to Lady Capulet. Lady Capulet is eager for Juliet to marry Paris, but Juliet does not wish to marry Paris, for she has never met him before. Lady Capulet and the Nurse try to figure out Juliet’s birthday and the Nurse explains how she raised Juliet on her own without the help of Lady Capulet. Lady Capulet tells Juliet and the Nurse that she was a mother when she was younger than Juliet. Lady Capulet tells Juliet to read Paris like a book and to get to know him better, Juliet says that she will look at Paris and will try to like him. The servant enters and tells Lady Capulet that the guests have arrived.

Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio have arrived outside Capulets house for the Masquerade ball. Romeo tells Benvolio and Mercutio that he has had a bad dream, Romeo is upset and he says that he despises his own life. Mercutio tries to explain what dreams are to Romeo, he is trying to tell Romeo that dreams are just a product of an idle brain doing nothing. Romeo has a bad feeling about Capulets party, he says that it will be the start of something bad, something that will end with his own death and that whoever is in charge of his life can steer him in whichever direction they want. Benvolio gets impatient with Romeo and tells them that they are going to arrive late and will miss out on the masquerade ball.

In Capulet ballroom, servants work hard to make sure all runs smoothly and set aside some food to make sure guests have some enjoyment of the feast. Capulet makes his rounds through groups of guests, joking with them and encouraging all to dance. From across the room, Romeo sees Juliet and asks a servingman who she is. The servingman does not know. Rosaline vanishes from Romeo’s mind and he declares that he has never been in love until this moment. Moving through the crowd, Tybalt hears and recognizes Romeo’s voice. Realizing that there is a Montague at the feast, Tybalt sends a servant to fetch his rapier weapon. Capulet overhears Tybalt and reprimands him, telling him that Romeo is a well-regarded gentleman in Verona and that he will not be harmed at his feast. Tybalt protests, but Capulet scolds him until he agrees to keep the peace. As Capulet moves on, Tybalt vows that he will not let this indignity pass. Meanwhile, Romeo flirts with Juliet about kissing her, he kisses her twice until Juliet’s Nurse enters and says that her mother craves a word with her. Romeo asks the Nurse who Juliet’s mother is and he learns the Juliet is Capulets daughter. Benvolio and Romeo leave while Juliet learns that Romeo is from the house of Montague.

Romeo wants to stay at Capulets house to see Juliet again, but Mercutio and Benvolio want to leave because they realise the danger that they are in if anyone recognizes them. Mercutio tries to lure Romeo out by speaking of Rosaline, but in fact, he does not know of Romeos new lover and still thinks that Romeo is after Rosaline. Eventually, Mercutio and Benvolio give up hope of finding Romeo and leave the orchard as it is too cold to sleep there.

Romeo has climbed over Capulets orchard wall in the attempt to find Juliet. As Juliet enters on the balcony, Romeo speaks quietly about her, he wants her to vow her love to him, saying that her virginity makes her sick and pale. Romeo refers to Juliet being as bright as the sky and that the two brightest stars in the sky going away and she will be taking their place. Juliet begins to speak about Romeo’s father and his name and that they are her enemy and that if he swears that he loves her, she will not continue being a Capulet, however, she does not know that Romeo is listening to her private thoughts. Juliet realises that Romeo is there and he says that he will not use the name Romeo again if she calls him, her love. Juliet tells Romeo that if any of her relatives find him in the orchard, they will kill him. Romeo does not seem to care if anyone finds him there, as he would rather be killed than live without her love. Romeo speaks about her family members being no obstacle. Juliet and Romeo make a love vow to each other and make an agreement that the next day by nine o’clock, Juliet will send a messenger to Romeo to receive information about where and when they will be married. Juliet’s nurse calls for her and she leaves Romeo after they say goodbye to each other many times. Romeo leaves Capulets orchard to go and see his priest to tell him that he will be marrying Juliet Tomorrow.

Romeo needs a priest to marry Juliet and himself, so he goes to see Friar Lawrence. Friar Lawrence talks about the sunny morning is replacing the dark night. before the sun comes up he is to fill his basket with poisonous weeds and medicinal flowers. In Friar Lawrence’s closed cell he delivers a short speech about herbal drugs, ones that can kill and ones that can cure, he also talks about great death and great goodness. Friar Lawrence also talks about how plants are born into the earth and they are buried in the earth when they die. Romeo confesses that he is in love with Juliet, the daughter of his fathers enemy and that he needs Friar Lawrence to perform the wedding ceremony to marry Romeo and Juliet. Friar Lawrence is obviously used to hearing Romeos love confessions as he says that he was crying to the friar about Rosaline only the day before and that he can still see the tears that he shed over her. Friar Lawrence sees that a marriage between a Montague and a Capulet might end the feud between the two families and will be good for the future of Verona, so he agrees to perform Romeo and Juliet’s secret wedding ceremony. Romeo gets excited and energetic about the friar’s decision, while the friar tells him to go slowly about this and to be wise about his decisions.

Benvolio and Mercutio are on a street in Verona talking about how Tybalt has sent a letter to Romeo’s house because he saw him at Capulets party the night before and that he wasn’t at home last night. Mercutio and Benvolio still don’t know that Romeo has gotten over Rosaline and is going to marry Juliet that afternoon. Romeo finds Mercutio and Benvolio in the street talking about him and Mercutio and himself have a long conversation in which they mock each other until Benvolio interrupts and they are joined by Juliet’s Nurse and Peter. The Nurse is looking for Romeo on behalf of Juliet wanting to deliver the news of her marriage arrangements have been made for that afternoon. The Nurse tells Romeo that he is not to cheat on Juliet as she is only a young woman and that County Paris already has his claims made on Juliet. Romeo tells the Nurse that Juliet needs to find an excuse to come to a confession that afternoon as she will be married to him in Friar Lawrence’s church. The Nurse hurries along with Peter to go and tell Juliet the good news of her marriage that will take place that afternoon.

Juliet is waiting in Capulets house for the return of her nurse that she sent out at nine o’clock. The Nurse returns to Capulets house with the news of Juliet’s marriage for that afternoon. The Nurse doesn’t seem to want to give Juliet the news straight away as she makes up excuses such as her head hurting, her bones aching, and that she has been running around all day. Juliet says that she is sorry that her Nurse feels so sick but she wants to know what her love Romeo has said. Juliet’s Nurse is easily forgetful and in the middle of talking about Romeos good looks, she starts asking where Juliet’s mother is. Eventually, the Nurse tells Juliet that she needs to go to confession that day, as Romeo will be waiting there in Friar Lawrence’s cell to make her his wife, she also mentions that she will get a ladder so that Romeo can climb into Juliet window that night. Juliet is overjoyed and her Nurse wishes her good luck and farewell.

Romeo and Friar Lawrence wait for Juliet to arrive at the cell. An ecstatic Romeo brashly states that he does not care what misfortune might come, as it will pale in comparison to the joy he feels right now. Friar Lawrence counsels Romeo to love moderately and not with too much intensity, saying, “these violent delights have violent ends” (2.5.9). Juliet enters and Romeo asks her to speak poetically of her love. Juliet responds that those who can so easily describe their “worth” are beggars, her love is far too great to be so easily described. The lovers exit with Friar Lawrence and are wed.

Mercutio, Benvolio and Romeo are out on a public street. Benvolio says that they should retire, pointing out that the Capels are abroad in the streets and if faced they will not escape a brawl. Tybalt appears before them with his men and is furious that Romeo ignored his challenge. Romeo tells Tybalt that he does not want to fight him and that he loves him more than Tybalt knows. Tybalt draws his sword to Mercutio, Mercutio thinks that Romeo is ridiculous refusing to fight him. Still, none of them knows that Romeo and Juliet are married. Benvolio and Romeo try to break up the fight because if they are seen having a brawl in the streets, the Prince will put them to death. Romeo intercedes in the middle of the fight which distracts Mercutio, leaving just enough time for Tybalt to reach underneath Romeo’s arm and stab Mercutio. While Mercutio is dying he says “may a plague be cast on both of your families”. Romeo tells Mercutio to have courage, but Mercutio believes that this event is Romeo’s fault and says that tomorrow when Romeo asks for him, he will be in his grave, dead. Mercutio repeats himself again by saying “may a plague strike both of your houses”. Romeo thought that it was the right thing to do by interceding the fight, Mercutio thinks otherwise and asks Romeo for the reason to why he had to come between them. Benvolio carries Mercutio away and Romeo is left alone to his thoughts. Romeo says “This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf. My reputation stained With Tybalt’s slander.—Tybalt, that an hour Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate And in my temper softened valor’s steel”. Tybalt comes back after killing Mercutio and Romeo thinks that one of them will have to down with him, they both fight and Tybalt is the one who falls from a stab by Romeo. The citizens of the watch enter and an officer asks Benvolio where Mercutios killer, Tybalt is. Benvolio says that Tybalt is lying right over there and that Romeo killed him. Tybalt’s family members, the Capulets, enter and Lady Capulet is shocked, led to believe that someone in the Montague house should die in return for killing Tybalt “Prince, as thou art true, For blood of ours shed blood of Montague”. Benvolio explains the whole event to everyone and that Tybalt started the fight before he was killed by Romeo. Montague tells the Prince that Romeo should not have to pay with his life for this crime. The Prince says that because of Romeo’s actions he will be further exiled from the city of Verona and that his family needs to get him to leave the city at once, as if found he will be killed.

Juliet waits for Romeo in Capulets house, unaware of the horrors happening on the streets of Verona, she longs for her night with Romeo and is impatient for the sun to go down and it to be the night. The Nurse brings her confused news of Tybalt’s death and that Romeo is responsible. Once again the Nurse refrains from telling Juliet the news right away and when Juliet eventually learns the news she is heartbroken and confused as she struggles to understand what the nurse is trying to tell her. Juliet begins to speak ill of her husband” A damnèd saint, an honorable villain! O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell ” but realises that Romeo is still her husband and that his banishment is still worse than the death of her beloved cousin, Tybalt. Juliet sends the Nurse to get Romeo from Friar Lawrence’s cell so that he can spend his last night in Verona before his banishment with Juliet.

Friar Lawrence returns to find Romeo hiding out in his cell. He shares the news with Romeo that the Prince has made a calmer decision by banishing him instead of exiling him. Friar Lawrence tries to calm Romeo down by pointing out that there are worse things than banishment. Romeo expresses complete disapproval and is condemned to banishment. To Romeo, banishment is far worse than being exiled, as it means that he will be separated from Juliet and that “there is no world without Verona walls, but purgatory, torture, hell itself” “heaven is here, where Juliet lives”. The Nurse comes to Friar Lawrence’s cell in search of Romeo, she tells him of Juliet’s grief and Romeo becomes more distressed and anxious about the aftermath of his punishment and starts to think suicidal thoughts and is ready to kill himself. The Friar devises a plan to convince the prince to pardon Romeo, saying that Romeo will spend his last night in Verona with Juliet, then he will escape to the city of Mantua where he will live until the Friar can make their marriage public and make peace between the two families, then they will ask for Romeo to be pardoned.

Paris has come to the Capulet household to find out whether he can marry Juliet or not. Capulet says that he would have been in bed an hour ago if he had not been in the presence of Paris. Capulet and Lady Capulet make a sudden decision that Juliet will marry Paris that Thursday afternoon, that it will only be a small ceremony with half a dozen people, as much of the family is mourning for the death of Tybalt. Juliet’s parents think that there is no better way to cheer up their beloved daughter than her getting married to the rich, County Paris.

Romeo has taken Friar Lawrence’s advice and has climbed up through Juliet’s window and consummated the marriage of himself and Juliet. Juliet and Romeo do not want to accept that it is morning. They hear a bird song that comes from a lark, the first bird to sing in the morning, that indicates that morning has arrived. Romeo must save his life by taking refuge in the city of Mantua. Romeo and Juliet say farewell to each other just as the Nurse interrupts, warning Juliet that her mother is looking for her. Romeo climbs out of Juliet’s window after a kiss goodbye, Juliet imagines Romeo as “one dead in the bottom of a tomb”. Lady Capulet enters Juliet’s bedroom and immediately assumes that Juliet’s grief and tears are for her cousin, Tybalt. Juliet’s mother, Lady Capulet has no sympathy for Juliet. Juliet speaks about wanting to be close to the murderer of her cousin, as Lady Capulet does not know of Juliet’s marriage to Romeo she interprets this in a different way thinking that her daughter wants Romeo to suffer the consequences of his actions. Lady Capulet comes with some “good news” for Juliet and she speaks politely to her mother referring to her as “madam” and is thankful for “this day of joy” until she learns the shocking truth of her mother’s news. Lady Capulet tells her daughter that she will be married to County Paris that Thursday in Saint Peters church. Juliet’s father, Capulet enters her bedroom, his distress of the death of Juliet’s cousin turns to sympathy for her when he arranges her marriage to Count Paris, assuming that that will cheer her up. His sympathy for his daughter turns to rage and anger against her after she refuses to marry Paris, he threatens his daughter and curses at the Nurse, Lady Capulet and Capulet leave Juliet’s bedroom after telling her that is she refuses to marry Paris, she will no longer be welcome under their roof. Juliets asks for comfort from her Nurse (the motherly figure in her life). The Nurse tells Juliet that she should marry Count Paris, that it will be better than her first marriage and Romeo will most likely not be returning to Verona and will not be able to claim her as his wife if she is banished. Juliet leaves for Friar Lawrence’s cell seeking help for her problems, if he is of no help to her then she will have no other option but to end her life.

Paris comes to Friar Lawrence’s cell to arrange his marriage to Juliet that Thursday, he says that Capulet wants his daughter to stop crying over the death of her beloved cousin, Tybalt and be happy about marrying Paris. Juliet joins them in the cell and pretends that she is going to confession with the Friar to get Paris to leave. Paris refers to Juliet as if he owns her even though they are not yet married, he says that he owns her face and that she is abusing it by crying. Friar Lawrence is concerned as to how Juliet’s second marriage to Paris is coming so quickly. After Paris leaves Juliet tells him that if he does not find a solution to her problems she will have to resort to different methods of ending her suffering, she pulls out a knife and threatens to kill herself. The Friar devises a plan in which Juliet will go home and say to her family that she will marry Paris, Wednesday night she will make sure that she is alone, not even her nurse will be allowed in her bedroom and will take a sleeping potion that will last for forty-two hours. Under the effect of the Friar’s sleeping potion, Juliet will be motionless, she will not breathe, move and will look completely dead so that she will be taken to the Capulet tomb. Friar Lawrence will quickly send word to Romeo of his plan and the two of them will watch over Juliet until she awakens and there is no suspicion. Romeo will take Juliet to the city of Mantua with him.

Juliet’s conference with Friar Lawrence is reassuring to her and she returns home to ask for her father’s forgiveness. Capulet is excited and in this state, he decides to move to wed day to Wednesday “we’ll to church tomorrow” (a day earlier). Capulet has seemed to have forgotten his decision to only invite half a dozen people when he asks for “twenty cunning cooks”. Capulet is pleased with Juliet’s obedience to him and Lady Capulet points out that it is “now near night” and tries to change her husband’s mind. Capulet refuses his wife’s attempts at reasoning with him about the date of Juliet’s wedding, he is adamant that he will take care of the preparations.

Juliet and her Nurse have gone back up to Juliet’s bedroom to prepare for her wedding the next day, they are choosing Juliet’s best jewels and gowns. Juliet asks the Nurse to leave so that she can be left alone. She has mixed feelings about the sleeping potion that Friar Lawrence has given her, perhaps the drug is really a poison and the Friar wants to kill her, maybe she will awaken to find herself in her family’s tomb among the bones of her deceased ancestors and will go crazy “Where for this many hundred years the bones of all my buried ancestors are pack’d, Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in the earth, Lies fest’ring in his shroud” “Madly play with my forefathers joints, And pluck the mangl’d Tybalt from his shroud”. Juliet is terrified of the outcome of Friar Lawrence’s sleeping potion as she will be sleeping for forty-two hours if it should work. Juliet takes the potion anyway as a toast to her love, Romeo.

Very early in the morning on Wednesday, Capulet is rushing the servants to make preparations for Juliet’s wedding later in the day. Capulet sends the Nurse to awaken Juliet. The bride-groom, Paris has arrived to claim his bride, he has brought musicians with him to wake up Juliet so that she can accompany him to Friar Lawrence’s cell. Juliet and Paris’s wedding has become a grand occasion in sixteenth-century England.

The Nurse comes to Juliet’s bedroom to wake her up for her wedding. The Nurse talks to her mistress before attempting to wake her up. At first, the Nurse realizes that Juliet is sleeping, then that she is fully dressed and finally after she draws back the curtains in Juliet’s bedroom she realizes that she appears to be dead. Lady Capulet comes to the scene after hearing the Nurse’s chatter, then Capulet, and then Paris who is followed by Friar Lawrence. Each of the characters says a short recitation of grief and sadness for Juliet. This scene is an example of dramatic irony because the audience knows that Juliet is in fact not dead and that the sleeping potion that Friar Lawrence has given her has worked and that she will sleep for forty-two hours. Friar Lawrence knows the truth and preaches a short funeral sermon and tells Juliet’s devastated parents to get her ready to be laid in the Capulet tomb among her deceased ancestors. Friar Lawrence realises that they will have to act quickly before the sleeping potion wears off. The musicians are having a hard time trying to comprehend what is going on and what has happened to Juliet. Peter and the Musicians have a chat about silver while they wait for the Capulet family to accompany them to the churchyard for the burial of Juliet.

The bad news of Juliet’s “death” travelled fast and in the same day Balthasar, Romeo’s servant comes from Verona to inform him of the catastrophe that has befallen his wife. Friar John was supposed to come to tell Romeo of Friar Lawrence’s plan of attack to get Juliet out to Mantua but he was stopped when leaving the city and Balthasar arrived before him. Romeo is safe and living in the city of Mantua but his life shows no meaning. After hearing Balthasar’s news, Romeo makes a plan to get to get back to Verona and take his life at Juliet’s grave because he cannot bear to live without her. Romeo remembers an old apothecary’s shop and bribes the man to sell him a poison that will kill him instantly. Selling such drugs that kill immediately is illegal but the apothecary is so poor that he can be bribed to sell the poison to Romeo and break the law. Romeo sends Balthasar to fetch horses so that they can leave for Verona that night ” Thou know’st my lodging. Get me ink and paper, And hire post horses. I will hence tonight”. Romeo hands over the money to the apothecary and leaves to prepare for the journey to Verona.

Friar John returns to Friar Lawrence’s cell, who should have delivered a letter to Romeo in Mantua explaining Friar Lawrence’s plan. Friar John explains how he was prevented from leaving Verona. Friar Lawrence is desperate to write another letter to Romeo and get it delivered to Mantua because Juliet will awake in Capulets tomb in the next three hours. This short time frame allows Romeo to travel from Mantua to Verona, arriving at the Capulet vault on Wednesday night ready to kill himself with his poison. Friar Lawrence makes plans to write an urgent letter to Romeo before heading over to Capulets tomb and retrieving Juliet by opening the tomb with an iron crowbar and hiding her in his cell until Romeo arrives to take her to Mantua.

 

 

 

 

On Friday night the Capulet tomb has visitors – the County Paris and his Page, Paris has kept his vow of coming to Juliet’s grave and bringing flowers and scented water to spread amongst the tomb. Before sending his Page away, Paris tells him to put the torch out so that he cannot be seen and to stay hidden, if the Page sees anyone arriving he is to signal Paris by whistling. Once Paris is alone he speaks to himself about how he is almost afraid to stand alone in the graveyard but he will take the risk ” I am almost afraid to stand alone Here in the churchyard. Yet I will adventure”. After Paris reaches the Capulet tomb his Page whistles to warn him that someone is approaching, he hides in the shadows while Romeo and Balthasar approach the Capulet tomb. As Romeo and Balthasar reach the graveyard, Romeo gives Balthasar a letter for his father with instructions of delivering it to him early in the morning. Unaware of his master’s plan, Balthasar, obediently takes the letter and hands, Romeo, a mattock, torch and wrenching iron. Romeo tells Balthasar to stay away from him and threatens to tear him apart limb from limb if he interrupts him in his course, Balthasar gets the message and tells Romeo that he will not interrupt his plan, he gives Balthasar money before leaving him at the Capulet tomb. Despite Romeo’s wishes, Balthasar does not leave the churchyard and decides to hide nearby, sleeping under a yew tree. Paris sees Romeo at the Capulet tomb and approaches him “Can vengeance be pursued further than death? Condemnèd villain, I do apprehend thee. Obey and go with me, for thou must die”. As Paris reaches Romeo he says that Romeo must obey and come with him to die, at first Romeo speaks cautiously to Paris and tries to get him to leave “I must indeed, and therefore came I hither. Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man. Fly hence and leave me. Think of these gone. Let them affright thee. I beseech thee, youth, Put not another sin upon my head By urging me to fury. O, be gone! By heaven, I love thee better than myself, For I come hither armed against myself. Stay not, be gone. Live, and hereafter say A madman’s mercy bid thee run away”. Paris refuses Romeo’s attempts at getting him to leave safely without a fight, clearly, Romeo’s mind is not in a stable state in this scene. Paris tells Romeo that he refuses and immediately Romeo puts up a fight and intends to win even though he does not want to commit another crime. Page sees the fight taking place from the shadows and disappears to go fetch the watchmen. The end result of the fight between Romeo and Paris is the death of County Paris, whose dying wish is to be laid beside Juliet in the Capulet tomb, Romeo does so before entering the tomb himself. Romeo comments on how even though Juliet is dead her beauty stills fills her tomb with light and even though death has sucked the honey out of her breath she has not yet been conquered for there is still colour in her face “For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes This vault a feasting presence full of light”. Inside the Capulet tomb, Romeo expresses some of his innermost thoughts about Juliet’s beauty, death being in love with her so that the monster can make her his mistress and what better favour for Tybalt than to kill the man with the same hand that made him die so young “Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet? O, what more favor can I do to thee, Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain To sunder his that was thine enemy?”. Romeo talks about auspicious stars which relate back to earlier in the play when Romeo talks about him and Juliet being star-crossed lovers. Moments before Romeo drinks his poison he yet again refers to himself as a ship at sea, this time crashing the sea-weary ship into the rocks “Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide. Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on The dashing rocks thy seasick, weary bark”. Romeo kisses Juliet and ends his life by drinking the potion moments before Friar Lawrence arrives at the tomb and Juliet slowly wakes up. Friar Lawrence hurries to the tomb adding that he keeps stumbling on gravestones as if they are things in his way, the Friar sees Balthasar and asks him how long Romeo has been inside of the grave for, Balthasar tells him half an hour while the Friar hurries over to the tomb. As the Friar leaves Balthasar’s presence he speaks about a dream he had while sleeping underneath the yew tree, that his master was fighting with another man and his master killed his opponent. Arriving at the Capulet tomb, the Friar has come to fetch Juliet and instead finds Romeo and Paris both dead in the tomb and Juliet awakening. Juliet awakens from her forty-two-hour long sleep to find herself among her ancestors and the Friar, she asks where her husband is not realising that he is dead beside her. Friar Lawrence hears some noises outside of the tomb and tells Juliet to quickly get up and come with him, he makes plans to place her among a sisterhood of holy nuns. Juliet will not get out of the tomb and sees Romeo’s cup of poison in his hand she makes a comment about him not leaving her even a drop of poison, she then decides to kiss her true love’s lips and stab herself with Romeo’ dagger upon his deceased body. Disorder reigns in the churchyard, where Paris’s servant has brought the watchmen. The watchmen discover bloodstains near the monument; they hold Balthasar and Friar Lawrence, whom they discovered lingering nearby. The Prince and Capulets enter. Romeo, Juliet, and Paris are discovered, dead in the tomb. Montague arrives, declaring that Lady Montague has died of grief for Romeo’s exile. The Prince shows Montague his son’s body. Upon the Prince’s demand, Friar Lawrence succinctly tells the story of Romeo and Juliet’s confidential marriage and its outcomes. Balthasar gives the Prince the letter Romeo had beforehand written to his father. The Prince says that it validates the friar’s story. He criticises the Capulets and Montagues, calling the tragedy a consequence of their vendetta and reminding them that he has lost two close kin: Mercutio and Paris. Capulet and Montague grasp hands and agree to put their feud behind them. Montague states that he will raise a golden statue of Juliet, and Capulet insists that he will raise Romeo’s correspondence in gold besides hers. The Prince leads the group away to examine these events, pronouncing that there has never been “a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”

 

 

 

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