English resources/Romeo and Juliet/Act 3, Scene 5
Romeo and Juliet, Act 3, Scene 5
Romeo leaves at dawn. Juliet's parents tell her she must marry Paris. Her father screams at her. The Nurse says do it.
Romeo and Juliet has 24 scenes in 5 acts, and Act 3 has 5 of them. Act 3, Scene 5 comes after Act 3, Scene 4 and before Act 4, Scene 1. The 5 key lines here come from Romeo, Juliet, Capulet and the Nurse.
This scene in five words
RomeoleavesfatherdemandsParis
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What happens, in more detail
It is dawn after Romeo and Juliet's wedding night. They argue gently about whether the bird they can hear is the nightingale, which sings at night, or the lark, which sings in the morning, because the lark means Romeo must leave for Mantua. As he climbs down from her window, Juliet sees him as if he were dead at the bottom of a tomb.
Lady Capulet thinks Juliet is crying for Tybalt, talks about having Romeo poisoned, and then announces that Juliet will marry Paris on Thursday. Juliet refuses. Her father arrives, flies into a rage and threatens to throw her out to beg and starve in the streets. Her mother will not help, and the Nurse advises her to marry Paris and forget Romeo.
Juliet pretends to agree, then decides to go to Friar Lawrence for help, and tells herself that if everything else fails she can still choose to die.
Why it matters: by the end of this scene Juliet has lost her husband, her parents and the Nurse. She is completely alone.
The quotes
5 big quotes in this scene.
It was the lark, the herald of the morn, No nightingale
Romeo · Act 3, Scene 5 · time · light and dark · love
Morning has come. Romeo must leave or die. Juliet wants it to still be night.
O thinkest thou we shall ever meet again?
Juliet · Act 3, Scene 5 · fate · love
Their last time together alive. She asks the question the play has already answered.
Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage! You tallow-face!
Capulet · Act 3, Scene 5 · family · youth
Juliet says no to marrying Paris. Her father screams insults at her.
I think it best you married with the County.
Nurse · Act 3, Scene 5 · family · love
The Nurse tells Juliet to forget Romeo and marry Paris. Juliet never trusts her again.
If all else fail, myself have power to die.
Juliet · Act 3, Scene 5 · death · fate
Alone now, Juliet says she can always kill herself. It is her plan of last resort.
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