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Act III. Scene I. - Verona. A Public Place.
Mercutio: "a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough."
Benvolio and Mercutio meet Tybalt. Tybalt attempts
to provoke Romeo into fighting. Mercutio fights Tybalt
and is slain. Romeo kills Tybalt. Escalus, The Prince
of Verona banishes Romeo from Verona. Should he return
that hour will be his last.
Benvolio and Mercutio are out in public. Benvolio tells
Mercutio that they should retire for the day since it
is not safe to be out when the day is hot and a fight
is likely to happen should they meet a Capulet. Tybalt
arrives (Line 40) and after successfully insulting Mercutio
(Lines 48-54), the two men are about to fight. Romeo
now arrives (Line 61). Tybalt insults Romeo calling
him a villain and hoping to provoke a fight.
Romeo will not fight Tybalt since soon Tybalt will
realize they are now relatives. Says Romeo, "Tybalt,
the reason that I have to love thee / Doth much excuse
the appertaining rage / To such a greeting; villain
am I none," (Line 68). Tybalt however demands that Romeo
turn and then draw. Romeo will not saying that "thou
shalt know the reason of my love:" (you shall soon know
the reason of my love), a reference to his marriage
to Juliet (Line 75).
Mercutio however draws his sword on Tybalt instead.
Tybalt draws his sword, ready to fight. They fight and
Mercutio is wounded. When questioned on his wounds,
Mercutio bravely and famously dismisses them as "a scratch,
a scratch; marry, 'tis [it is] enough" (Line 98). Mercutio
now on his final words, describes his wound more deeply
(Lines 100-113). Benvolio announces Mercutio's death
(Line 122) and Romeo kills Tybalt (Lines 126-140).
A citizen called the First Citizen witnesses this and
when the Prince, Capulet, Montague and their wives arrive,
Benvolio tries vainly to defend his friend's actions
(Lines 148-180). Lady Capulet exclaims that Romeo cannot
live for his actions, begging for justice and for Escalus
to have Romeo put to death for killing Tybalt (Lines
182-187) but the Prince chooses to spare his life, instead
making the decree that Romeo is to be banished. If he
is ever again found in Verona, that hour will be his
last (Lines 192-202).
Act III. Scene II. - The Same. Capulet's Orchard.
The Nurse: "he's kill'd, he's dead!"
Juliet learns of Romeo killing Tybalt and though
her loyalties are torn between Romeo and her family,
Juliet mourns for her husband Romeo's banishment.
Juliet in an aside (speech to the audience revealing
a character's innermost thoughts) is impatient to once
more see her Romeo. The Nurse enters, bringing in Romeo's
"chords" (a rope ladder). Throwing them down
in a display of anger, we soon learn the Nurse's reason.
Exclaiming that "he's kill'd, he's dead!", Juliet fears
the worst from the Nurse's words (Line 38).
We soon learn it is not Romeo that the Nurse speaks
of but Tybalt (Line 61). The Nurse explains Romeo's
role in Tybalt's murder and the Prince's punishment.
Juliet now is somewhat conflicted; she loves Romeo,
but he has killed a member of her house (Lines 73-128).
When the Nurse asks whether Juliet will weep Tybalt's
death, she explains that her tears will be spent on
Romeo's banishment.
Juliet laments her loss, explaining that her ropes
are now "beguil'd," and Juliet now seeks death: "Come,
cords; come, nurse; I'll to my wedding bed; / And death,
not Romeo, take my maidenhead!" (Line 137).
Fearing for Juliet, the Nurse arranges to find Romeo
and bring him to comfort Juliet who she knows to be
hiding in Friar Laurence's cell. Juliet tells the Nurse
to give him her ring "And bid him [to] come to
take his last farewell" with her (Lines 138-141).
Act III. Scene III. - The Same. Friar Laurence's
Cell.
Romeo learns of the banishment order, realizing
he will not be able to see Juliet again. Friar Laurence
suggests that Romeo should go to Juliet's bed chamber
to comfort his wife...
The Friar informs an ignorant Romeo of the Prince's
decree towards him. Romeo despairs; he will not be able
to see Juliet again (Lines 12-14,17-22 and Lines 28-48).
Romeo and the Friar hear knocking. Romeo reluctantly
hides. It is the Nurse (Line 78). Romeo now asks of
his wife (Line 92). We learn from the Nurse that Juliet
now "weeps and weeps;" (Line 98).
With Romeo now threatening to draw his sword on himself
(Line 106) for murdering Juliet's kinsman (Tybalt),
Friar Laurence tells Romeo not to hate himself so completely.
The Friar tells Romeo to "Ascend her chamber, hence
and comfort her;" (go up to her bedroom and comfort
her), but to not stay in the morning for it will not
be safe for Romeo (Line 146). The Friar then suggests
that Romeo head for Mantua where he will be safe...
Act III. Scene IV. - The Same. A Room in Capulet's
house.
Capulet now decides that the quick marriage of Juliet
to Paris must now proceed, bidding his wife to make
Juliet aware of Paris' love of her. The day of
the marriage has been decided by Capulet; it will be
Thursday. Paris departs happy in the knowledge that
come Thursday, he will be married to the fair Juliet.
Act III. Scene V. - The Same. Juliet's Chamber.
Juliet: "O! think'st thou we shall ever meet again?"
We learn that Romeo has spent the night with his
Juliet. Juliet who is now married to Romeo, learns that
she is to marry Paris. She tries to fight her father's
wishes, failing to dissuade him. Juliet decides to commit
suicide if all else fails...
With Romeo sharing her bed chamber, Juliet at first
is reluctant for Romeo to leave, claiming a bird they
heard was a "nightingale, and not the lark,"
which would signal sunrise (Line 2). Romeo is certain
the bird was a lark meaning it will soon be day, telling
his love to "look, love, what envious streaks /
Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east:" (Line
8) adding that "I must be gone and live, or stay
and die" (Line 11).
Juliet again tries to convince Romeo it is not daybreak
which is when Romeo is to leave for Mantua and Romeo
having been with his Juliet, decides that he is happy
to now die, saying "Let me be ta'en [taken], let
me be put to death;" (Line 17). This does not comfort
Juliet and now the Nurse arrives, warning Juliet that
her mother will soon join her (Line 39).
Juliet bids Romeo farewell (Lines 40-50) and then asks
him "O! think'st thou we shall ever meet again?"
(do you think we will ever meet again?), (Line 51).
Juliet's mother now arrives. She asks if Juliet is
still weeping her cousin's death (Line 70). Juliet in
an aside (a speech revealing her innermost thoughts),
declares her love for the "villain, Romeo"
(Line 82-84).
Lady Capulet now tells Juliet to stop crying, for she
has good news; soon Juliet will marry Paris (Lines 108-116).
She also toys with the idea of avenging Tybalt by poisoning
Romeo in Mantua. Juliet tells her mother that she will
not marry Paris.
Lady Capulet tells Juliet to tell Capulet (her father)
this news herself (Line 125). Capulet enters and Juliet
explains her refusal to marry. Capulet will not be contradicted,
explaining that he will drag Juliet to the altar if
necessary (Line 156).
Juliet begs her father to allow her not to marry (Line
160). The Nurse defends Juliet (Lines 170-174). Capulet
again declares his authority on the marriage issue,
threatening to throw her out onto the streets and to
disown her should she disobey and then leaves (Lines
177-198). Juliet explains that should her mother not
delay the wedding by months or even weeks, then she
will find another dead body like Tybalt's (Juliet will
kill herself), (Line 203).
The Nurse now advises Juliet to marry the Young Paris
since Romeo cannot stay by her (Lines 214-226). Juliet
ends the scene stating that if all else fails she knows
the remedy to her woes; she will commit suicide.
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