Act III: Banishment

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Act III Banishment
Central Issue romantic love versus family
loyalty Theme love as a brutal emotion, leading
to defiance of family, religion, society
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Act III terms

• Soliloquy a speech made to the audience, when a
  character is alone on stage
• Aside a remark made to the audience, unheard by
  the other characters on stage
• Purpose reveal what a character is really like

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Act III, scene 1

• Mercutio baits Tybalt whos looking to duel
  Romeo.
• Romeo arrives but will not duel Tybalt because he
  is now his kinsman through marriage.
• I never injured thee, but love thee better than
  thou canst devise understand . . .
  (3.1.67-68).

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Act III, scene 1

• Tybalt is unaware of the marriage, so he rejects
  Romeos peace offering.
• Mercutio steps in to duel Tybalt.
• As Romeo tries to break up the fight, Tybalt
  murders Mercutio.

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Act III, scene 1

• As he is dying, Mercurtio curses both the warring
  families, offering
• Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a
  grave man (3.1.96-97).

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Act III, scene 1

• Irate that he has allowed his love for Juliet to
  make him effeminate, Romeo savagely avenges
  Mercutios death.
• Recognizing what he has done - murdered his
  wifes cousin - Romeo blames his actions on fate
• I am fortunes fool (3.1.134).
• (Remember his ominous dream?)

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Act III, scene 1

• The Prince arrives on the bloody scene and
  banishes Romeo from Verona, a penalty much less
  severe than he decreed.
• If Romeo is found in the city, hell be shot.

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Act III, scene 2

• Juliets soliloquy
• She impatiently awaits Romeo, who will come to
  her in secret, so they may consummate their
  marriage.
• At this point she is not aware of the murder
  Romeo committed.

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Act III, scene 2

• Juliets nurse relates to her the sad news about
  Tybalt at the hands of Romeo.
• At first Juliet is angry with Romeo, then elated
  that he is alive, and finally suicidal because
  she fears she cannot live without him.

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Act III, scene 2

• The nurse assures her that Romeo, who is hiding
  in Friar Lawrences cell, will be with her
  tonight.
• Juliet asks Nurse to take a ring to Romeo, as a
  symbol of her undying love for him.
• Notice that Juliet sees no middle ground in her
  life. She lives with Romeo, or she will take her
  life.

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Act III, scene 3

• Friar Lawrence explains to Romeo that the Prince
  has banished him from Verona for murdering
  Tybalt, an act of mercy.
• Romeo views banishment as a punishment
  exceedingly worse than death.

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Act III, scene 3

• Juliets nurse arrives at Friars cell.
• Romeo is so sickened by his actions - murdering
  Tybalt and destroying his marriage - that he
  attempts suicide.
• Friar scolds him for his rash, weak response,
  chiding him to stop whining and to act like a man.

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Act III, scene 3

• Notice that Romeo, too, sees no middle ground in
  his life. He lives with Juliet, or he will take
  his life.
• Friar reveals his plan to Romeo and Nurse
• Romeo will sneak to Juliets room tonight,
  consummate their marriage, then escape to Mantua,
  until their marriage can be made public.
• Nurse gives Romeo the wedding ring from Juliet.
  His spirits lift.

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Act III, scene 4

• Lord Capulet asks his wife to let Juliet know
  that shell be marrying Paris on Thursday
  morning. Its currently Monday evening.
• Ironic On Sunday, Lord Capulet denied Paris
  request to marry Juliet because she was too young.

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Act III, scene 5

• It is dawn. Romeo and Juliet have spent their
  first night together as a married couple.
• Juliet is reluctant to let Romeo go to Mantua,
  teasing him that the dawns light is actually the
  light from a meteor shower lighting the night sky.

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Act III, scene 5

• Romeo replies, I must be gone and lives, or stay
  and die (3.5.11).
• As he departs Juliet has a premonition, Methinks
  I see thee . . . as one dead in the bottom of a
  tomb (3.5.55-56).
• Ironically, this is last time the two will see
  each other alive.

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Act III, scene 5

• As Romeo sneaks away, Lady Capulet enters
  Juliets room.
• She brings news that Thursday Paris will make
  Juliet a joyful bride.
• Juliet rejects this, instead telling her mother
  that if she marries, it will be Romeo, her enemy,
  not Paris, she will take for a husband.

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Act III, scene 5

• Upon hearing this, Lord Capulet swears that if
  Juliet refuses this secure marriage to Paris
• . . . you Juliet shall not house with me . . .
  hang, beg, starve in the streets, for, by my
  soul, Ill neer acknowledge thee (3.5.190-195).

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Act III, scene 5

• Juliet appeals to her mother for help, but Lady
  Capulet replies,
• Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee
  (3.5.205).
• Next Juliet appeals to her Nurse, who advises
  her to take the secure option and marry Paris.

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Act III, scene 5

• Desperate, Juliet pretends to go to Friar
  Lawrence to make her confession.
• In her closing soliloquy Juliet reveals her
  thoughts
• She no longer trusts her nurse and will not
  confide in her again.
• Shell seek advise from Friar Lawrence.
• If he can not help her, she can always take her
  life.

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Purpose

• Shakespeare has moved Juliet from childhood into
  adulthood, both sexually and socially.
• Shes exerting her independence from her nurse
  and her parents - central issue romantic love
  versus family loyalty.
• He reminds his audience of an Elizabethan womans
  dependency on a man for acceptance in society.

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Purpose

• Once again, Shakespeare foreshadows the young
  couples suicides.
• He continues to portray the destruction, pain and
  death Romeo and Juliets impulsive, passionate
  love has brought, leaving them little joy.
• Finally, he has embroiled the teens in adult
  conflicts without the benefit of compassionate
  adults to guide them.