Act V

“. . . heaven finds means to kill your joys with love”

(5.3.293).

Act V

• Tragedy: a drama in which the central character(s) suffer disaster as a result of fate or a character flaw or both

– Fateful (chance) events:• chance meeting at the Capulet’s party• Romeo does not receive Friar’s note

– Both Romeo & Juliet are:• Impulsive - quick to act• Stubborn• Insistent on having things their own way

Act V

• Theme in tragedy: central idea about life that explains why the tragedy occurred

– Those who act in haste (impulsively) bring about their own destruction.

Act V

• Metaphorical language: language in which unlike things are compared to deepen meaning

– “Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew” (5.1.12).

(Paris compares Juliet, in death, to a flower and her tomb to a bridal bed.)

Act V, scene 1

• Romeo dreams he has died and Juliet revives him with her sweet kisses.

(foreshadows his death)

Act V, scene 1

• Balthasar, Romeo’s servant, reports to Romeo that Juliet has died.

• Romeo’s response,

“I defy you stars!” (5.1.24)

Act V, scene 1

• Impulsively, Romeo orders Balthasar to:

– buy two horses

– get him a pen and paper

Act V, scene 1

• Enroute to Verona, Romeo and Balthasar stop at an apothecary to purchase poison.

Act V, scene 1

• For 40 ducats Romeo buys poison strong enough to kill 20 men.

• Romeo shames the apothecary into selling him the illegal drug by appealing to the man’s poverty.

Act V, scene 1

• Then goes on to say that the real poison is the money he uses to purchase the poison. It causes more destruction to men’s souls than poison to their bodies.

(metaphorical language: Romeo compares the money to poison)

Act V, scene 1

• “There is thy gold, worse poison to men’s souls, doing more murder in this loathsome world, than these poor compounds [poisons], that thou mayest not sell. I sell thee poison. . .” (5.1.80-83)

Act V, scene 2• Friar Lawrence’s letter to Romeo is not

delivered.

• He’ll go alone to greet Juliet as she awakens.

• He’ll send another letter to Romeo to meet at Friar’s cell.

– (tragic influence of chance or fate)

Act V, scene 3• Wednesday night Paris goes to the vault to

place flowers around Juliet’s body.

– “Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew” (5.1.12).

(Paris compares Juliet, in death, to a flower and her tomb to a bridal bed.)

• Unbeknownst to him, Romeo approaches the vault too.

Act V, scene 3

• Romeo threatens Balthasar’s life if he dare follow him into the vault.

• Alarmed by Romeo’s wild demeanor, he hides nearby just in case, and then falls asleep.

Act V, scene 3

• Paris sees Romeo, whom he blames for indirectly killing Juliet - her incessant mourning over Tybalt’s death - and confronts him.

• He surmises Romeo’s intent is to sack the vault.

Act V, scene 3• Romeo warns him to back away before

he commits another murder:

– “. . . Tempt not a desp’rate man . . . I beseech thee . . . Put not another sin upon my head by urging me to fury. . . For I come armed against myself” (5.3.59-65).

(dramatic irony: We know Romeo’s intent but Paris does not.)

Act V, scene 3

• Paris advances anyway.

• Romeo slays him, unaware of his identity.

• Romeo realizes it is Paris he has killed and drags him into the vault.

Act V, scene 3

• Once in the vault, Romeo sees Juliet.

• He’s surprised that she still has color in her cheeks and lips.

• He wonders if death has kept her beautiful to be his bride.

• He vows to stay and protect her.

Act V, scene 3

• Next he vows to Tybalt, also in the tomb, that he’ll avenge his death by killing his murderer - Romeo will take his own life.

Act V, scene 3

• Finally, Romeo kisses Juliet one last time, and then drinks the poison:

– “Come bitter conduct [poison] … Thou desperate pilot [Romeo as ship captain], now at once run on the dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark! Here’s to my love!” (5.3.116-119).

(metaphorical language: He compares himself to a captain facing death as his ship is ravaged in a storm.)

Act V, scene 3

• Now Friar Lawrence approaches, seeing a light in the tomb.

• As he enters the burial vault he sees the bloody swords and then the bodies of Paris and Romeo.

• Juliet awakens, sees the carnage around her, but will not leave when a noise from outside startles Friar, who flees.

Act V, scene 3

• Juliet spies the empty cup from which Romeo drank the poison.

• She kisses him hoping enough poison remains on his lips to kill her, but none remains.

• Again she hears noises from outside.

• Panicked, she reaches for his dagger:

Act V, scene 3• Relieved, she says:

– “O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die” (5.3.168-169).

(metaphorical language: She asks the dagger to take her body as its sheath and remain in her, taking her life.)

• At last the “star-crossed lovers” are united for eternity in death.

Act V, scene 3• Prince arrives on the scene.

• Friar Lawrence and Balthasar are apprehended.

• Montagues and Capulets arrive at vault.

• We learn that Lady Montague died after hearing that her son, Romeo, was banished.

Act V, scene 3• Friar Lawrence Testifies to All

– I secretly married Romeo & Juliet on Monday afternoon, just prior to Tybalt’s death.

– Romeo was banished to Mantua, causing Juliet grief.

– Lord Capulet mistook the cause of grief and moved the wedding to Wednesday to cheer his daughter.

Act V, scene 3– Juliet came to me threatening suicide unless I

helped her avoid the arranged marriage to Paris.

– I came up with the sleeping potion that feigned Juliet’s death.

– I sent a letter to Romeo describing the plan, but the letter was never delivered.

– I went to the tomb alone on Wednesday night, only to find Romeo and Paris dead.

Act V, scene 3

– As Juliet awoke, I heard noises outside the burial vault and entreated Juliet to flee with me but she remained.

– It appears she committed suicide after I left.

– By the way, Nurse knew about the secret marriage too.

– I am to blame; take my life.

Act V, scene 3• Balthasar testifies:

– I saw Juliet dead and brought word to Romeo in Mantua.

– Immediately we set out for Verona, but when we reached the tomb Romeo told me to scram.

– I have a letter written by Romeo for his father.

Act V, scene 3• Paris’ servant testifies:

– Paris came to the tomb to put flowers on Juliet’s grave.

– He was interrupted by someone and attacked him.

– I ran to get help.

Act V, scene 3

• Prince reads Romeo’s letter to his father.

• The letter corroborates Friar’s testimony.

• Prince chastises the warring families:

– “See what scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love” (5.3.211-212).

Act V, scene 3

• Capulet & Montague make amends.

• Prince concludes:

– “Some shall be pardoned, and some punished: For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo” (5.3.309-310).

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet