R&JR&J Annotated Annotated NotesNotes

Act FourAct Four

Act FourAct Four

Scene OneScene One

Line 30Line 30Paris notices how J feels, is Paris notices how J feels, is

concerned about her concerned about her clue that clue that Paris truly cares about her, Paris truly cares about her, would have been a good match would have been a good match for herfor her

Lines 51-60Lines 51-60J asks FL for help (no one else to J asks FL for help (no one else to

turn to), claims that she is ready turn to), claims that she is ready & willing to commit suicide if he & willing to commit suicide if he cancan’’t help hert help her

Monologue Lines 90-121Monologue Lines 90-121 FLFL’’s Plan: s Plan:

agree to marry Paris agree to marry Paris go to bed alone on Wed night go to bed alone on Wed night drink potion that FL will make for herdrink potion that FL will make for her potion will cause J to fall into sleep that potion will cause J to fall into sleep that

resembles death (no breath, no pulse, no resembles death (no breath, no pulse, no warmth) warmth) everyone will think J = dead everyone will think J = dead

J will stay asleep for 42 hoursJ will stay asleep for 42 hours FL will send R letters telling him about JFL will send R letters telling him about J R will meet J in tomb when she wakes upR will meet J in tomb when she wakes up R & J will run away to MantuaR & J will run away to Mantua

Lines 90-121Lines 90-121FLFL’’s entire plan = UNREALISTICs entire plan = UNREALISTIC

Too much can go wrongToo much can go wrongToo much depends on timingToo much depends on timingBetter idea: why doesnBetter idea: why doesn’’t FL use t FL use

church to protect J & reveal church to protect J & reveal marriage?marriage?

Sometimes, thinking TOO MUCH Sometimes, thinking TOO MUCH can lead to problemscan lead to problems

Act FourAct Four

Scene TwoScene Two

Lines 24-25Lines 24-25FateFate: Lord Cap changes wedding : Lord Cap changes wedding

date from Thurs to Wed date from Thurs to Wed FL has FL has one fewer day to reach R w/ one fewer day to reach R w/ letterletter

Act FourAct Four

Scene ThreeScene Three

Soliloquy Lines 15-60Soliloquy Lines 15-60 Says goodbye to LCap & N (not going to see them again?)Says goodbye to LCap & N (not going to see them again?) J’s Fears:J’s Fears:

potion will not work potion will not work J has dagger ready to commit J has dagger ready to commit suicidesuicide

potion is actually poison potion is actually poison FL wants to kill her to protect FL wants to kill her to protect himself, secretshimself, secrets

J will wake up before R arrives, run out of air, suffocate & J will wake up before R arrives, run out of air, suffocate & diedie

J will wake up before R gets to tomb & be surrounded by J will wake up before R gets to tomb & be surrounded by ghosts of dead Caps (esp T)ghosts of dead Caps (esp T)

J imagines she sees TJ imagines she sees T’’s ghost attacking R drinks potion s ghost attacking R drinks potion (shows J(shows J’’s strength & courage)s strength & courage)

Act FourAct Four

Scene FiveScene Five

Lines 38-43Lines 38-43PersonificationPersonification: Lord Cap claims : Lord Cap claims

that Death = his son-in-law, that Death = his son-in-law, Death has taken J as wife before Death has taken J as wife before Paris couldParis could

Lines 69-77Lines 69-77FL claims that J is in a better FL claims that J is in a better

place now & is happier place now & is happier they they shouldnshouldn’’t be sadt be sad

Lines 80-81Lines 80-81ForeshadowingForeshadowing: FL says women : FL says women

arenaren’’t meant to have long t meant to have long marriages marriages best marriages are best marriages are when woman dies youngwhen woman dies young

Lines 97-98Lines 97-98FateFate: FL claims that : FL claims that ““something something

aboveabove”” is punishing families for is punishing families for feud (punishment = feud (punishment = ““deathdeath”” of J) of J) stop making stop making ““higher powerhigher power”” upsetupset