ACT V | RandJ1

JULIET

Everything didn't go as according to plan as I had thought it would,when I had woken up in my family’s tomb. Instead of Romeo being there, the Friar was there instead and I was ecstatic, glad I had woken up on time. I had asked the Friar where Romeo was, and all he had done was move the torch to reveal the corpse of my lover. Cold. Dead. And unmoving.

Next to what looked like an empty glass bottle. Romeo just couldn't..He couldn't be dead! Had he not received the letter like the Friar planned? Did he think that I was really..? But the Friar had confirmed my suspicions, and had asked me to flee with him before the watch had arrived at the tomb. I told him I would stay, and he left.

When the Friar left, I had gone and attempted to off myself with the last drops of poison left in the bottle (which didn’t work), then a kiss on the lips to my love to see if any poison was left in his lips (which also, may I say didn't work). The only thing left was Romeo’s dagger. I had picked it up and held it in my hand. My only way out of my grief and pain. Deep breaths, Juliet. Here I go.

Oh happy dagger!

When I had awoken once more, I found that at last, I have reached heaven and have escaped all the hatred between my family and my love’s family. With Romeo right beside me, we shall rule the afterlife and our love will overpower heaven.

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STATUS: “O comfortable friar! Where is my lord?- I do remember well where I should be,-And there I am.Where is my Romeo?” (R&J, V:iii ln 148-150).

REPLY: The love that Juliet has for Romeo is so powerful.Juliet wakes up in a tomb where all her ancestor’s skeletons lie and the first thing she wants to do is see the love of her life,Romeo. She has no idea the heartbreak she is about to experience when she see Romeo as a corpse lying next to her, the poison spread out on his pale lips.

STATUS: “What’s here? A cup,closed in my true love’s hand?-
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.-O churl! Drunk all, and left no friendly drop -To help me after? I will kiss thy lips.-Haply some poison yet doth hang on them-To make me die with a restorative.” (R&J,V:iii ln 161-166).

REPLY: Suicide is the first thought in Juliet’s mind after she sees the love of her life dead. She makes no hesitation to join her husband and soul mate in heaven and be with him forever. Juliet cannot bare the thought of living without her first and only love,so she’ll die with her soulmate.

BALTHASAR

No, No,NO! I have devastating news for Romeo! As his loyal servant, I was roaming the city of Verona looking for any news about Juliet, when I saw Juliet's soulless body being taken down to Capulet’s tomb, where the rest of her dead ancestors are buried. Juliet is dead. Romeo’s heart is going to be shattered in to millions of pieces. As, I slowly walked to see Romeo their was a slight glimmer of happiness in eyes. The minute his eyes laid on me I was bombarded with questions about Juliet. I slipped and blurted out that she is lying lifeless in Capulet’s tomb. His whole demeanor changed into this deep sorrow. He started to ramble until he came to the conclusion that he is going to see Juliet. I could only foreshadow that he is going to put himself in deep danger. I tried to convince him to really think about any of the decisions he was about to make. He was blinded but his love for Juliet even though she has passed. He ordered me to get ready to go to Verona. As we got into the Capulet’s tomb I was starting to leave, when he looked me in the eyes saying goodbye. He handed me a sum of money as payment for always being there for him. I said goodbye and that I’ll leave but as a trustworthy companion I stayed and hide. I watched him as he walked into the tomb and this was just the beginning of the morbid night.

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Status:”I dare not, sir./My master knows not but I am gone hence, /And fearfully did menace me with death/If I did stay to look on his intents.’’
(R&J, V:iii lns.131-134)

Reply: Romeo doesn't know that Balthasar is still hiding. Romeo threatened him with death if he stayed and saw what he was doing. What Romeo did was he killed Paris and he didn't want Balthasar to see that.

Status:”As I did sleep under this yew tree here,/I dreamt my master and another fought,/And that my master slew him.’’(R&J, V:iii lns.137-139)

Reply: Balthasar hide and slept under a tree to make sure Romeo would be alright. He dreamt that Romeo was fighting against someone and that Romeo had killed that person.

Status:” For all this same, I’ll hide me hereabout./His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt.”(R&J, V:iii lns.49-50)

Reply: He hides because Romeo will rip him limbs by limb if he spies on him. Balthasar moves to the side and falls asleep. He gets scared by what Romeo says to him.

PARIS

Goodness, how I miss my lovely flower Juliet. I am currently with my servant Page on my way to the tomb. Page is to hold a torch as we walk towards my love’s resting place. I have also told him to whistle if he sees someone coming to alert me. As we come close I tell Page to keep a distance and put out the torch. I stand here scattering flowers all over my beloved’s closed tomb feeling incomplete without my sweet Juliet. I promised myself that I would come here every night to come and water the flowers. If I cannot, then I promise to come here every night as ritual to put flowers on your grave and weep. Wait a minute, what's this I hear? Page whistling? Who could be coming here now? Goodness, It’s that villain Romeo Montague, he is the one who took the life of the cousin of my beloved. The sadness from his death then caused her to take her own life. Romeo has most definitely come here to commit awful crimes against the bodies. I will bring this man to justice my beloved Juliet, I swear it.

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Status: “Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew/(O woe! Thy canopy is dust lands stones)/ which with sweet water nightly I will dew;/ Or, wanting that, with tears distilled by moans./ The obsequies that I for thee will keep/ Nightly shall be to shrew thy grave and weep.” (R&J, V:iii ln.12-17)

Reply: Paris has flowers to place on Juliet’s tomb for her “death,” and he mentions how her canopy (tomb) is dust and stones because she did not deserve this. He says that he will water the flowers every night and if he does not he will make it a ritual to put flowers on her tomb and weep for her every night. This is evidence that even if Juliet didn’t love Paris back, he still was truly in love with her.

Status: “ Stop thy unhallowed toil, vile Montague!/ can vengeance be pursued further than death?/ condemned villain must die.” (R&J, V:iii In. 54-57)

Reply: In this scene we see Paris find Romeo in the graveyard. Paris assumes that Romeo is up to no good because he was carrying a crowbar. Paris blames Romeo for the supposed suicide of Juliet because Romeo took Tybalt’s life. He believed that the sadness from Tybalt’s death led to Juliet’s death. When he says “Can vengeance be pursued further than death? Condemned villain must die” he is saying that he will avenge Juliet’s death by bringing Romeo to justice.

Status: “ O, I am slain! [Falls] If thou be merciful,/open the tomb, lay me with Juliet.” (R&J,v:iii ln.72-73)

Reply: After Paris fights Romeo to the death, he is wounded and tells Romeo that if he is merciful he will lay his dead body next to his love, Juliet. This shows that Paris really did love Juliet. Even if Juliet didn’t love him back, he still loved her enough to die with her. He was then slain near the tomb.

the APOTHECARY

A young man walked into my shop the other day, first customer i've had in weeks that actually had coin to spend. He wanted to buy a deadly poison off of me, something that could end someone's life quickly and without pain. I advised against him purchasing such drugs, as Mantua’s law forbids it, and he was still a young man. I could also be put to death for selling such drugs, and I would rather be poverty-stricken than dead. I knew it was the right thing to not sell him the lethal poison, but these are desperate times, and i'm barely making enough money to feed myself and my family. I’ve had to resort to begging and distributing these drugs in the past, but here in Mantua it is hard to make an honest living, and many here are hungry and struggle to survive. Merchants resolve to scamming, the politicians are easily bribed, and I even have to resort to selling illegal drugs. Everyone must do whatever they can to survive. I took his coin and sold him the poison as well instructions for using it, and tried not to think twice about doing so.

I heard news from Verona today, two star-crossed lovers dead, Romeo of the house of Montagues, and Juliet of the house of Capulets. With their deaths, there was finally peace between the Capulets and Montagues. It is a real shame that a terrible tragedy and loss of life finally brought peace. I later learned that the young man that I sold that deadly poison to was in fact Romeo, and he did use the poison to kill himself. I can't now get over the fact that I am in part responsible for his death. I now realize that guilt is worse than hunger and poverty, and I do regret what i've done, but I also believe it was necessary for my survival.

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STATUS: “Such mortal drugs I have; but Mantua’s law/ Is death to any he that utters them.” (R&J, V:i ln. 66-67).

REPLY: Romeo, who is desperate and emotionally unstable after hearing of Juliet’s death, tries to buy poison from the apothecary to end his life. The apothecary is at first reluctant about Romeo’s request, and warns him that the drug that he wishes to buy is lethal. The apothecary also knows that if he is caught selling poisons in Mantua, he would be put to death for selling illegal drugs. The Apothecary knows it is not a good idea to sells the poison to Romeo, but he was willing to take the risk, because he desperately needed money.

STATUS: “I pay thy poverty but not my will consents.” (R&J, V:i ln. 75).

REPLY: The Apothecary was willing to sell Romeo the poison just because he needed his money to survive, and not because he thinks it's right. He knew that Romeo would use the drugs for harm, and that he could face serious punishment, but he took the risk anyways. Poverty had turned apothecary into a desperate and hungry man, and he would trade anything if it meant he could get a decent meal. The apothecary also realizes that it's better to avoid hunger by risking death by execution, than to just starve.

STATUS: “Put this in any liquid thing you will/ And drink it off, and if you had the strength/ of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.” (R&J, V:i ;ln. 77-79).

REPLY: The Apothecary explains to Romeo how to use the lethal drug, and he told him that no man, no matter their strength, could withstand the liquid poison. The poison was said to be able to kill him even if he had the strength of twenty men, so death was guaranteed.

FRIAR LAURENCE

Today without a doubt, has been a horrible day for the people of Verona. We lost young kids, only because of their undeniable love for each other. I’m the reason for all of this , I have the blood of two teens on my hands. I should dead because of that. I am no Friar. I should of never married Romeo and Juliet, I should have never gave Juliet that potion, I should have gave Romeo that letter myself and I wouldn’t let the plague stop me from delivering that message. Should of, would of, could of but it doesn’t matter because it’s too late. It’s my fault and the Prince should have my head for it. I should have gotten to that tomb faster. Even when I asked Balthasar, who was in there, I had a feeling my plan didn’t go so well. I asked Balthasar to come in with me , but Romeo threatened him. I know why he threatened him now, because if he had known that Romeo was gonna kill himself he would have tried to stop him. Not only did he kill himself, but he killed Paris! Then of course perfect timing Juliet wakes up confused. I had to tell her that her husband and suitor are now dead. I told her to come run away with me to the nunnery but she wouldn’t come with me, so I ran like a coward. Not that much time passes where I am found by the watchman. They soon take me to the Prince where I confess the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. I tell him that if he should punish anyone punish me, but you know that he didn’t kill me because here I am writing this. Two young kids were fooled by love and just wanted to be together and now they are.

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Status: “The letter was no nice, but full of charge,/ Of dear import, and neglecting it/may do much danger” (R+J, V:ii ln. 18-19)

Reply: When Friar Laurence learns that Friar John never delivered the letter to Romeo, he begins to worry. He admits that the letter was not just a nice greeting to Romeo, but it contained very important information. Due the fact that Romeo does not know the truth about Juliet’s “death”, Friar claims that it can be very dangerous if it wasn’t sent.

Status: “Stay then; I’ll go alone. Fear comes upon me/ O, much I fear some ill unthrifty thing.” (R+J, V:iii ln 135-136)

Reply: Upon arriving at the Capulet Tomb, Friar Laurence sees Balthasar. He learns Balthasar that Romeo is in there, and when asking him to go into the Tomb together, Balthasar refused claiming that Romeo threatened his life if Balthasar came in. After hearing of the threat from Balthasar, Friar Laurence suddenly became afraid. Friar Laurence knew how Romeo was always willing to die if he wasn’t able to be with Juliet, so he was scared that something terrible had happened when he knew that Romeo was all alone in the tomb with Juliet’s body.

Status: “Miscarried by my fault, let my old life/ Be sacrificed, some hour before his time,/ Unto the rigor of everest law” ( R+J, V:iii ln 267-269)

Reply: Friar Laurence tells Prince Escalus the story of how he married Romeo and Juliet, and came up with a plan for them to be together, and how they were both supposed to be alive at the end but Friar John never delivered the letter and that’s when it all fell apart. Here he says that if any part of the tragedy was his fault, then his life should be sacrificed and suffer the worst punishment the law has. Friar Laurence feels guilty, because it was in fact all his actions that lead to this moment and he is the reason why they are both dead.

ROMEO

Oh, how everything is hurting and all I want is death. I was just minding my own business chilling in Mantua, waiting for Friar Laurence to give me a green light to come back and see my lovely Juliet once again. Then, my dear servant Balthasar came and told me the death of my beloved Juliet. My heart ached and all I wanted to do was go and kill myself. Nothing mattered to me besides being with my love and that was all I could think about. I was lucky enough to find the apothecary very quickly and was able to acquire the poison necessary for me to go and commit suicide. After that, I quickly took off to Verona to see my Juliet.

Upon arriving to the Capulet vault, I noticed that Paris was also present at the exterior of the vault scattering flowers. I did not want to duel with him, but alas, it happened anyway. I ended up killing the fellow and then advanced to the interior of the vault. When I saw my Juliet laying in the vault, she looked so beautiful, so alive, how could she possibly be dead? I didn’t want to believe it but at least we could be together and love one another forever, without a problem or doubt, an endless love that would last for an eternity. Right before drinking the poison, I kissed her one last time and it was so delightful, she felt so warm and lively in my hands and for a moment I truly believed that she was alive. Making sure to lay next to her, I drank the potion and fell into a peaceful, eternal sleep where my Juliet and I can freely share an endless love.

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STATUS: “Get me ink and paper/ And give posthorses. I will hence tonight” (R&J,V: i ln 25-26).

REPLY: In this quotation, Romeo was just told that Juliet had died by his servant Balthasar. He is requesting his horse so that he can travel to Verona and see Juliet at the Capulet vault right away. His need to visit Juliet displays his undying love for her and his need to always be with her. His urgency also shows that Romeo cares about Juliet so much to the point where she consumes all of his thoughts and he thinks about her all of the time.

STATUS: “Here’s to my love! O true apothecary!/ Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die” (R&J, V:iii, ln 119-120).

REPLY: The quote shows the desperation in Romeo to be with Juliet even in death. Romeo’s love for Juliet causes Romeo to go to extremes, even asking an apothecary, a drug carrier, to give him something to kill himself quickly. Not only does this show his love and longing for her, it also shows what love can do to a person, make one do things they would not normally do and even make them a different person.

STATUS: “Why art thou so fair? Shall I believe/ That unsubstantial Death is amorous,/ And that the lean abhorred monster keeps/ Thee here in a dark to be his paramour?” (R&J, V:V ln. 102-105).

REPLY: Though dead and surrounded by death in the dark, Juliet still looked so breathtakingly beautiful according to Romeo. Despite being on his deathbed, Romeo can only look and think about Juliet in his last moments. Romeo is so enamored with Juliet that he thinks that the reason why Death took his wife was to be with Juliet themselves. This shows once again how much love has changed Romeo and how love can make someone turn them to be the worst they ever been (like for this quotation, personify Death and make assumptions as to why their love as taken away from them).

the PRINCE

Today has been one of the worst days of my life. I am appalled that after all the measures I took, tragedy has still befallen my kingdom. I heard that there was trouble going on in Capulet’s graveyard and immediately rushed to investigate what the remaining citizens were yelling about. I arrived and the Chief Watchman informed me that three of my kinsman had died. Romeo, Juliet, and dear Paris. The Friar then told me all of what happened, but I did not kill him for his intents were good. He still stayed a holy man. All of the Friar’s story was confirmed by dead Romeo’s letter. Romeo and Juliet had loved each other, but were ill-fated from the beginning by the plagued feud. Their deaths were the final breaking point in this lifelong rift. Capulet and Montague are now reconciled, but at a price to everyone. I have lost family, the Capulets, the Montagues, the citizens - they are all in pain. Some will be excused, and others will be given a punishment. There really never was a story of more woe than this one, of Juliet and her Romeo.

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STATUS:“Come, Montague; for thou art early up/ To see thy son and heir now early down.”

(R&J,Act V: iii ln. 208-209)

REPLY: This quote shows that the Prince has empathy for Lord Montague, as his son and only heir had just died. This shows that Prince Escalus as a person is very compassionate and feels other’s losses immensely. His outbursts in other acts show that he cares deeply for his kingdom and its inhabitants, as supported by this quote.

STATUS:See what a scourge is laid uponyour hate,/ that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!/ And I, for winking at you, discords too,/ have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished”(R&J,Act V: iii ln. 292-295)

REPLY: The prince talks about the punishments that the families have received because of their hatred towards each other. He explains that the heavens have killed the children of the Capulets and the Montagues so they can learn to love and forgive each other for their acts of hatred. The prince deeply regrets not taking the arguments of the families more seriously and even he has lost two relatives because of it.

STATUS: “A glooming peace this morning with it brings./ The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head./ Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things./ Some shall be pardoned, and some punishèd./ For never was a story of more woe/ Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” (R&J,Act V: iii ln. 305-310)

REPLY: The prince says the sun will not rise because of how sad the day is and that there is much more to be discussed about the events that have unfolded. Even though the tragedies have brought a sad peace upon Verona, the prince acknowledges that some will be punished and some will be forgiven by the heavens. The prince says that there isn’t a sadder story than Juliet’s and Romeo’s because not only were the families affected by the tragedies, but the entire city of Verona