Act IVAct IV

Hatching a PlanHatching a Plan ((Tuesday Mid-morningTuesday Mid-morning))

Act IVAct IV, , Scene iScene i

Act IVAct IV, , Scene iScene i Act IV begins in Friar Lawrence’s cell. Act IV begins in Friar Lawrence’s cell. (1)(1)

ParisParis has arrived to solidify the wedding has arrived to solidify the wedding plans for Thursday.plans for Thursday.

After explaining to the Friar why haste is After explaining to the Friar why haste is being urged, being urged, (2)(2) Juliet is really there Juliet is really there to_________________________ to_________________________ though she arrives prepared though she arrives prepared for “confession”for “confession”. .

(1)(1) The FriarThe Friar, learning of this , learning of this secondsecond marriage, states that, marriage, states that, “Uneven is the “Uneven is the course, I like it not.”course, I like it not.”

(3)(3) Juliet is quite cold to Paris’ Juliet is quite cold to Paris’ proclamations of loveproclamations of love and references to and references to their forthcoming marriage.their forthcoming marriage.

Act IVAct IV, , Scene iScene i (cont.) (cont.) After Paris is ushered out by the Friar, After Paris is ushered out by the Friar, (4)(4)

Juliet threatens to commit suicideJuliet threatens to commit suicide unless he unless he helps her out of her predicament.helps her out of her predicament.

The Friar tries to calm Juliet, but it does The Friar tries to calm Juliet, but it does not work. She is insistent that if she is not work. She is insistent that if she is without help she will kill herself.without help she will kill herself.

(5)(5) The Friar then develops a plan:The Friar then develops a plan: He gives Juliet a potion that will make her He gives Juliet a potion that will make her

sleep for sleep for 4242 hours. hours. When she wakes in the Capulet family crypt, When she wakes in the Capulet family crypt,

Romeo will be there to take her to Romeo will be there to take her to MantuaMantua.. The Friar will let Romeo know of this plan by The Friar will let Romeo know of this plan by

sending him a sending him a letter that another friar will letter that another friar will carry to himcarry to him..

Friar Lawrence believes he has Friar Lawrence believes he has two two days to get days to get the letter there.the letter there.

Act IVAct IV, , Scene iiScene ii

The Plot Speeds The Plot Speeds Up Up ((Wednesday Mid-Wednesday Mid-

morningmorning))

Act IVAct IV, , Scene iiScene ii

After Juliet After Juliet (1)(1) apologizes to her fatherapologizes to her father for her for her insolence and insolence and agrees to marry Parisagrees to marry Paris, , (2) (2) Lord Lord CapuletCapulet, thrilled by the change, , thrilled by the change, moves the date of moves the date of the wedding up to Wednesday, less than 12 hours the wedding up to Wednesday, less than 12 hours awayaway..

As Lord Capulet voices his hope that Friar As Lord Capulet voices his hope that Friar Lawrence can talk some sense into Lawrence can talk some sense into (1)(1) JulietJuliet, she, , she, happierhappier and much changedand much changed, arrives., arrives.

In the Capulet house, Lord and Lady Capulet are In the Capulet house, Lord and Lady Capulet are preparing for the wedding on Thursday.preparing for the wedding on Thursday.

This scene allows the pace of the play to pick This scene allows the pace of the play to pick up, as it has been from the very beginning of up, as it has been from the very beginning of Act I, building to the tragic end.Act I, building to the tragic end.

Act IVAct IV, , Scene iiiScene iii Drinking Drinking

“Death” “Death” ((Wednesday Late Wednesday Late

AfternoonAfternoon))

Act IVAct IV, , Scene iiiScene iii

Juliet asks the Nurse to leave her alone and does not Juliet asks the Nurse to leave her alone and does not confide in her about what she plans to do. This is most confide in her about what she plans to do. This is most likely because of the Nurse’s reaction in Act III (“I think likely because of the Nurse’s reaction in Act III (“I think it best you married with the County”) and because it best you married with the County”) and because (1)(1) the Nurse is so talkativethe Nurse is so talkative..

When Lady Capulet exits, When Lady Capulet exits, (2)(2) Juliet questions Juliet questions the planthe plan:: She She fears the mixture may not workfears the mixture may not work.. She She thinks the Friar may be trying to kill herthinks the Friar may be trying to kill her to cover to cover

up her secret marriage to Romeo.up her secret marriage to Romeo. She She hypothesizeshypothesizes that if she wakes before Romeo that if she wakes before Romeo

comes comes she may suffocateshe may suffocate in a death-stench filled crypt. in a death-stench filled crypt. She She worriesworries that waking in the crypt that waking in the crypt she might go she might go

mad/crazymad/crazy..

In Juliet’s chamber, the Nurse aids Juliet in In Juliet’s chamber, the Nurse aids Juliet in preparing for the wedding the next day, preparing for the wedding the next day, Wednesday.Wednesday.

Act IVAct IV, , Scene iiiScene iii (cont.) (cont.)

During this scene, During this scene, (3)(3) sympathy is built for sympathy is built for Juliet because…Juliet because…

She is all alone.

She has no one to confide in, no one to trust.

She has no control over her present situation.

Act IVAct IV, , Scene ivScene iv Preparation Preparation

(VERY (VERY early Thursday early Thursday morningmorning))

Act IVAct IV, , Scene ivScene iv

The situation is mildly comical and very ironic, The situation is mildly comical and very ironic, for with the plan in motion for with the plan in motion (1)(1) they are really they are really preparing for a funeralpreparing for a funeral..

In the Capulet house, Lord and Lady Capulet In the Capulet house, Lord and Lady Capulet are busy preparing for the wedding that they are busy preparing for the wedding that they believe will soon occur.believe will soon occur.

It is clear that the plans for the quiet, little It is clear that the plans for the quiet, little affair have become bigger because of affair have become bigger because of (2)(2) the the amount of cooks that have been hired (20) and amount of cooks that have been hired (20) and Lord Capulet’s line, “Look to the baked meats, Lord Capulet’s line, “Look to the baked meats, good Angelica: spare not for cost.”good Angelica: spare not for cost.”

Act IVAct IV, , Scene vScene v The Nurse, on orders from Lord Capulet, has The Nurse, on orders from Lord Capulet, has

come into Juliet’s chamber to get her ready for come into Juliet’s chamber to get her ready for Paris’ arrival.Paris’ arrival.

When When (1)(1) the Nursethe Nurse opens the curtains, she opens the curtains, she notes Juliet’s body temperature and complexion notes Juliet’s body temperature and complexion and and believes that Juliet is “dead”believes that Juliet is “dead”..

(1)(1) Lady CapuletLady Capulet follows the screams and is follows the screams and is also also convinced that Juliet is “dead”convinced that Juliet is “dead”. . (1)(1) Lord Lord CapuletCapulet comes next and also comes next and also believes his believes his daughter has “died”daughter has “died”. .

The The (2)(2) reaction of Juliet’s parentsreaction of Juliet’s parents and the and the Nurse is one of Nurse is one of complete shock and woecomplete shock and woe; they ; they weep, wail, and mourn the rapid turn of eventsweep, wail, and mourn the rapid turn of events. .

Act IVAct IV, , Scene vScene v

The Discovery The Discovery ((VERY early Thursday VERY early Thursday

morningmorning))

Act IVAct IV, , Scene vScene v (cont.) (cont.) The Friar and County Paris enter and find the The Friar and County Paris enter and find the

Capulets mourning the loss of their “beloved” Capulets mourning the loss of their “beloved” only child.only child.

(3)(3) Friar LawrenceFriar Lawrence comforts the family by comforts the family by reminding them that Juliet is in a better placereminding them that Juliet is in a better place (eternal life) and pushes the plan forward by (eternal life) and pushes the plan forward by suggesting, “in all her best array bear her to suggesting, “in all her best array bear her to church”.church”. Oddly enough, the scene of “woe” ends with the Oddly enough, the scene of “woe” ends with the Capulet servant Peter fighting with the Capulet servant Peter fighting with the musicians Paris brought with him. He wishes musicians Paris brought with him. He wishes them to play a song to cheer him up, but they them to play a song to cheer him up, but they refuse to because it seems inappropriate. This refuse to because it seems inappropriate. This is meant to break the tension created by the is meant to break the tension created by the events that came before.events that came before.