ELA 9 – WHAT HAPPENS IN ACT III, ROMEO AND JULIET?
Act III, Scene I
In a public place, Benvolio suggests to Mercutio that they go home; the day is hot, and there is a good
chance that they might meet the Capulets and get into a brawl.
Mercutio teases peaceable Benvolio,
accusing him of being ever quick to fight. Tybalt comes along, ready to give or take offence.
As
always, Mercutio begins to bait him, while Benvolio, concerned that there might be a brawl, begs them to
withdraw to a more private place. Romeo appears. Tybalt calls him “villain”, but Romeo tries to calm
Tybalt, not wishing to fight with Juliet’s cousin.
decides to fight Tybalt himself.
Mistaking Romeo’s gentleness for submission, Mercutio
Romeo tries to separate them, and as he does, Tybalt gives Mercutio a
fatal thrust, then runs off. Mercutio, knowing he is dying, asks Benvolio to help him to a nearby house.
Left alone, Romeo is greatly troubled that his friend has been mortally wounded, trying to defend his
honor. Romeo, in turn, has allowed Tybalt to insult him because, for Juliet’s sake, he would not fight.
Benvolio returns to say Mercutio is dead, and Romeo knows more trouble is to come. Tybalt reappears.
Romeo, angry now, is ready to avenge Mercutio’s death. They fight, and Tybalt is killed. Benvolio
urges Romeo to flee the Prince’s wrath and the citizens’ fury. He does. The Prince, the Capulets, the
Montagues, and citizens come in. Benvolio gives a truthful account of the events, but Lady Capulet
doubts him because he is related to the Montagues. The Prince’s decision is that Romeo immediately
go into exile or face death.
Act III, Scene II
Juliet, alone, is impatient for the night which will bring her Romeo. The nurse arrives with the news of
Tybalt’s death, but is so long in telling the story that Juliet, at first, thinks Romeo is dead. Finally, she
realizes that Tybalt was killed by Romeo and Romeo is now banished. The nurse promises Juliet that
Romeo will be with her that night and goes to talk to him at Friar Laurence’s cell. , taking a ring of Juliet’s
as a token of faith.
Act III, Scene III
Friar Laurence brings Romeo thenews that for killing Tybalt, the Prince has decreed that Romeo be
banished. Romeo sees banishment as worse than death.
Before the Friar can calm him, the Nurse
arrives. Romeo begs for news of Juliet, then, assuming his beloved must hate him now, threatens to kill
himself. The Friar chides him, pointing out that the situation is not hopeless. He tells Romeo to go to
Juliet that night, but to leave early in the morning before the watchmen make their rounds.
Act III, Scene IV
Paris has come to the Capulet’s house. Capulet has promised him that he and Juliet will be
married the following Thursday (quietly of course, out of respect for Tybalt). Capulet tells his wife to
inform Juliet of this decision.
Act III, Scene IV
It is dawn, and Romeo and Juliet know they must part. The Nurse comes in to warn Juliet that
her mother is coming. Romeo says a sorrowful farewell to Juliet. Lady Capulet comes in, still vowing
revenge on Romeo, and tells Juliet that her father has arranged for her to marry Paris the following
Thursday. Juliet refuses, saying she will not marry yet. Lady Capulet becomes very angry, and at that
moment, her husband and the Nurse arrive. When Lady Capulet tells him that Juliet refuses to marry,
he storms about and is so abusive to Juliet that his wife tries to calm him. He threatens to throw Juliet
out of the house if she refuses to marry Paris. Juliet appeals to her mother, in vain. When her parents
leave, she appeals to the Nurse whose only advice is that she marry Paris since Romeo is as good as
dead. Juliet resolves to go to talk to Friar Laurence, now her only friend.