Act 3 Scene 5

The scene begins at dawn and after spending the night with each other Romeo and Juliet know that they must part. Juliet begs Romeo to stay, but she knows he must leave under the cover of darkness to avoid being executed. Juliet’s Nurse enters to warn her that her mother is approaching. In response Romeo immediately says a sorrowful goodbye to Juliet as they do not know when they will see each other again. It is here that Juliet has a premonition of Romeo’s death: “methinks I see thee now, thou art so low as one dead in the bottom of a tomb.” This foreshadows to the audience the events that are about to unfold. Lady Capulet enters the room still vowing revenge on Romeo for the death of beloved Tybalt, and tells Juliet that her father has arranged for her to marry Paris the following Thursday. Juliet is outraged and immediately vocally refuses, stating that she is not ready to marry Paris, for “he shall not make me there a joyful bride.” This is the first instance of Juliet defying her parents’ authority, captured through the use of emotive and high modal language. Lady Capulet becomes very angry, and at that moment, Capulet and the Nurse walk into the room. Lady Capulet informs Capulet that Juliet has no intention of marrying Paris, causing an obscene reaction whereby Capulet storms around and is very abusive to Juliet, decrying her for being a “disobedient wretch!” Capulet makes it clear he will not stand for Juliet’s behaviour, telling her to “get thee to church o’ Thursday, or never after look me in the face. Speak not. Reply not. Do not answer me.” Lady Capulet tries in vain to calm her husband down, but instead he threatens to throw Juliet out of the house if she does not consent to marrying Paris.