Act III

After the fast dynamic of the first two Acts, filled with violence, decadent parties and jubilation, the counter-movement begins. Romeo and Juliet are to become victims of fate and of the hatred of the society in which they live. Act III is full of tension and drama. There is less humour and much more drama as the characters begin their descent into tragedy. Tragedy begins early in Act III, as Romeo's attempts to stop the fighting end in Mercutio's death. Romeo's need to avenge his friend's death results in his banishment. Capulet's goal of making Juliet happy by marrying her to Paris only serves to compound her tragedy. The ominous words of Friar Laurence in Act II, Scene iii, 'Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, / And vice sometimes by action dignified' (II.iii.17-18) echo throughout Act III.

• Tybalt challenges Romeo who refuses to fight.
• Mercutio tries to defend Romeo's honour and is murdered by Tybalt.
• Romeo takes his revenge for the death of his friend and kills Tybalt.
• The Prince banishes Romeo.
• Both Romeo and Juliet lament the banishment as a fate worse than death.
• Friar Laurence convinces Romeo that the situation could be worse and promises to rectify the problem.
• Romeo and Juliet consummate their marriage.
• In the meantime Capulet has decided on behalf of his daughter that Juliet will marry Paris in three days time.
• Juliet's refusal leaves her alone, shunned by her parents and the Nurse.
• She resolves to approach the Friar for help.

Scene i: a public place in Verona

Act III, Scene i is the turning point for the play. Up to this point, the play has been full of witty banter and has played out at a rompish (quick and playful) pace. However, as the responder expected from the Prologue, the complication of the feud between the families has not been resolved and this will result in tragedy.

Benvolio tries to convince Mercutio to stay indoors because the Capulets are outside and looking for a fight. Mercutio teases Benvolio's peace keeping attempts by describing him as a quick tempered man.

When Tybalt arrives on the scene Mercutio is quick to mock him and thus incite him to violence. Romeo, direct from his marriage, refuses to fight Tybalt because they are now of the same family. However, there is no way for anybody but Romeo and the responder to know this. Mercutio, taking Romeo's refusal as cowardice, draws his sword in an attempt to defend Romeo's honour. As Romeo attempts to stop the fighting Mercutio is killed and Tybalt flees.

Romeo is now put in a situation in which he cannot avoid avenging his friend and thus slays Tybalt. Benvolio encourages him to flee. The people are up in arms and the Prince is forced into action. Benvolio pleads Romeo's case, as it was Tybalt who killed first. But the Prince has had enough of the fighting and banishes Romeo from Verona.

Important Points to note from Act III, Scene i:

• This is the turning point of the play. The protagonists are going to have to attempt to overcome this major complication.

• Romeo's love, demonstrated by his attempt to ignore Tybalt's insults, is superseded by hate and revenge.
• Love and hate overlap, and this is the basis for tragedy.
• Remember that at each point in this scene Romeo attempts to do the right thing and each time it results in a bad thing: He tries to stop the fighting - Mercutio dies; he avenges Tybalt's death - he is banished. For this reason Romeo exclaims that 'I am fortune's fool' (III.i.136).
• Remember that Friar Laurence spoke of such consequences in Act II, Scene iii, lines 17-18 - 'Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied' (II.iii.17-18).

Scene ii: Capulet's orchard

Juliet waits impatiently in her room for Romeo. Her language has not changed from Act II and her enthusiasm and jubilation is shockingly contrasted with the occurrences of Act III, Scene i. The Nurse arrives and tells Juliet the news. Juliet's grief is double: her cousin is dead and her husband is banished. She is now deeply embroiled in contradiction. How can she love someone who is meant to be her enemy and has killed a member of her family? Juliet resolves to be faithful to Romeo and the Nurse goes in search of him to bring them together.

Important Points to note from Act III, Scene ii:

• Initially, Juliet is not aware of what has happened. Because the responder is aware of Tybalt's death, this is dramatic irony.
• Juliet has a dilemma: can she love the man who has killed her cousin?
• She resolves to be constant in her love for Romeo.
• Juliet gives the Nurse a ring to pass on to Romeo.
• The Nurse goes to find Romeo.

Scene iii: Friar Laurence's cell

Romeo laments that banishment is a fate worse than death - just as Juliet did in Scene ii. He will not be consoled, much to the distress of Friar Laurence, who believes that Romeo is behaving foolishly and without reason. The Nurse arrives to find Romeo on the floor. After hearing about the distress that Juliet is going through Romeo tries to kill himself. Friar Laurence berates him with a lengthy speech and encourages him to see Juliet in the evening. He tells Romeo to be careful and to make sure that he is out of Verona and in Mantua by the morning. The Friar insists that Romeo remains in Mantua while he attempts to announce the marriage, reconcile the families' differences and beg a pardon from the Prince. The Nurse gives Romeo a ring from Juliet and this uplifts him.

Important Points to note from Act III, Scene iii:

• Romeo is irrational in his reaction to banishment and feels that it is a fate worse than death.
• The Friar points out that he should be thankful that he was not executed, that Tybalt died instead of him and that Juliet is still alive.
• Friar Laurence asserts himself as the voice of reason in his lengthy speech to Romeo.
• Friar Laurence advises Romeo to go to Mantua and wait there for further information.
• Romeo will spend one last night, which will be their first night together, with Juliet.

Scene iv: A room in Capulet's house

Because Romeo left to meet Juliet at the end of Scene iii, the responder can assume that while this scene takes place, Romeo and Juliet are meeting in Juliet's room. In the meantime, Paris continues to pursue Juliet's hand in marriage through Capulet. It is still unknown to them that she is in fact legally married. Much to the dismay of the responder, the plot is further complicated and hastened as Capulet suddenly decides that Juliet will marry Paris on Thursday that week in an ironic attempt to make her happy.

Important Points to note from Act III, Scene iv:

• Capulet, Lady Capulet and Paris are unaware of how Juliet has transformed.
• There is a striking contrast between Capulet's, Lady Capulet's and Paris' attitude towards love and Romeo and Juliet's attitude towards love.
• Romeo and Juliet's fate is increasingly out of their control.
• Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to heighten the tension for the responder.
• It is ironic that Capulet arranges the marriage in an attempt to make Juliet happy.

Scene v: Juliet's chamber

Scene v begins with Romeo and Juliet having consummated their marriage. This is only the third time that they have been alone together in three acts. Together, their mood is serene and more comfortable than the passion and excitement of the 'balcony scene' (II.ii). As Romeo leaves, he bravely comforts Juliet who has a fearful premonition of his death. Lady Capulet enters the scene as Romeo leaves and sympathises with Juliet about the grief that she believes is over Tybalt. She tells Juliet that Capulet has organised for her to marry Paris on Thursday in an attempt to cheer her up. Upon Juliet's refusal, Capulet enters and is furious. Despite the Nurse and Lady Capulet imploring him to calm down, he threatens to disown Juliet if she does not follow through with the marriage. Lady Capulet does not support her and the Nurse lets her down by advising her to marry Paris. Juliet finds herself completely alone with her secret. She decides that she will visit Friar Laurence, under the guise of confessing her sins of disobeying her father, to get help.

Important Points to note from Act III, Scene v:

• Romeo, upon consummating his love, is now more practical and braver than before.
• Juliet foresees a disastrous fate for the two lovers.
• Capulet and Lady Capulet think that Juliet's grief is caused by the death of Tybalt.
• In an attempt to cheer her up they have arranged the marriage.
• Juliet's refusal of the marriage sends Capulet into a rage where he threatens to disown her.
• The Nurse abandons Juliet, demonstrating that she does not understand the depth of Juliet's love.
• Juliet is completely alone, particularly now that Romeo has been banished.