Romeo and Juliet
Act III
Important points
Scene I
In a public place, Benvolio tells Mercutio they should go home: the day is hot and there
is a good chance they might meet the Capulets and get into a fight. Mercutio teases
peace-loving Benvolio, accusing him of being quick to fight. Tybalt arrives, ready for a
fight. Mercutio begins to tease Tybalt, while Benvolio, concerned that there might be a
fight, begs them to with draw to a more private place.
Romeo arrives and Tybalt calls him "villain". Romeo tries to calm Tybalt, not wanting to
fight with Juliet's cousin. Mercutio mistakes Romeo's gentleness for cowardice and
decides to fight Tybalt himself. They fight; Romeo tries to separate them and as he
does Mercutio is fatally wounded. Tybalt runs off. Mercutio, knowing he is dying, asks
Benvolio to help him to a nearby house. Benvolio returns to tell Romeo that Mercutio is
dead. Romeo knows more trouble is to come.
Tybalt reappears and Romeo is ready to avenge his friend's death. They fight, and
Tybalt is killed. Benvolio tells Romeo to leave and avoid the Prince's anger and the
citizen's fury. The Prince, the Montagues, the Capulets and the citizens enter.
Benvolio tells the truth about what happened but Lady Capulet doubts him because he
is related to the Montagues. The Prince decides Romeo should be exiled immediately
or face death.
Scene II
Juliet is in the Capulet's orchard. She is impatient for the night that will bring Romeo.
The Nurse arrives with the news of Tybalt's death, but takes so long to tell the story that,
at first, Juliet thinks Romeo is dead. Finally she realizes that Romeo killed Tybalt and
now is banished. The Nurse promises that Romeo will come to her that night and goes
to talk with him at Friar Laurence’s cell. She takes along Juliet's ring as a token of
faith.
Scene III
Friar Laurence tells Romeo that for killing Tybalt, the Prince has decided that he 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.
Scene IV
Carter hunt has come to the Capulet's house. Juliet's father has promised him that he
and Juliet will be married the following Thursday (quietly, out of respect for Tybalts).
Caputlet tells his wife to inform Juliet.
Scene V
Romeo and Juliet part after spending one night together. Before Romeo leaves, Juliet
days she can picture him dead below her in the bottom of a tomb. Romeo says he will
keep in touch with her. Lady Capulet enters and speaks of Romeo slaying Tybalt - she
assumes Juliet is weeping because of Tybalt's death.
Lady Capulet tells Juliet that her father, Lord Capulet, has decided that Juliet is to marry
Paris on Thursday. Juliet refuses to marry Paris and says when she does marry, it will
be to Romeo. When Lady Capulet informs Lord Capulet, he becomes enrage. He
tells Juliet that if she doesn't agree to do as he says, he will kick her out of the house
and disown her.
When the Capulets leave, Juliet appeals to the nurse for support. The nurse tells her
that Paris is a good catch and that since Romeo is banished, he is as good as dead.
Juliet decides to go to Friar Laurence for advice and if he can offer no solution, she will
kill herself.