Act 5 Flashcards
scene 1
miscommunication in Mantua. structure: private. later on wednesday. Mantua - Shakespeare breaking three unities
scene 2
Friar Lawrence’s plan falls apart. private. wednesday day
scene 3
a glooming piece. private and public. wednesday night/near dawn on thursday
“I dreamt my lady came and found me dead” scene 1
Romeo. foreshadowing. increase catharsis because the plan is too close to working
Balthasar scene 1
gives news to Romeo about Juliet lying dead but its a fake death but Romeo has no reason to doubt him.
“is it e’en so? then I defy you, stars” scene 1
Romeo. key line. reminds audience of futility of actions - fate is written in stars
Romeo’s soliloquy in scene 1
considers how best to die next to Juliet - eerie atmosphere. sense of tenderness- not sexual though. crotesque images of death - feasting on death. “well Juliet I will lie with thee to night” - wants to lie with her in death as much as he did in life - love is everlasting. “sharp misery had worn him to the bones” - ramping up images of horror and death or inexorable journey to tomb
“fatal cannon’s womb” scene 1
Romeo. invoked images of death with images of hastiness - tragic speed. both life and death within 3 words - metaphor for speed of their love
“my poverty but not my will consents” scene 1
apothecary. because of my poverty, I am forced against my will to agree. he is the opposite of the friar - he doesn’t discourage their suicide. shown in sharp relief to friar. uses apothecary to show friar as a better man. friar has best intentions for Romeo and Juliet
“come, cordial” scene 1
Romeo addresses cordial. money is true evil. apostrophising poison sense that cordial is a companion and comfort - amplifies sense of isolation. a cordial was seen as something restorative so we could argue that the metaphor is that the cordial “restores” him to Juliet
“unhappy fortune!” scene 2
Friar. fate. so we don’t judge Friar too harshly? refers to fate - still believe in role of fate in people’s life
“Romeo hath had no notice of these accidents… poor living corse, clos’d in a dead man’s tomb!” scene 2
Friar. accidents are a suggestion of fate and how quickly things are unravelling. dead mans tomb is an ominous end
scene 3
A glooming piece. private and public. Wednesday night/ near dawn on Thursday. its turning point in act3 scene 1 features the same cast of characters and here at the end once again reunited. difference - feuding bought them together at the start and sad reconciliation brings them together at the end
‘obsequies’ scene 3
Paris. repetition of it - ceremony of mourning - just a formality for him??
‘mattock’ scene 3
contrast to two mens mourning. Shakespeare reaffirming violence
“a precious ring” scene 3
Romeo. wants to get into bed. never be separated. ring is a symbol of eternity.passion rushing him to inexorable doom
“thou detestable maw, thou womb of death… thy rotten jaws” scene 3
Romeo. maw-stomach. extended metaphor of death’s hunger. crotesque image of being consumed by death and powerless to stop it
scene 3 Romeo and Paris fight and Paris dies
paris’ death not important to tragedy hence a very quick death but Paris requests burial with Juliet - suggest deeper love than audience considered
“one writ with me in sour misfortune’s book!” scene 3
Romeo’s tribute to Paris. caught up in the same web of fate
“thou art not conquer’d; beauty’s ensign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks” scene 3
Romeo. death has tried to conquer Juliet but her beauty has overcome. audience is frustrated she is not dead
“death is amorous” scene 3
motif for 100s years. Romeo imagines that death is in love with Juliet and wants her for himself
“eyes look your last. arms, take your last embrace. and lips, O you the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss” scene 3
romeo. anaphora suggests the totality of his farewell - poignant for audience - tragic we know she’s not dead
“weary bark. here’s to my love! O true apothecary! thy drugs are quick . thus with a kiss I die” scene 3
Romeo’s last words. metaphor of ship after long voyage- tired doesn’t want to live anymore - reminded of everything. echo of Juliet’s drink of poison. gratitude, love, respect, celebration
“a greater power than we can contradict hath thwarted our intents” scene 3
Friar blames fate
poison is a friend to both Juliet and Romeo
scene 3
“I will kiss thy lips… to make me die with a restorative.. O happy dagger!” scene 3
Juliet. led to death in order to reclaim their love. a restorative death will restore them to one another. symmetry in death - balance of kisses they exchange. echo of Romeo’s final line
[she stabs herself and falls on Romeo’s body] scene 3
completion of lifes in death. bodies and souls reuniting at last. visual metaphor for families reuniting at end of play. focal point on stage
“look how our daughter bleeds! this dagger hath mista’en” scene 3
Capulet is really confused
Friar Lawrence’s speech scene 3
explains all. paves way for reconciliation. parents need to know of children and forgive - why we have to have this speech. dilutes tragedy - don’t feel as cathartic - sense of resolution. “let my old life be sacrific’d”
“Capulet, Montague, see what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!” scene 3
Prince. implicitly exonerates Friar, Nurse, romeo and Juliet - fate is the cause. link back to prologue
“O brother Montague, give me thy hand” scene 3
Capulet. Ancient symbol of reconciliation
“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo” scene 3
Prince. Play finished with rhyming couplet -perfectly rhymes gives couple the final focus of the play - feel a sense of catharsis but also hope for Verona’s citizens and Romeo and Juliet
