2.3.3

Scenes 4-6

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Summary of Act 2, Scene 4

Here's a summary of what happens in Act 2, Scene 4:

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Tybalt's letter

  • In Scene 4, Benvolio tells Mercutio that Tybalt has sent a letter to Romeo’s house challenging him to a duel (fight). He wants a duel because Romeo dishonoured the Capulets by attending their party.
  • Mercutio says that Tybalt is a master swordsman. But Mercutio also starts making fun of him, saying he is vain (arrogant).
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Mercutio confronts Romeo

  • Romeo arrives and Mercutio starts making fun of him. He says that his love for Rosaline has made him weak – neither Mercutio nor Benvolio know of Romeo’s love for Juliet.
  • Mercutio is mad at Romeo for wandering off the night before and leaving his friends.
  • Romeo says that he had good reasons to do this so Mercutio shouldn’t be mad at him – but he still does not tell anyone about Juliet.
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Romeo and the Nurse

  • The Nurse enters and approaches Romeo.
  • Benvolio and Mercutio make some lewd (sexually offensive) comments about the Nurse, and then they leave.
  • The Nurse talks to Romeo – she warns him not to play with Juliet’s emotions and she says he should leave Juliet alone if his intentions are not honourable.
  • Romeo assures her that he loves Juliet.
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Romeo and the Nurse's plan

  • He asks the Nurse to make sure that Juliet can attend confession later on that day. He says that Friar Laurence will marry them there.
  • The Nurse agrees to tell Juliet. She also says that she will make a ladder out of clothes so that Romeo can visit Juliet on their wedding night.

Summary of Act 2, Scenes 5-6

Here's a summary of what happens in Act 2, Scenes 5-6:

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The plan revealed

  • In Scene 5, Juliet waits impatiently to hear from Romeo.
  • The Nurse returns. Juliet begs her for information. The Nurse makes Juliet wait for information, and Juliet gets more desperate for news.
  • Eventually, the Nurse gives in. She tells Juliet to pretend to go to confession that afternoon. She says Romeo will be waiting with Friar Laurence, and they will marry there.
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The marriage

  • Juliet arrives at Friar Laurence’s cell.
  • Romeo talks about the joy that he feels. He says that he does not care what happens to him now because he is so happy.
  • Romeo and Juliet get married.

Key Quote - Act 2, Scene 6

In Act 2, Scene 6, Friar Laurence says: 'These violent delights have violent ends'. Here's an analysis of this key quote:

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Foreshadowing death

  • This line foreshadows (warns about) Romeo and Juliet’s deaths.
  • Friar Laurence is trying to warn Romeo that even though his and Juliet’s love has happened very quickly and has been very enjoyable, their deaths could also happen as quickly.
  • The oxymoron 'violent delights' and repetition of 'violent' highlight his message further.

Jump to other topics

1Context

2Plot Summary

3Key Characters

4Key Themes & Concepts

5Writing Techniques

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