2.5.1

Scene 1

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Summary of Act 4, Scene 1

Here's a summary of what happens in Act 4, Scene 1:

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Paris' concerns

  • In Scene 1, Friar Laurence speaks to Paris about his upcoming marriage to Juliet. Paris is worried that Juliet has become unstable because of her grief over Tybalt’s death.
  • Juliet enters and Paris speaks to her about their life together. He calls her 'my wife'.
  • Juliet responds that she is not yet his wife. She speaks to him indifferently (coldly).
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Juliet's request

  • Friar Laurence pretends that he needs to hear Juliet’s confession so that he can speak to Juliet alone. Paris kisses Juliet once and leaves.
  • Juliet asks Friar Laurence to help her – she brings out a knife and tells him that she would rather kill herself than marry Paris.
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The plan

  • Friar Laurence quickly makes a plan – Juliet will pretend to agree to marry Paris. The night before the wedding, she will take a sleeping potion. The potion will lower her heart rate by so much that she appears to be dead. Her family will then lay her in the Capulet tomb.
  • Friar Laurence plans to send a letter to Romeo. The letter will explain the whole plan and ask him to meet Juliet when she wakes up. Romeo will then take Juliet to Mantua with him, and they will be free to live their married life together.
  • Juliet agrees to the plan. She takes the sleeping potion from Friar Laurence.

Key Quotes - Act 4, Scene 1

Here are key quotes from Juliet and Friar Laurence in Act 4, Scene 1:

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Juliet

  • 'Come weep with me; past hope, past cure, past help!'
    • Juliet is very upset by the idea of having to marry Paris. When she is alone with Friar Laurence, she begs him for help.
    • She repeatedly uses the adjective 'past' to emphasise the sense of hopelessness she feels.
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Friar Laurence

  • 'Daughter'.
    • When Friar Laurence speaks to Romeo, they often refer to each other as 'father' and 'son'.
    • Here, he calls Juliet 'daughter'.
    • These nouns suggest a compassionate, loving, paternal (fatherly) relationship between Romeo, Juliet, and Friar Laurence – he cares for them and their fates.
    • There’s also a feeling that his religious role is echoed in the choice of word here, too.

Jump to other topics

1Context

2Plot Summary

3Key Characters

4Key Themes & Concepts

5Writing Techniques

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