2.6.2

Scene 3

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Summary of Act 5, Scene 3 (Part 1)

Here's a summary of what happens in the first part of Act 5, Scene 3 - up to Romeo's death:

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Romeo and Paris visit Juliet's grave

  • In Scene 3, Paris goes to the tomb with a page (young servant boy) to pay his last respects to Juliet. He begins to scatter flowers on the grave.
  • The page signals to Paris that someone is approaching the tomb. Paris hides.
  • Romeo enters with Balthazar – Romeo is carrying a crowbar and tells his servant that he plans to open the Capulet tomb. He wants to take back an expensive ring that he gave Juliet.
  • Romeo gives Balthazar a letter for Lord Montague and tells him to leave.
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Paris confronts Romeo

  • As Romeo opens the tomb, Paris comes from his hiding place and approaches him – he recognises Romeo as the man who killed Tybalt. He thinks that Romeo caused Juliet’s death, as he believes that Juliet died because of her grief (sadness) for her cousin.
  • Paris also knows that Romeo has been banished. The Prince said that he would be put to death if he returned.
  • Paris feels very angry towards Romeo (he calls him 'vile Montague!'). He thinks that Romeo plans on vandalising (damaging) Juliet’s corpse because of how much he hates the Capulets.
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Romeo kills Paris

  • Paris challenges Romeo.
  • Romeo tells Paris to leave him alone. Paris refuses. Romeo and Paris draw their swords and fight – Paris’ page (who was still hiding nearby) runs off to get the Prince.
  • Romeo kills Paris.
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Romeo dies

  • Romeo carries Paris’ body down into the Capulet tomb and lays him near Juliet. This is to honour Paris’ last dying request.
  • Romeo sees Juliet and says that 'death’s pale flag is not advanced' – she still looks beautiful as if she is not really dead.
  • Romeo talks to the 'dead' Juliet about how much he loves her and how upset he is.
  • He then drinks the poison from the apothecary. He kisses Juliet one more time and dies.

Summary of Act 5, Scene 3 (Part 2)

Here's a summary of what happens in the second part of Act 5, Scene 3 - from Romeo's death to Juliet's death.

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Friar Laurence enters the tomb

  • Friar Laurence enters the churchyard and meets Balthazar (who had decided to stay hidden and watch Romeo).
  • Balthazar tells Friar Laurence that Romeo is in the tomb and has already killed Paris.
  • Friar Laurence enters the tombs.
  • Juliet wakes up and asks, 'Where is my Romeo?'
  • Friar Laurence hears noises from outside and fears that the Watchmen are coming to the tomb.
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Juliet dies

  • Friar Laurence tells Juliet that Romeo and Paris are both dead. He tries to convince her to leave with him.
  • Juliet refuses to leave immediately. She convinces Friar Laurence to leave. She says she will follow soon.
  • Juliet mourns Romeo’s death. She realises that he has drunk poison and kisses his lips to try to get some of the poison into her mouth. She wants to die too.
  • The poison does not go onto her mouth. So she grabs Romeo’s dagger and aims it at herself. She calls her body 'is thy sheath'.
  • Juliet stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger. She dies.

Summary of Act 5, Scene 3 (Part 3)

Here's a summary of what happens in the third part of Act 5, Scene 3 - from Juliet's death to the play's end.

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The Prince and Capulets arrive

  • Paris’ page returns with the Watch. The Watch immediately notice 'the ground is bloody' and start to search the churchyard.
  • Some of the Watch find Balthazar hiding nearby and hold him until the Prince arrives. They also find Friar Laurence.
  • The Prince arrives at the scene. Lord and Lady Capulet are not far behind.
  • The Watch say that Paris has been murdered and that Romeo is dead.
  • Lady Capulet sees that Juliet’s body is bleeding. She realises that she must not have really been dead when they placed her in the tomb.
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The Prince hears the story

  • Lord Montague arrives and says that his wife (Lady Montague) has died of grief because of Romeo’s exile.
  • Friar Laurence explains the whole story to the Prince. He talks about Romeo and Juliet’s deaths, Juliet’s engagement to Paris and her refusing to marry him. He says both asked for help and explains the accidents with the letters to Romeo. He says Romeo killed Paris, went into the tomb and killed himself. He said that when Juliet woke up and (finding Romeo dead), she killed herself.
  • Balthazar gives the Prince the letter meant for Lord Montague (from Romeo). The Prince says that it confirms the story.
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Feud and play end

  • The Prince tells Lord Capulet and Lord Montague that their constant fighting has caused the deaths of their children, as well as a number of other people (Tybalt, Mercutio, Paris, and Lady Montague, as well as Romeo and Juliet).
  • Lord Capulet and Lord Montague shake hands and agree to end the family feud (fight). Montague says he will build a gold statue of Juliet to honour her memory. Capulet says that he will build one of Romeo to go next to Juliet.
  • The Prince ends the play. He says that there 'never was a story of more woe' and sadness than the story of Romeo and Juliet.

Jump to other topics

1Context

2Plot Summary

3Key Characters

4Key Themes & Concepts

5Writing Techniques

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