Act 4

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Key Quotes - Act 4, Scene 1

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

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.

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.

Key Quotes - Act 4, Scenes 2-3

Here are key quotes from Juliet in Act 4, Scenes 2 and 3:

Scene 2

'I have learn’d me to repent the sin of disobedient opposition.'
- When Juliet returns to her parents, she pretends that she is happy to marry Paris.
- In this quote, she admits that disobeying her father was a 'sin'. She implies that she went to Friar Laurence to seek forgiveness for being 'disobedient'.

Scene 3

'Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again.'
- After Lady Capulet and the Nurse leave Juliet’s bedchamber, she says goodbye to them both.
- In this quote, she says that only 'God knows' when she will see them again – she knows that she will not see them again during her own lifetime. She knows that she will only be with them in the afterlife.

Scene 3

'What if it be poison, which the friar subtly hath minister’d to have me dead.'
- Juliet worries about her fate. She is about to take a mysterious potion and cannot be completely certain about what will happen once she does.
- She wonders if Friar Laurence has actually given her 'poison' so that she will die and he will avoid getting into trouble for marrying her and Romeo.
- She is very anxious until she finally decides to trust him and take the potion.

1Context

1.1Context

1.1.1Tragedy & Setting

1.1.2Relationships

1.1.3Religion & Fate

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context

1.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Era

1.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Location

2Plot Summary

3Key Characters

3.1Romeo

3.1.1First Impressions & Juliet's Effect

3.1.2Character Development

3.1.3Reactions & Key Quotes

3.1.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Age

3.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Banishment

3.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Naivety

3.2Juliet

3.2.1First Impressions & Character Development

3.2.2Tragic Character

3.2.3Key Quotes

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Romeo & Juliet

3.2.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Real People?

3.2.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Montagues vs Capulets

3.3Mercutio

3.3.1Characterisation

3.3.2Key Quotes

3.4The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt

3.4.1The Nurse

3.4.2Benvolio

3.4.3Tybalt

3.5Friar Laurence

3.5.1Characterisation

3.5.2Key Quotes

3.5.3End of Topic Test- Mercutio, Nurse & Benvolio

3.5.4End of Topic Test - Tybalt & Friar Laurence

3.5.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - What is a Friar?

3.6Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.2Grade 9 - Key Characters: Extract Analysis

4Key Themes & Concepts

4.1Power & Danger of Love

4.1.1Romeo's Loves

4.1.2Friendship & Family

4.1.3Violent Love

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Love

4.2Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.1Violence, Conflict & Suicide

4.2.2Exam-Style Questions - Violence & Death

4.2.3Fate & Destiny

4.2.4Gender

4.2.5End of Topic Test - Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.6Grade 9 - Key Themes

4.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Type of Play

5Writing Techniques

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Language, Rhythm & Rhyme

5.1.2Symbolism & Imagery

5.1.3Dramatic Irony & Soliloquys

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

5.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Wherefore

6Recap: Main Quotes

6.1Main Quotes by Act

6.1.1Act 1

6.1.2Act 2

6.1.3Act 3

6.1.4Act 4

6.1.5Act 5

6.2Main Quotes by Character

6.2.1Romeo

6.2.2Juliet

6.2.3Mercutio

6.2.4Friar Laurence

6.2.5Nurse

6.2.6Benvolio

6.2.7Tybalt

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