Analysis of Act 3 Scene 5 in Romeo and Juliet

Analysis of Act 3 Scene 5 in Romeo and Juliet

In this scene we see Juliet loose the closeness of all the people she

loves: first Romeo who has departed after spending the wedding night

with her; secondly by her father who viciously turns on her when she

refuses to marry Paris; thirdly by her mother who declares ‘I have

done with thee’ when Juliet begs her for help in delaying the proposed

marriage to Paris; and lastly by the Nurse whom she tearfully turns to

as a last resort for advice and help. Furthermore, we see, for the

first time in the play, Juliet disobey her parents, and develop into a

mature young lady capable of making her own decisions.

After having spent the night with her new husband, Juliet is at first

reluctant to let him go to Mantua. However, soon accepting the

seriousness of the consequences if he stays, she unwillingly bids him

farewell and begs him to write every day.

Heeding the Nurse’s warning Romeo quickly departs, leaving Juliet

quite distressed. It is at this point that Lady Capulet enters. Seeing

her daughter crying, Lady Capulet assumes her tears are for Tybalt:

‘Evermore weeping for your cousin’s death?’ There then begins dialogue

between Juliet and her mother in which Juliet speaks in a series of

double meanings. Lady Capulet informs Juliet that there is a plan

afoot to poison Romeo (which is quite ironic, as Romeo does indeed die

by poison). Juliet’s clever reply, however, fools Lady Capulet into

believing that she hates Romeo: ‘Indeed I never shall be satisfied

with Romeo, til I behold him – dead -…’ Whereas the audience know what

she really means is, she will not be satisfied until she sees Romeo,

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...herefore, we can also see that within Act III, scene v Shakespeare

has developed the tragedy of Juliet’s situation. In the space of less

than one hour, Juliet has lost her husband, her father and mother, and

her Nurse. Juliet falls further and further into an increasingly

desolate situation, which the audience know will eventually result in

death (the opening chorus tell us). In addition Shakespeare also

allows Juliet to develop into a young woman. The previous night she

spent with her husband, and although in the morning she is reluctant

to let him go, she eventually does so because she cares for his safety

– by doing this she shows a mature kind of love, and a mature

attitude. Thus, within this short scene, Shakespeare cleverly develops

the character of Juliet and at the same time rapidly develops the

tragedy itself.