Act III Outline: Wednesday

I. Scene I A. Mercutio and Benvolio are walking around Verona. 1. Benvolio warns that the Capulets are around and looking to start a fight. 2. Mercutio easily starts arguments with anyone. 3. Benvolio is the peace maker.

B. Tybalt shows up. 1. Tybalt has been looking to fight with Romeo. 2. He starts an argument with Mercutio. C. Benvolio tries to stop the argument between Mercutio and Tybalt.

D. Romeo arrives in a happy mood. 1. No one else knows that he’s just married Juliet. 2. Tybalt starts arguing with him. 3. Romeo does not want to fight Tybalt because he married Juliet.

E. The First Fight 1. The hotheaded Mercutio draws his sword and challenges Tybalt. 2. Tybalt draws his sword and the fight begins. 3. Romeo tries to stop the fight by stepping between Tybalt and Mercutio. 4. Tybalt reaches under Romeo’s arm and stabs Mercutio. 5. Tybalt and his men run away. 6. While Mercutio is dying he curses both families.

F. Romeo blames himself for Mercutio’s death. 1. He believes loving Juliet has made him a coward. 2. He should have fought Tybalt. 3. Romeo vows to kill Tybalt.

G. The Second Fight 1. Tybalt returns. 2. Romeo challenges Tybalt 3. They fight. 4. Romeo kills Tybalt. 5. Romeo is stunned. 6. Benvolio tells Romeo to go or the Prince will kill him. 7. Romeo flees the scene and goes to Fr. Laurence.

H. The Aftermath 1. The Prince arrives and demands to know who started this. 2. Benvolio tells the Prince exactly what happened. 3. Lady Capulet a. believes that Romeo killed him. b. She calls Benvolio a liar. c. She demands Romeo’s death.

a. says Romeo is not at fault 4. Lord Montague a. says Romeo is not at fault b. Romeo only did what the law would have done. 5. The Prince a. doesn’t kill Romeo now. b. he banishes Romeo from Verona c. if Romeo returns, he will be executed.

II. Scene 2 A. Juliet 1. is unaware that Mercutio and Tybalt are dead. 2. She waits impatiently for her wedding night. B. Nurse 1. Returns with the rope ladder 2. She is very upset. 3. She tells Juliet what happened. 4. She confuses Juliet.

C. Juliet thinks that 1. Romeo is dead OR 2. Both Romeo and Tybalt are dead D. Nurse 1. tells Juliet that Tybalt is dead 2. Romeo killed him. 3. Nurse curses Romeo and all men.

E. Juliet 1. is inconsolable because Romeo is banished. 2. She says Romeo’s banishment is worse than death. F. Nurse goes to find Romeo and bring him to Juliet.

III.Scene 3 A. Romeo hides in Fr. Laurence’s Room. B Fr. Laurence tells Romeo he is banished. C. Romeo says that banishment is worse than death.

D. Fr. Laurence scolds Romeo for thinking D. Fr. Laurence scolds Romeo for thinking banishment is death; but he can’t get Romeo to listen. Page 859 lines 24-28: Why doesn’t the Friar agree with Romeo? E. Romeo keeps on sobbing. F. What is the nurse’s response? Page 861 lines 85-90 G. Romeo doesn’t listen and threatens to kill himself.

H. Fr. Laurence comes up with a plan. 1. After the Capulets are asleep, Romeo will go visit Juliet. 2. Romeo is to leave before dawn and to go Mantua and 3. He is to wait there until he hears from Fr. Laurence.

IV. Scene 4 (happens while Romeo is upstairs with Juliet) A. Juliet’s parents believe that she is grieving for Tybalt’s death. B. To cheer Juliet up, her parents decide that she’ll marry Paris in 3 days-Thursday. Why are they now forcing Juliet to marry Paris? Page 865-866 (Whole Scene) Assign parts.

V. Scene 5 A. At dawn 1. Juliet tries to convince Romeo that is still night so that he won’t leave. 2. Romeo says he’ll stay and let them kill him. One night with Juliet is all he needs. 3. Eventually Romeo leaves for Mantua.

B. Lady Capulet goes to see Juliet 1. She thinks that Juliet is still crying over Tybalt’s death. 2. Juliet is really sobbing over Romeo’s banishment, but pretends to hate Romeo when Capulet mentions his name.

What is Juliet’s Response? Page 869-870 Line 117-124 C. Marriage to Paris 1. Lady Capulet tells Juliet that she has to marry Paris on Thursday morning. What is Juliet’s Response? Page 869-870 Line 117-124

2. Juliet refuses to marry Paris. 3. She’d rather marry her enemy Romeo. 4. Lord Capulet orders her to marry Paris or he’ll disown her. 5. His honor is more important than his daughter’s happiness.

D. After her parents leave 1. Juliet panics because she is already married. 2. Nurse tells her that Romeo is as good as dead. 3. Nurse thinks that she should marry Paris.

E. Juliet 1. realizes that the Nurse won’t help her. 2. She pretends to go along with the plan to marry Paris. 3. She leaves to go to confession.