Romeo & Juliet Act 3

Benvolio tries to get Mercutio to leave the streets of Verona because he is trying to prevent another fight, and it's hot; everyone's grouchier than usual.

Tybalt comes to the public square hoping to incite a fight with Romeo.

Mercutio calls Tybalt "Good King of Cats," a play on his name and how he THINKS he's so tough.

Tybalt insults Romeo by calling him a villain, hoping that this will cause him to fight.

Romeo will not fight Tybalt because now they are related by marriage. Tybalt is Juliet's cousin.

Mercutio fights Tybalt because he is angry that Tybalt is insulting Romeo, his friend.

Mercutio is killed when Romeo comes between them and blocks his view of Tybalt. Tybalt reaches under Romeo's arm and stabs Mercutio.

Romeo kills Tybalt because he feels that he must revenge his friend's death. After all, it was Romeo's fight and not Mercutio's.

Benvolio is the one who tells the Prince about the murders and relates exactly what happened.

Romeo's punishment is to be banished from Verona. If he is caught in the city of Verona, he will be put to death.

Very late on Monday night.

After the murders, Romeo ran to hide in Friar Laurence's cell.

Romeo would rather die than be banished from Verona

The Friar tells him the news that he will not be killed but only banished.

The thought of not seeing or touching Juliet ever again bothers Romeo the most

The Friar gives Romeo three reasons for being happy: Juliet is alive; he is alive, and he is only banished not killed.

The Nurse gives Juliet's ring to Romeo.

Romeo must leave Juliet's bed chamber before daybreak and go to Mantua.

Lord Capulet has arranged for Juliet to marry Paris on Thursday.

Lady Capulet is to tell Juliet the "good news" before she retires to bed.

Scene 5 takes place on day three, a Tuesday morning.

The lovers are trying to determine the time of night or early morning. Romeo must be out of the city before daylight. The nightingale sings at night, while the lark sings in the early part of the morning.

Juliet has a vision that she sees Romeo as one dead in the bottom of a tomb.

Juliet's mother, Lady Capulet, comes to visit with her early that morning.

Lady Capulet brings Juliet the news that her father has consented for her to marry Paris on Thursday.

. Juliet is upset and willfully says that she will not marry Paris. This is the first time she has been disobedient to her parents. Then her father scolds her - calling her a "wretch," saying he'll disown her and kick her out the house, etc.

After her parents leave, Juliet turns to the Nurse for a solution to her dilemma.

The Nurse advises Juliet to forget Romeo, since he is banished, and marry Paris.

Juliet tells the Nurse that she is going to see Friar Laurence to confess her sins and get forgiveness. She is really going there to seek the Friar's help.

If Friar Laurence cannot help her, she has the power to commit suicide rather than marry Paris.