Sunday, August 25, 2013

When did Romeo die in Romeo and Juliet?

Romeo dies in Act V, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. His death and Juliet's is actually announced by Shakespeare in the sixth line of the Prologue:


A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life


In Act V, Scene 1 Romeo, who is exiled in Mantua, learns from his servant Balthasar that Juliet has died. In reality, she is only faking her death with a potion concocted by Friar Lawrence. Unfortunately, the message...

Romeo dies in Act V, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. His death and Juliet's is actually announced by Shakespeare in the sixth line of the Prologue:



A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life



In Act V, Scene 1 Romeo, who is exiled in Mantua, learns from his servant Balthasar that Juliet has died. In reality, she is only faking her death with a potion concocted by Friar Lawrence. Unfortunately, the message to Romeo informing him of this news never arrives as Friar John is delayed by a plague threat in Verona. Romeo buys poison from an apothecary and plans to kill himself in the Capulet tomb next to Juliet. When he arrives at the tomb he is confronted by Count Paris, who is there to pay his respects to Juliet. Paris, of course, is unaware of Romeo and Juliet's relationship and also the Friar's plan. Romeo is not to be dissuaded from entering the tomb and he kills Paris. 



When he arrives inside the tomb he sees both Juliet and Tybalt. He comments that Juliet still looks very much alive: 





Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath,
Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.
Thou art not conquered. Beauty’s ensign yet
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,
And death’s pale flag is not advancèd there.





He goes on a little more about Juliet's beauty and then kisses her before and then after drinking the vial of poison. His last words are:





Here’s to my love. [Drinking.] O true apothecary,
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.



In some stage directions it then says "He falls" and yet others say "He dies." No matter, he is dead before Juliet awakens.






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