10-1 Romeo and Juliet

1. 10-1Romeo and Juliet ACT 5

3. An Apothecary dispensed remedies made from herbs, plants and roots. Elizabethan physicians were expensive and a priest often held this occupation, often the only recourse for sick, poor people • Apothecary in Romeo and Juliet: Poverty-stricken with "famine" in his cheeks, he illegally sells Romeo a deadly poison. Thus, he provides an interesting contrast to Romeo in that he breaks a law to stay alive whereas Romeo breaks a law (the moral law against suicide) to die. 

4. Read: Act 5 Scene 1, 2 & 3 • Speaking Parts: • Romeo • Balthasar • Apothecary • Friar John • Friar Lawrence

5. Scene 1 What news does Balthasar bring Romeo? A: He tells him that Juliet is dead. What do you think Romeo means when he says, “I defy you, stars!”? (line 24) Hint: Think back to the Prologue.) A: He is defying fate. He is going to go see Juliet for himself.

6. Who does Romeo visit before he leaves? Why? What does he purchase? A: He visits an apothecary to buy poison so he can kill himself to be with Juliet. Why doesn’t the apothecary want to give it to Romeo? Why does he consent? A: It is against Mantua law to sell poison, but because he is poor, he could really use the money that Romeo offers to him.

7. What poison does Romeo say he gave to the apothecary? Why does he think it is poison? A: He gives him money which he believes murders more people than the actual poison he bought. Why does Romeo call the poison a cordial which is a kind of medicine that was used to restore the heartbeat? ( A: It will make his and Juliet’s heartbeat the same and they will be reunited in death.

8. Scene 2 Why wasn’t Romeo given the Friar’s letter? A: The Friar that was supposed to deliver it was quarantined in a house because he was thought to have been exposed to an infectious disease while tending to the sick.

9. Act 5: Scene 3 • Speaking Parts: • Romeo • Balthasar • Juliet • Paris • Prince Escalus • Friar Lawrence • Lord Montague • Lady Capulet • Lord Capulet • 1watch • 2watch • 3 watch • Page • Boy

10. Scene 3 Why is Paris at Juliet’s gravesite? A: He is there to leave flowers and mourn his bride-to-be. Why does Romeo say he is there? Why is he really there? A: He says he is there to see Juliet and to take back his ring, but he has really come to commit suicide. Why does Paris think Romeo is there? A: Paris thinks Romeo killed Juliet by causing her grief over Tybalt’s death. He thinks he is there to defile her grave.

11. Who or what does Romeo blame for Paris’ death in line 82? A: He blames fate by saying that his name was written with him in “misfortune’s book.” How does Romeo inadvertently remind us that Juliet is not yet dead? A: In line 102 he mentions that she is still fair and that her cheeks and lips are still red (line 95).

12. How does the Friar tell Juliet that he will take care of her? A: He says that he will take her to a sisterhood of holy nuns. Does the Friar take responsibility for his actions? What does this say about the argument of fate vs. decisions? A: He tells the prince that his life should be taken for his actions (lines 267-269). His words point out that decisions were made to bring the couple to this point, but unfortunate accidents caused it to occur.

13. Does the Prince attribute personal decisions or actions to Romeo and Juliet’s deaths? How do you know? A: He recognizes that people made decisions, himself included, to allow the events to happen