Juliet's Suffering
Act III of Romeo and Juliet is one of the most dramatic acts so far. The characters are put under a lot of stress from all the tragic events. However, out of all the characters, Juliet is the one who suffers the most. At first she remains blissfully ignorant to the events unfolding in the streets of Verona, but by the end of the day, all of the stress is dropped on her in only a couple hours’ time. First, Juliet is tortured by the Nurse who won’t tell her exactly what happened between Tybalt and Romeo; she is sending mixed messages and upsetting Juliet as well as confusing her. Juliet says, “Is Romeo slaught’red, and is Tybalt dead? My dearest cousin, and my dearer lord? Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the general doom! For who is living if those two are gone” (Shakespeare III.2.64-68). The news of Romeo’s banishment causes Juliet so much suffering that she says, “Take up those cords. Poor ropes, you are beguiled, both you and I, for Romeo is exiled… But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed. Come, cords; come, nurse. I’ll do to me weddingbed, and death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead” (Shakespeare III.2.132-137). And there is still more than just Romeo’s banishment to cause Juliet to suffer.
Immediately after Romeo leaves for Mantua, Juliet is informed of the plans her parents made for her without her consent. Lady Capulet tells Juliet, “The gallant, young, and noble gentleman, the Count Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church, shall happily make three there a joyful bride” (Shakespeare III.5.114-116). Just this information alone will cause Juliet to suffer, for she is already happily married to Romeo. So, of course she would not want to marry Count Paris. But there is no end to her suffering because when she tells her parents that she does not wish to marry Paris, her father disowns her. Capulet says, “And you be not, hang, beg, stave, die in the streets, for, by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee, nor what is mine shall never do thee good. Trust to’t. Bethink you. I’ll not be forsworn” (Shakespeare III.5.194-197). By the end of this act, Juliet is all on her own; Romeo is banished, her parents have disowned her for not marrying Paris, and even the Nurse is not on her side. Juliet decides that in the end she will go to Friar Lawrence, seeking a remedy or else her own death.
Immediately after Romeo leaves for Mantua, Juliet is informed of the plans her parents made for her without her consent. Lady Capulet tells Juliet, “The gallant, young, and noble gentleman, the Count Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church, shall happily make three there a joyful bride” (Shakespeare III.5.114-116). Just this information alone will cause Juliet to suffer, for she is already happily married to Romeo. So, of course she would not want to marry Count Paris. But there is no end to her suffering because when she tells her parents that she does not wish to marry Paris, her father disowns her. Capulet says, “And you be not, hang, beg, stave, die in the streets, for, by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee, nor what is mine shall never do thee good. Trust to’t. Bethink you. I’ll not be forsworn” (Shakespeare III.5.194-197). By the end of this act, Juliet is all on her own; Romeo is banished, her parents have disowned her for not marrying Paris, and even the Nurse is not on her side. Juliet decides that in the end she will go to Friar Lawrence, seeking a remedy or else her own death.