Acts 1-3 R and J

Mercutio tries to provoke Tybalt to fight. Why doesn't Tybalt want to fight him?

Because he wanted to fight Romeo.

Why does Friar Laurence agree to marry Romeo and Juliet?

Because it will turn the hatred between the two families into pure love.

We learn that Rosaline, with whom Romeo believes he is in love, will be at the Capulet party. What plan does Benvolio have because of this? What analogy does he use to Romeo to explain his plan?

Ben tries to get Romeo and Rosaline together and to get them to fall in love, so that Romeo doesn't have to suffer the heartbreak of Juliet not loving him. Ben puts his plan in the terms that "Rosaline will make the swan, Juliet, look like a crow."

We learn that Romeo is suffering from unrequited love--that is, he loves someone who will not return his affections. What is Benvolio's suggested cure for this problem?

Benvolio tells Romeo to "look into other women." But Ben's real plan is to "turn the swan into a crow."

What two reasons does Lord Capulet give for not wanting Juliet to marry at this time?

Capulet doesn't want Juliet to be "marred" too early because Lord Capulet thinks that she is too young to get married. Capulet also only allows someone to marry Juliet if Juliet is ok with it, or loves the person in return.

What does the nurse advise Juliet to do? What is her reasoning? What is Juliet's reaction to her advice?

The Nurse tells Juliet to go ahead and marry Paris because she will never see Romeo again.

Why does the Nurse agree to help Juliet marry Romeo?

The nurse cares about Juliet, and wants her to be happy. She knows that Juliet loves Romeo, so believe that Juliet can marry who she wants to marry.

When Lady Capulet asks Juliet about how she feels about being married, what is Juliet's answer? What does this reveal about her character?

"That it is an honor she doesn't dream of" It tells us that she doesn't wanna get married.

What are Romeo's feelings about being in love?

He feels on top of the world. He is so happy to love Rosaline because he thinks that he has finally found his forever love. He describes Rosaline as divine, legendary, or a goddess. He thinks that Rosaline is "the most fair lady in the world."

What does this arrangement reveal about Lord Capulet's love for his daughter?

He loves her very much and respects her opinion towards men she is interested in.

What is Romeo's reaction to his punishment of banishment?

He says that banishment is much worse than death, and that they should have had mercy on him and given him a death sentence.

When describing love, Romeo speaks in images of seemingly contradictory phrases, or paradoxes. Why do you think he does this?

I think that Romeo is confused with how he is feeling. He thinks that he can only be with Juliet and nobody else, but since Juliet doesn't feel the same (yet) he can never be with her. Since Romeo is only 14, love is a big concept for him that he does not yet understand.

Lady Capulet misunderstands Juliet's sadness, and Juliet does not want her to know what has happened between her and Romeo. What does Juliet say about Tybalt and Romeo to keep the truth from her mother?

Juliet is really sad about Romeo, but tells her mom that she is sad about Tybalt to cover up her sadness.

What is Juliet's response when she is told the news that she is to marry Paris? How has she changed since Act I? What is her mother's harsh reaction when Juliet responds in this way? What is her father's harsh reaction to Juliet's response?

Juliet says that she will not marry Paris, and says that she would much rather marry someone she hates than Paris. Juliet's parents are surprised with her intense response.

What is Juliet's answer when her mother asks if she can love Paris? What does this reveal about her knowledge of being in love? What is her attitude toward love and marriage?

Juliet says, in response to everyone saying how handsome Paris is, that he will not look at his physical appearance, but who he is as a person. This tells us that Juliet knows a lot more about love than people these days, and that she will only love someone for who they are.

What does Juliet tell the nurse that she is going to do? After the nurse leaves, what does Juliet say she is really going to do?

Juliet tells the nurse that she agrees with her and will marry Paris, but then once the Nurse leaves, Juliet exclaims how she is a "damn old women" and an imbecile.

What reason does Lady Capulet use in begging the Prince for vengeance for Tybalt's death? What is Lord Montague's reasoning in his attempt to persuade the Prince not to punish Romeo for Tybalt's death by killing him? What is the Prince's final decree on the matter?

Lady Capulet says that since Romeo killed Tybalt in a public duel, he should die. Lord Montague says that Romeo should be spared since he was only doing the justice himself, since Tybalt killed Mercutio, Romeo killed Tybalt. The prince decided to exile Romeo.

What does Lady Capulet see in Paris that would make him a good match for Juliet? What is Lady Capulet's attitude toward love and marriage?

Lady Capulet sees money, handsomeness, and a good name. This tells us the same things as it did from the Nurse.

The nurse and Lady Capulet are both excited and pleased by Paris' proposal, but for different reasons. What does the Nurse see in Paris, and what does this reveal about her attitude toward love and marriage?

Nurse sees that he is handsome, has a good name, and... that he is someone to mate with. It tells us that the Nurse doesn't look from Juliet's POV, and only the attributes of the man.

Does Romeo agree to go to the party? Why? What are his expectations about the party?

Romeo goes to "watch" Rosaline.

When describing Juliet, Romeo repeats the images that he had used earlier, when he first met her. What are these images? How are they images of love and flattery?

Romeo is constantly comparing Juliet to beautiful things. His context in comparing her is "She is the____ in the ____ of ____." Example: "Juliet is the sun of my solar system."

Friar Laurence counsels Romeo to be grateful for what he still has. What are these things for which Romeo should be grateful? What does Friar Laurence tell Romeo he should do? What hope does he give him for the future?

Romeo should be grateful because he killed Tybalt, otherwise he would have been killed and would never even gotten a chance to see Juliet again. His life was spared, so he shouldn't be pouting. Friar tells Romeo to go and get to Mantua from Verona. He wished Romeo the best of luck.

What news does Romeo relay to Friar Laurence? How does Friar Laurence react to this news?

Romeo tells Friar that he loves Juliet, and that he needs Friar to marry them. Friar Laurence is very surprised that Romeo stopped loving Rosaline. Friar agrees because he thinks it will settle the war between their two families.

What has motivated him to feel this way?

Rosaline is beautiful.

What is Juliet's attitude toward the feud that has separated her two families?

She does not like it, and feels that a name should not describe a person. Juliet thinks a name does not exist, it is only a label, but a man is a true, living thing. She thinks that a name should not define who you are.

At first, the nurse confuses Juliet as she tells her about the fight between Romeo and Tybalt. What does Juliet think has happened? When she finally understands the truth, what is her initial reaction? Does she change her mind by the end of the scene? How does she prove this by her actions and words?

She is annoyed with Romeo for killing one of her family members, but forgives him since he is her husband. In other words, Juliet loves Romeo more than she did Tybalt.

On what condition does Lord Capulet agree to Juliet's marriage with Paris?

That Juliet is OK with the marriage going through.

What is the Nurse's one wish for Juliet, and why?

The Nurse tells Juliet to forget Romeo and marry Paris, because if she doesn't marry Paris she'll be forgotten.