Act 5, Scene 2 - Romeo and Juliet | Classic Literature
Friar Laurence’s cell.
Enter Friar John .
Friar John
Holy Franciscan friar! brother, ho!
Enter Friar Laurence .
Friar Laurence
This same should be the voice of Friar John.
Welcome from Mantua: what says Romeo?
Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter.
Friar John
Going to find a bare-foot brother out
One of our order, to associate me,
Here in this city visiting the sick,
And finding him, the searchers of the town,
Suspecting that we both were in a house
Where the infectious pestilence did reign,
Seal’d up the doors, and would not let us forth;
So that my speed to Mantua there was stay’d.
Friar Laurence
Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo?
Friar John
I could not send it—here it is again—
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,
So fearful were they of infection.
Friar Laurence
Unhappy fortune! by my brotherhood,
The letter was not nicetrivial or of little importance but full of charge
Of dear import, and the neglecting it
May do much danger. Friar John, go hence;
Get me an iron crowa crowbar used to force something open , and bring it straight
Unto my cell.
Friar John
Brother, I’ll go and bring it thee. Exit.
Friar Laurence
Now must I to the monument alone;
Within three hours will fair Juliet wake:
She will beshrewcurse or blame me much that Romeo
Hath had no notice of these accidents;
But I will write again to Mantua,
And keep her at my cell till Romeo come;
Poor living corse, closed in a dead man’s tomb! Exit.
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Previously Act 5, Scene 1: Balthasar reaches Romeo in Mantua and reports that Juliet has been buried, but brings no letter from Friar Laurence. Romeo orders horses for a return to Verona and buys poison to use at Juliet's grave. The Apothecary agrees to the illegal sale because of his poverty.
Who's who so far S Sampson A man of Capulet's household who makes sexual threats against Montague women and provokes Abraham by biting his thumb. G Gregory Sampson's fellow in Capulet's household, who mocks his courage but helps him provoke a quarrel with the Montague men. A Abraham A man of Montague's household who challenges Sampson's insulting gesture and disputes his claim that Capulet is the better master. Balthasar Reports Juliet's burial to Romeo in Mantua, has no letter from the friar and urges patience when he sees his master's distress. Benvolio Tries to avoid a public quarrel, reports Mercutio's death to Romeo and gives the Prince an account of both fatal fights. Tybalt Fatally wounds Mercutio under Romeo's arm, flees and then returns to fight Romeo, who kills him. FC First Citizen Enters with armed citizens and calls for both the Capulets and the Montagues to be beaten down. Capulet Believes Juliet is dead, grieves for her and describes Death as the son-in-law and heir who has taken everything from him. Lady Capulet Finds Juliet apparently dead and begs her only child to revive, saying that she will otherwise die with her. Montague Defends Romeo before the Prince by arguing that killing Tybalt merely carried out the punishment due for Mercutio's death. M Lady Montague Romeo's mother, who restrains Montague from fighting and is glad that her son was absent from the brawl. The Prince Has lost his kinsman Mercutio in the fighting and banishes Romeo, threatening death if he is found in Verona. Romeo Believes Balthasar's report that Juliet is dead and buys poison from a poor apothecary, intending to use it at her grave. Paris Arrives for the wedding and laments Juliet's apparent death as a cruel betrayal of his hopes. CS Capulet's servant Cannot read the guest list his master gives him and asks Romeo for help before inviting him to the feast provided he is not a Montague. The Nurse (Angelica) Goes to wake Juliet with affectionate teasing, then raises the alarm and laments when she believes her dead. Juliet Is found dressed on her bed and taken for dead by the Nurse, her parents and Paris as preparations turn towards her funeral. SW The servant who announces the guests Interrupts the discussion of marriage to tell Lady Capulet that the guests have arrived and supper is ready. Mercutio Fights Tybalt after condemning Romeo's refusal to fight, curses both households when fatally wounded under Romeo's arm and dies offstage. FS First Servingman Directs the clearing of Capulet's hall and asks for a piece of marchpane to be saved for him. SS Second Servingman Complains about the demands on the servants and urges the others to work briskly. SC Second Capulet An older relative who sits with Capulet and disputes how long it has been since they took part in a masked entertainment. C Chorus Reports that Romeo and Juliet love one another but that their families' enmity restricts their chances to meet. Friar Laurence Answers the household's grief with religious consolation and directs them to carry Juliet to church without revealing his plan. P Peter Asks the musicians for comforting music, then threatens them and trades insults and musical puns when they refuse. MP Mercutio's page Accompanies Mercutio, who sends him to fetch a surgeon after Tybalt wounds him. FM First Musician (Simon Catling) Enters with Paris and Friar Laurence, refuses Peter's request for music and answers his insults and wordplay; Peter addresses him as Simon Catling. SM Second Musician (Hugh Rebeck) Tells Peter to put away his dagger, jokes that musicians play for money and proposes staying for dinner; Peter addresses him as Hugh Rebeck. TM Third Musician (James Soundpost) A musician whom Peter addresses as James Soundpost and who cannot explain the phrase 'silver sound'. The Apothecary A poor seller of drugs in Mantua who supplies Romeo with poison despite the death penalty, saying that poverty rather than willingness makes him consent. FJ Friar John new Returns Laurence's undelivered letter after officials confined him and another friar in a house suspected of infection, preventing his journey to Mantua. Words to know
nice trivial or of little importance
crow a crowbar used to force something open
beshrew curse or blame
Act 5, Scene 2 in brief Friar John returns to Laurence's cell without having reached Mantua. He explains that he sought another friar to accompany him, but town officials confined them in a house suspected of infection. Fear of infection also prevented him from finding anyone to carry the letter onwards or return it to Laurence. Laurence recognises the danger of the failed message, calls on John to fetch an iron crowbar and prepares to enter the monument himself. Left alone, he says Juliet will wake within three hours and plans to keep her in his cell until Romeo can come. The scene explains a practical interruption to the secret plan, while Laurence's appeal to unhappy fortune presents the failure as something beyond his control.
Key quotes The letter was not nice but full of charge
Of dear import, and the neglecting it
May do much danger. Why it matters Laurence stresses that the letter carries serious instructions rather than a casual message. His warning makes clear how much the plan depends on Romeo receiving information.Fate and choice Appearance and perception
Poor living corse, closed in a dead man’s tomb! Why it matters The contradiction in 'living corse' separates Juliet's actual condition from her treatment as a dead body. Laurence's pity also acknowledges the confinement his plan has created.Appearance and perception Fate and choice
Themes in this chapter Fate and choice Appearance and perception Authority and obedience
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Contents ×
Act 1
Act 1, Scene 5 5 min Act 2
Prologue 1 min Act 2, Scene 1 2 min Act 2, Scene 2 7 min Act 2, Scene 3 3 min Act 2, Scene 4 7 min Act 2, Scene 5 3 min Act 2, Scene 6 1 min Act 3
Act 3, Scene 1 7 min Act 3, Scene 2 5 min Act 3, Scene 3 6 min Act 3, Scene 4 1 min Act 3, Scene 5 9 min Act 4
Act 4, Scene 1 5 min Act 4, Scene 2 2 min Act 4, Scene 3 2 min Act 4, Scene 4 1 min Act 4, Scene 5 5 min Act 5
Act 5, Scene 1 3 min Act 5, Scene 2 1 min Act 5, Scene 3 11 min Full contents of Romeo and Juliet Text settings ×
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