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Romeo and Juliet | Why does Shakespeare insert the role of the Apothecary into the play?

In the first scene of Act V, Romeo is told by Balthasar that Juliet's corpse lies in the Capulet's family tomb. His thoughts turn immediately to suicide, and when Balthasar departs he declares, "O mischief, thou art swift/To enter the thoughts of desperate men!" (V, i., ll.35-36). Romeo then recalls that a apothecary's shop is nearby, and knocks forcefully on the door to awaken the druggist. What is striking here is how badly Romeo behaves with the Apothecary. For no reason save his distraught mood, Romeo refers to the impoverished Apothecary as a "caitiff wretch." Knowing that the...

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