Act IV, Scene 3: Summary
The Nurse helps Juliet pick out a wedding outfit, and Lady Capulet asks whether Juliet needs her help as well. Juliet sends her mother and the Nurse away, requesting that she be left alone for the rest of the night. Alone, Juliet takes out the vial of potion. She admits that she is scared that the potion won’t work or that the Friar, wishing to conceal his own role in Romeo and Juliet’s illicit marriage, has given her poison instead. She also expresses her fear of waking up too soon and finding herself alone in the Capulet tomb with Tybalt’s decaying body. Juliet imagines that she can see Tybalt’s ghost looking for Romeo, and toasting to Romeo, she downs the potion.
Expert Q&A
What fears does Juliet express in her soliloquy in Act 4, Scene 3?
As she prepares to drink the sleeping potion prepared for her by Friar Lawrence, Juliet fears that it might actually be poison, that it might not work (which means she will have to marry Paris), or that it might wear off early, leaving her to wake up in a tomb and go mad with fear. However, in spite of all these risks, she still decides to drink the potion.
How does Juliet dismiss her mother and the Nurse in act 4, scene 3, of Romeo and Juliet?
In act 4, scene 3, Juliet finally gets rid of the Nurse by asking to be left alone so she can pray by herself. Juliet tells the Nurse her life is "cross and full of sin," which explains her need for prayer before the wedding. Juliet then asks her mother to leave her alone as well and suggests the Nurse help her prepare for the wedding. Juliet knows her mother is shorthanded and says the Nurse will be a major help.
Juliet's internal conflict in Act 4, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet
Juliet's internal conflict in Act 4, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet revolves around her fear and uncertainty about taking the potion given by Friar Laurence. She worries about the potion being a poison, the possibility of waking up alone in the tomb, and the horrifying idea of encountering her dead ancestors or going mad in the vault.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
