Skip to main content

In Act V, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, what does Montague reveal to those gathered when he first arrives on the scene?

When Montague first arrives in Act V, Scene 3, he laments,



Alas, my liege, my wife is dead to-night;


Grief of my son's exile hath stopp'd her breath:


What further woe conspires against mine age?  



Not only has Montague had to endure what no father should—outliving Romeo, his only child—but now in this tragic time he must also bury his wife. She has died of a broken heart over Romeo's death. If that much...

When Montague first arrives in Act V, Scene 3, he laments,



Alas, my liege, my wife is dead to-night;


Grief of my son's exile hath stopp'd her breath:


What further woe conspires against mine age?  



Not only has Montague had to endure what no father should—outliving Romeo, his only child—but now in this tragic time he must also bury his wife. She has died of a broken heart over Romeo's death. If that much grief has killed her, imagine what incredible pain Montague must be experiencing.  


On top of the pain of losing his whole family, Montague surely must feel a great deal of guilt. After all, his stubborn hatred and feud with Lord Capulet indirectly led to the two lovers’ deaths, as the Prince suggests when he says,



Capulet! Montague!


See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate,


That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.



If Montague is partly responsible for Romeo’s death, that means he is partly to blame for the death of Lady Montague, too. There are layers upon layers of tragedy in this ever-famous love story.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...