Skip to main content

What is an example of a soliloquy in Act IV of Romeo and Juliet?

A soliloquy is a long speech in which a character expresses his or her thoughts out loud while alone on stage. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, there are three important soliloquies, including Friar Lawrence's discussion of the nature of plants and herbs in Act II, Scene 3 and Romeo's final statement of his love for Juliet inside Capulet's tomb in Act V, Scene 3. The best soliloquy of the tragedy, however, is probably Juliet's...

A soliloquy is a long speech in which a character expresses his or her thoughts out loud while alone on stage. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, there are three important soliloquies, including Friar Lawrence's discussion of the nature of plants and herbs in Act II, Scene 3 and Romeo's final statement of his love for Juliet inside Capulet's tomb in Act V, Scene 3. The best soliloquy of the tragedy, however, is probably Juliet's expression of her fears about taking the friar's potion in Act IV, Scene 3. Shakespeare's soliloquies often portray a character who is poised on the edge of action and is deliberating the pros and cons of that action.


At first, Juliet debates whether she should call the Nurse in for comfort. Rejecting that idea, she becomes fearful that the potion will not work and that she will have to marry Count Paris, but she is carrying a dagger which she claims she would use on herself rather than be married a second time. Next, she fears the friar's plan is a way to get rid of her before anyone finds out he already married Romeo and Juliet. The Friar would be "dishonored" if he performed another marriage. She's also afraid that she might wake up too soon and that Romeo would not have arrived to take her away. She concocts several nightmarish scenarios with "loathsome smells" and "shrieks like mandrakes." She pictures herself alone in the tomb where she would "madly play with my forefather's joints." She thinks that maybe Tybalt's ghost will rise and go looking for Romeo, and she screams for him to "stay." Finally, she musters enough courage to drink from the vial and falls on her bed, ending the soliloquy as the friar's potion takes effect.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more