Act 4 scene 3

Act 4 scene 3 summary of key points:

  • Juliet is in her bedroom on the eve of the wedding ceremony.

  • She refuses her mother's request for help and also asks the Nurse to leave her.

  • Juliet considers the plan and describes her fears of waking in the tomb before Romeo arrives: she has horrible imaginings of the skeletons and corpses.

  • She drinks the potion decisively and falls onto the bed.

Why is this scene important?

  • We see the strength and resilence of Juliet's character and her determination not to be forced into the second marriage.

  • Juliet's soliloquy adds bleak, dark imagery at a key turning point.