Analysis of Act Five, Scenes 1-2

Question 1

What does Balthasar bring Romeo?
A. a letter from Juliet
B. Juliet’s ring
C. news of Juliet’s death

Answer 1

C. Balthasar comes to Mantua to tell Romeo that Juliet has died.

Question 2

What is an apothecary and why does Romeo visit one?

Answer 2

An apothecary is someone who makes and sells drugs and medicines. Romeo visits one because he wants some poison.

Question 3

Why is Friar Lawrence unable to deliver the letter to Romeo?

Answer 3

Friar John couldn’t deliver the letter because he was quarantined before he could travel.

Question 4

What effect does Romeo’s dream have at the beginning of Act 5, Scene 1 have on the audience?

Answer 4

Romeo’s interpretation of his dreams (he thinks they foretell “some joyful news”) creates tension for the audience, as they know the opposite is true and he’s fated to die.

Question 5

What does Romeo’s talk with the apothecary tell you about his state of mind?

Answer 5

Romeo is willing to manipulate the apothecary by pointing out how much the apothecary needs money. He is also willing to break “Mantua’s law” to get the poison. This suggests that he is in a desperate state of mind.

Question 6

Is fate an important force on Act 5, Scenes 1-2?
Give reasons for your answer.

Answer 6

• You could have said that
  fate is an important force
  because the undelivered
  letter is a stroke of bad
  luck — it’s as if the plan
  was fated to go wrong.
• You could have said that Romeo’s impulsive nature is more important than fate. If he had waited after Balthasar told him about Juliet’s death, she would have been awake when he arrived at the tomb, and they both would have survived.