Act IV, Scene i
Paris comes to Friar Lawrence’s cell looking for Juliet. Finding her, he tells her of the marriage that is only a couple days away. Juliet consents to him and says she will marry him, only because she sees no other way out. When Paris leaves, Juliet tells the Friar that she will kill herself this very instant if she cannot find a way to get away from Paris and be with Romeo. The Friar, not wanting Juliet to do such a thing, devises a fantastic plan for her. She will drink a potion that will make her seem dead and then, according to custom, the family will put her immediately into the family tomb. There she will sleep for a while before she wakes up from her “death”. Romeo will be notified of this and will arrive to take her away when she wakes.
Act IV, Scene ii
Capulet is throwing a little party to celebrate the marriage. Juliet walks in and acts as if she is finally ready to marry Paris. Her parents are thrilled at this news and continue to make plans for the ceremony. Juliet retires to her room with her Nurse to pick out which outfit she will wear to the wedding.
Act IV, Scene iii
After Nurse and Lady Capulet say goodnight to Juliet, she begins to talk once again of her undying love for Romeo. At the end of her speech, she drinks the potion and falls into a deep, death-like sleep.
Act IV, Scene iv
The next morning, as people are beginning to arrive for the ceremony, Lord and Lady Capulet are talking anxiously of their daughter’s marriage to Paris. When the groom arrives, they send the Nurse up to fetch Juliet from her chambers.
Act IV, Scene v
The family members find Juliet “dead” on her bed, and are encouraged by the newly arrived Friar to proceed with tradition and immediately put her in the family tomb. The do so with a small procession with music and flowers and such. Peter and the musicians talk for a while and they discuss Peter’s possibility of being a musician as well.
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