Romeo's Wedding Night: A Tragic Twist

On Romeo's wedding night, he and Juliet consummate their marriage. However, Romeo must leave before dawn to go into exile for killing Tybalt. The lovers bid each other a tearful farewell, with Romeo promising to return. Juliet's mother, Lady Capulet, then arrives to tell her about her upcoming marriage to Count Paris, which has been moved forward a day. Juliet refuses and is threatened with disownment by her enraged father.

Romeo and Juliet's wedding night

On the night of Romeo and Juliet's secret wedding, they consummate their marriage. However, Romeo must leave before the morning comes, or he will be put to death. Juliet tries to convince him that it is still night, but eventually, she accepts that it is dawn and he must flee.

Romeo promises Juliet that they will see one another again, but Juliet responds that he appears pale, like someone dead at the bottom of a tomb. Romeo agrees that she looks the same way and blames their pallor on sorrow. Romeo leaves, and Juliet pulls in the ladder, begging fate to bring him back to her quickly.

Juliet's mother, Lady Capulet, enters the room and mistakes Juliet's tears for continued grief over her cousin Tybalt's death. Unaware that her daughter has secretly married Romeo, Lady Capulet expresses her deep desire to see "the villain Romeo" dead. Juliet leads her mother to believe that she, too, wishes for Romeo's death, while firmly stating her love for him.

Juliet's father, Lord Capulet, enters the chamber and tells Juliet of his plan for her to marry Count Paris on Thursday, explaining that he wishes to make her happy. Juliet is appalled and refuses, declaring that she will not marry anyone but Romeo. Enraged, Capulet threatens to disown Juliet if she refuses to obey him. When Juliet asks her mother to intercede, Lady Capulet denies her help.

After her parents storm away, Juliet asks her nurse how she might escape her predicament. The Nurse advises her to go through with the marriage to Paris, arguing that he is a better match and that Romeo is as good as dead. Juliet is disgusted by the Nurse's disloyalty but pretends to agree, saying that she will make her confession to Friar Lawrence. She hurries to the friar, vowing never to trust the Nurse's counsel again. If the friar cannot help her, Juliet is prepared to take her own life.

Romeo's banishment

> "There is no world without Verona walls, But purgatory, torture, hell itself. Hence-banished is banished from the world, And world's exile is death: then banished, Is death mis-term'd: calling death banishment, Thou cutt'st my head off with a golden axe, And smilest upon the stroke that murders me."

Romeo's emotional reaction to his banishment highlights the depth of his love for Juliet and the tragedy of their forced separation. He is inconsolable, even with the comfort and counsel offered by Friar Lawrence.

The banishment also adds urgency to the situation, as Romeo must spend his wedding night with Juliet in secret before fleeing. This scene, famously depicted in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film adaptation, showcases the passion and intensity of their forbidden love.

Juliet's grief

Juliet begins her wedding night with a sense of anticipation and longing for her new husband, Romeo. She eagerly awaits the cover of night to be with him unseen and consummate their marriage. However, her joy quickly turns to anguish as she receives devastating news from the Nurse. In a state of confusion and distress, Juliet first assumes that Romeo has taken his own life, and she resigns herself to die as well, unable to bear the thought of life without him. This initial reaction showcases the depth of her love and the strength of her emotional connection to Romeo.

When Juliet learns that Romeo is alive but has killed her cousin Tybalt and been sentenced to exile, her grief takes on a different form. She expresses her sorrow for Tybalt's death but ultimately denounces him, choosing to stand by her husband despite his actions. She laments that she will die without a wedding night, a "maiden-widow," as Romeo has been banished and she fears they may never be together again. The thought of being separated from Romeo causes her immense pain, and she is desperate to spend what little time they have left together.

As the reality of Romeo's banishment sinks in, Juliet's grief becomes intertwined with fear and desperation. She knows that their time together is limited and worries about their future apart. She is torn between her love for Romeo and her loyalty to her family, facing the difficult choice between her husband and her parents' wishes. This internal conflict adds to her emotional turmoil, as she grapples with her duty, love, and the potential consequences of defying her father's demands.

As the sun begins to rise on their wedding night, Juliet's grief takes on a more resigned tone. She knows that Romeo must leave before the morning to ensure his safety, and she reluctantly accepts their impending separation. Their farewell is filled with bittersweet moments, as they share loving words and exchange vows of eternal devotion. Juliet's grief is tinged with fear for Romeo's safety and uncertainty about their future together, knowing that their fate is largely out of their control.

In the aftermath of their wedding night, Juliet's grief becomes a source of inner strength and maturity. She defies her father's demands to marry Paris, displaying a newfound resolve born from her love for Romeo and her commitment to their secret marriage. She seeks guidance from Friar Lawrence, knowing that she has limited options and may have to take drastic measures to escape the fate her father has chosen for her. Juliet's grief has transformed her from a naive girl to a courageous young woman willing to challenge societal norms and make difficult choices to protect her love.

The Nurse's betrayal

The Nurse has long been a trusted confidante of Juliet, and she plays a pivotal role in the events of Romeo and Juliet's wedding night. However, her actions and advice after the wedding night constitute a betrayal of Juliet's trust, as she prioritises her loyalty to the Capulet family over Juliet's well-being.

After Romeo and Juliet's secret marriage, the Nurse is tasked with facilitating their wedding night. She agrees to deliver messages and even helps Romeo sneak into Juliet's room using a rope ladder. However, when Tybalt is killed and Romeo is banished, the Nurse's loyalty wavers. She arrives in Juliet's chamber, distraught, and in her grief, she stumbles over her words, leading Juliet to mistakenly believe that Romeo is dead. Although the Nurse eventually clarifies that Romeo has killed Tybalt and is alive but banished, her initial reaction causes Juliet immense distress.

Juliet's realisation of the Nurse's betrayal marks a turning point in her character development. She decides to seek help from Friar Lawrence instead, vowing never again to trust the Nurse's counsel. Juliet's decision to exclude the Nurse from her future plans highlights her growing independence and willingness to defy those who were once close to her.

Romeo and Juliet's farewell

Romeo and Juliet bid each other a sorrowful farewell as the sun begins to rise. Their wedding night has come to an end, and Romeo must now leave for Mantua, or else he will be put to death. The lovers declare their love for each other, and Juliet attempts to convince Romeo that it is still night, hoping to delay his departure. She claims that the birdsong they hear is from a nightingale, not a lark, but Romeo knows that he must leave.

Romeo climbs out of the window, and the lovers share one last exchange. Romeo promises that they will see each other again, but Juliet responds that he appears pale, like one dead at the bottom of a tomb. Romeo agrees that she, too, looks pale, and blames their sorrowful appearance on their grief at having to part. He hurries away, and Juliet pulls in the ladder, begging fate to bring Romeo back to her quickly.

Juliet is left alone, and her mother, Lady Capulet, soon enters the room. Unaware that her daughter has secretly married Romeo, Lady Capulet mistakes Juliet's tears for continued grief over the death of her cousin, Tybalt. Juliet leads her mother to believe that she wishes for Romeo's death, all the while firmly stating her love for him. Lady Capulet tells Juliet of her father's plan for her to marry Paris, and Juliet is appalled. She refuses, declaring that she would rather marry Romeo, whom her parents believe she hates, than Paris.

Juliet's father, Capulet, enters the room and is enraged by his daughter's defiance. He threatens to disown Juliet if she refuses to obey him, and when Juliet pleads with her mother to intercede, she is denied help. Juliet is left feeling disgusted by her parents' disloyalty and seeks help from Friar Lawrence, vowing to never again trust the counsel of her nurse or parents.

Frequently asked questions