Juliet drives the plot forward by disobeying her parents. At this point in the play, Juliet is arguing with Lord Capulet about marrying Paris. Lord Capulet …show more content…
Friar Laurence explains the plan with the potion to Juliet. Friar Laurence says, “Take thou this vial, being then in bed, / And this distilled liquor drink thou off;/ When presently through all thy veins shall run/ A cold and drowsy humor; for no pulse/ Shall keep his native progress, but surcease;/ No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest;/ The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade/ To paly ashes, thy eyes’ windows fall” (IV.i.93-100). In this scene, Friar Laurenceexplains the plan to Juliet, and what is going to happen when she drinks the potion. He tells her she is going to look like she is dead, and she will not be able to marry Paris. Juliet will have to be alone in her bedroom when she takes the potion. If Juliet did not drink the potion, then Romeo would probably still be alive. She would have had to end up marrying Paris, which would cause conflict since she is already married to Romeo. Juliet talks to herself after seeing Romeo dead on the ground. Juliet says, “O happy dagger, / This is thy sheath,” (V.iii.171). Juliet has recently found Romeo dead and is devastated. She mourns by him and then hears some people coming. She knows that if she wants to kill herself she will have to be quick. She refers to “happy dagger” as Romeo’s knife or sword. She takes it and then proceeds to stab herself, proving that she harms herself. This moves the plot forward because her family is