first+person

** First Person:**

Act I scene i: I was walking in the streets of Verona when I heard a fight coming from only a short distance away. I walked over to investigate the commotion and found Abram, a servant to Montague, and Sampson, a servant to Capulet in a quarrel. Gregory, another servant to Montague, and Balthasar, a servant to Romeo were also at the scene, but unlike the other two, were not fighting. I yelled at Sampson and Abram to stop fighting and to part ways. In no time at all, I heard a voice enter the area. The voice was that of Tybalt, Lady Capulet’s nephew. I tried to get Tybalt to help me stop the two from fighting, but he bluntly said no. He spoke of some nonsense that regarded preserving the feud of the houses, and to refrain from all that is harmonious and peaceful. Ha, only an imbecile could propose such an idiotic suggestion. Before Tybalt got his opportunity to partake in the fight, an officer, a few citizens, Capulet and his wife, and Montague and his wife approached. The two leaders of the houses were ready to fight; that was until the Prince of Verona came in. The Prince was so upset by the fight. He explained that all of this fighting and feuding was stupid and pointless. “The two houses really do have so much rage towards each other”, I thought. The Prince explicitly stated that if any member of the families got into a quarrel with a member of the other, than their lives will be taken as punishment. I was in thought about what the Prince had said, that I barely noticed when Montague and Lady Montague approached me. I was asked by my uncle, Montague, to explain to him what had occurred. I told him everything that I saw. I was deep in discussion when Lady Montague interrupted to inquire about Romeo and his whereabouts. I told her that I saw him earlier underneath a sycamore tree; he seemed a bit troubled so I didn’t approach too quickly. However, as soon as he realized my presence, he hid. Montague explained to me that Romeo has been in a very depressing state. Apparently, he just sits in his room all day sulking. Both Montague and I had no idea what it was that was troubling him. It was so perfectly timed, as soon as we were in conversation, Romeo walked in. Montague left me to talk to Romeo alone. I tried to get Romeo to talk to me about what was on his mind, and what it was exactly that was troubling him to such great heights. Romeo, being who he is, just could not give me one definite answer. He kept talking about love, and how Cupid is blind, and how he is a mess because someone has fallen “out of love” with him. I could not listen to Romeo lag on and on about this “mystery girl”, so I promised him that I’d help him to forget about her. It seemed to shut him up pretty nicely that promise of mine. I sincerely vowed to help him forget about her, even if it took the rest of my life. Act I scene ii I was waiting for my master, Capulet to give me proper instruction and orders when he called me into the room. He was meeting with County Paris, handsome young lad he is that Paris. Capulet wants his daughter to marry Paris; it’s not such a bad idea. Paris is young, handsome, comes from a good name, is wealthy, and craves for Juliet’s hand. Although, I sort of feel sorry for Juliet, she has no say in the marriage; but I guess after all, there are not a number of girls who would turn down Paris. Capulet finally gave me my orders. He wants me to take a scroll that has names of invited guests who are invited to a feast at the Capulet house, and find them. He wants me to be the one to read the names, find the people, and invite them. “OH DEAR LORD! Does Capulet not know that I am illiterate?!? Is he aware that I cannot read?!? How am I supposed to find the people if I do not even know who they are?” I internally shrieked. I took the list and set out hoping that I would be able to figure out my dilemma. I was walking about when I came across two young men. I ran up to them and inquired if they can read. One took the list and read the names out loud to me. The young man asked about the purpose of the names, and I described to him the feast at Capulet’s house. I invited the two men to come, as long as they were not of the house of Montague. They seemed eager to come, and I quickly moved on to locate the listed people. As I was walking away, I heard very little of the two young men’s conversation. They seemed eager and slightly relieved. I only heard a few words such as Rosaline and rejoice.
 * Benvolio**
 * Servant **

Act I, Scene 3 By: Rachael

As I entered Juliet’s room, I found her nurse, just the person I was looking for. “Nurse, where is Juliet?” I said. “My Lady, I swear by my virginity at age twelve that I told her to come. Juliet, where are you? Come NOW!” said the nurse. “Who is it, nurse?” questioned Juliet. “It’s your mother,” said the nurse. Juliet then said, “What is it mother?” I told Juliet that there was something we needed to talk about – privately. I asked the nurse to leave, but then I remembered that Juliet was still young, so she could have assistance from her nurse. I asked the nurse, “Do you know how old she is?” The nurse replied, “Of course I do – down to the last hour.” I figured that she was about 14, and the nurse replied, “Well, I’d bet 14 of my own teeth – but I only have 4 – that’s she is not 14. When is the holiday of Lammastide?” “Two weeks and a few days,” I replied. The nurse told me that she will turn 14 on Lammas Eve. She said her own daughter Susan died and went to God on that same day. “Seeing as it has been eleven years since the earthquake, she is definitely 13, turning 14 on Lammas Eve. Juliet stopped breast feeding the day of the earthquake because I put bitter wormwood on me, and she disliked it so that she stopped right then and there. After that, the earthquake started shaking the dovehouse, and Juliet and I left it. Lady, you were with Capulet that day in Mantua. Boy, do I have a good memory. Anyway, the day before, Juliet got a cut on her forehead, and my husband – God rest his soul – picked her up off the ground. You could tell that he loved her so. He was joking around with her to calm her down and to stop her crying, and he did! He soothed her and made her forget about her cut,” said the nurse. “Nurse,” I exclaimed, “we’re getting a little bit off topic… please, be quiet.” “Yes, ma’am,” she said. “Yes, nurse, please be quiet,” said Juliet. “Now Juliet, I’ve come to talk to you about something – marriage,” I told her. “How do you feel about it?” “Well, it is an honor, but I do not want it for myself,” said Juliet “You should start thinking about wanting it because most girls that come from a noble family are mothers already, like me when I had you. The nice young lad, Paris, would like to take you as his wife. What do you think about that?” I said. The nurse butted in and told us that she thought he was a wonderful man who was wealthy and thought that he could take care of Juliet. I told Juliet that there was not a finer man in all Verona than Paris, and the nurse agreed with me. “Juliet, examine him tonight. We are hosting a feast in your honor tonight and he will be there, so examine him closely – from head to toe. Many think he is handsome, and you would be able to share his wealth with him, seeing as he needs a bride to complete himself.” I told Juliet this, hoping that she’ll warm up to marriage and to see her reactions. “Do you think you can accept Paris’s love, Juliet?” “I’ll try to like him and his looks, as much as I possibly can, but I can’t promise I’ll love him,” Juliet said. After my discussion with Juliet about marriage, my servant Peter came up to her room and told me that the feast is ready, the guests are here, and the people are calling for us to come down. Peter said everything is out of control and we need to come and follow him down to the feast hall. I told him we’d be right down after him, and then told Juliet that the count Paris was waiting for her. The nurse told Juliet, “Go Juliet, and find a man that will make you have happy days and happy nights!”

Act I scene iv: I was with many other men including Mercutio and Benvolio outside of Capulet’s house, ready for the party. We were dressed for the party, and most of us were ready to have fun, eat, and dance. I had a speech already in hand, ready to be read. I asked Benvolio about the speech and he replied with an obnoxious spiel. Benvolio wanted to go right into the party without dealing with a speech. He started talking about how outdated speeches were, and how cheesy and corny it was. I have to admit, I was being quite the party-pooper. I was just so down about my situation with Rosaline that I really couldn’t imagine trying to have fun. Poor Mercutio was trying his best to liven my spirit…it was not very successful. I tried to tell Mercutio that I shouldn’t go to the party because I had a dream that made it seem going to the party was not a good idea. Mercutio started mocking me by claiming that he too had a dream. He went into fine detail about his dream about “Queen Mab.” He kept going on and on and on, so I just stopped Mercutio mid sentence before my ears starting bleeding listening to his rant. We realized that the feast was over, and that if we did not go into the party quickly, then it will be too late to even go.
 * Romeo **

Act I Scene 5, the first encounter...dundundunnnnn by Ally G !

I decided to go to the Capulet’s party to get my mind off of Rosaline. She haunted my every thought, her smile, her voice. The torment would never cease, I was doomed to be in love with Rosaline forever. I was hoping that nobody would notice I was of house Montague. I prayed that I would stay invisible to the eyes of the vengeful Capulets. As I scanned the room quickly, I saw her for the first time. She sat on the other side of the room, delicate as a flower. Everything about her was beautiful, from the hair on her head to the way she brushed a crumb off her skirt. All thoughts of Rosaline vanished from my mind. This girl was my true love. I asked a passing serving man her name. “Juliet”, he replied. The name reverberated in my mind “//Juliet…Juliet…Juliet.”// I sat staring like a love struck puppy, with a silly grin on my face. An angry voice brought me back to earth. “He’s a filthy Montague,” said Tybalt, who had recognized my voice. //“Oh shoot, shoot, shoot.”// My mind raced. He insulted me, and requested to kill me. Beads of sweat ran down my face as I waited for Lord Capulet reaction. I was scared that I would be killed and never get to meet the love of my life. I needed her, she was the reason for living. To my relief, Lord Capulet reprimanded Tybalt, and welcomed me to the party. I took a deep breath to settle the butterflies flying around my stomach, and stared at Juliet again. She was so beautiful. Without being totally conscious of what I was doing, my legs stood up and walked to her direction. My head was screaming, “NOOOOOO”, but my legs were screaming, “GOOOOOO”. Suddenly I was standing in front of her, and the whole room went silent. It was just her and I, together, nobody else. My hand reached out with a mind of it’s own and gently touched hers. A shot of electricity ran up my arm. She let out a small gasp and our eyes locked. What beautiful, deep eyes she had, how soft her hand was. “You must be a saint, and angel sent from above,” I said, transfixed. “I do not believe so sir,” she giggled. “I am Romeo, a sinner, and I need you to take my sin away.” I thought to myself, “//stupid, stupid, stupid, could you think of NOTHING better to say, that has to be THE WORST pick-up line in the universe, I should just walk away now…//”. “I’ll take your sin away,” she responded to my surprise. I then gently kissed her perfect lips, my knees threatening too give out, heart pounding. I knew by that kiss, that she was the only one for me. “Now you have given me the sin, you need to take it back,” she said coyly. I gladly kissed her again. “Juliet Capulet, your mother needs you,” said a nurse. CAPULET! My heart dropped. Not a Capulet. The love of my life is my sworn enemy. I would make this work or die trying. Juliet and I had to be together. There would be no compromise.


 * Act 2, scene 1**

I called out as I walked aimlessly through the plaza “ ROMEO, WHERE ARE YOU?!” “He’s a smart boy, I bet he went home to sleep.” Mercutio assured me. “He went this way. Help me call to him, Mercutio!” I said. “I’ll call to him like I’m conjuring a spirit. I’ll call to him in the name of Rosaline.” “You’ll get him so upset!” I argued. “He wont be angry. He just wont. If I called upon another lover for Rosaline!” Mercutio assured me. “Fine then, come help me find him.” I said and we walked off.

Act II, scene ii By Katherine<3

The big, round moon shines upon the world this lovely evening as I step out into the cool night. The air is refreshing on my flushed face. The balcony off the side of my room on which I am standing overlooks a beautiful view of my garden. I sigh with relief now that my father and mother’s party has ended and it is well into the night. It is mostly quiet now. The guests have dwindled to a mere few and the loud laughs of women being swirled around the dance floor by handsome men in masks have died down. I can hear the servants bustling about downstairs whisking away the myriad of food platters from the long banquet tables and washing and scrubbing away at the dishes, while I, alone on the balcony, reflect on the most charming and astonishing man I have ever met in my life. His face could melt the heart of any woman and girl. His handsome face nearly stopped me in my tracks this evening! My heart still begins to pound at the mere thought of him. Oh how dashing he was!

I survey the night sky with my eyes, wishing for so many things. Oh Romeo, Romeo if only you could change your name! Be some other name, any other name, I don’t care! Forget your father and mother, or just say you love me and I’ll stop being a Capulet. Oh, it is only your name that is my enemy. You would still be yourself even if you weren’t a Montague. And what is a Montague, anyway? It isn’t a hand or foot or face or anything else belonging to a man. I beg of you, please be some other name! What is a name? A rose would smell just as sweet if it were called by another name. Romeo would still be as perfect to me if he weren’t called Romeo. Please lose your name – which has nothing to do with you – and take me in exchange. These heartfelt confessions almost startled me. How could I be saying these things when I //just// met this young man tonight?! Oh who cares, this is true love!!!

My thoughts were suddenly broken by a voice. I jumped up, startled, and let out a small gasp. Could whoever who was lurking in the darkness have heard what I just acknowledged?!

“Trust my word, call me your love, and I’ll take a new name. From now on I’ll never again be Romeo”, the voice called out to me.

“Who are you and why do you listen to my private thoughts!” I spurted out, my voice cracking. My heart beat faster in my chest. Who could this be?

“By a name, I don’t know how to tell you how I am. I detest my name, dear saint, because it is an enemy to you. If it was written down, I would throw out the paper!”

My spirits instantly lifted the more I heard this stranger speak. “My ears have not yet drunken a hundred words, but I recognize the sound of your voice. Are you not Romeo? A Montague?” I knew this to be true the moment I uttered my question. Oh how happy I was that moment! My Romeo was here, under my balcony, stars shining down upon us and the moon’s rays gently bathing us in soft yellow light.

“I am neither of those things if you dislike them”, he utters in reply.

I know that he will be killed if any of my relatives find him here, and I anxiously tell him this, but he will hear none of it. He tells me that his great love for me has made him immune to my family members. I blush at his touching words. As my sweet Romeo goes on to profess his love to me in many ways, I admit my profound compassion for him as well. Never before have I had so many emotions overcome me all at once - excitement, nervousness, love, passion, lust – and yet I have never felt //so incredibly happy// in all my life! But despite all this bliss I have my fears. Will Romeo’s love prove to be inconsistent? False? I need to know that this will last. And least of all that I am a prize to easily won or attained. Oh! This is all happening so quickly, my head is beginning to spin! Romeo, my knight in shining amour, reassures me though, he voice filled with zeal as he proclaims his deep and sincere feelings. I wish this night will never end! The shrill voice of my nurse jolts me out of conversation with Romeo. I must see what she wants, I tell him, but not to worry I will be back. I swiftly rush inside the room to her side then back out just as fast. I tell Romeo that I will send someone tomorrow to see if his love is honorable and if he truly intends to wed me. My nurse calls again and I see to her. Upon coming out onto my balcony to bid Romeo farewell, we agree on nine in the morning for when my messenger should call on him. He tells me goodnight, and I to him, and I depart to my chambers in silence.

Act II Scene 4 The morning after that fated night at the ball, I sat with my good friend Benvolio on the stone wall outside the city square, craning my neck and scanning the bustling crowd for signs of Romeo. It really wasn’t like him to just disappear like this, without a word, a warning, to his two best friends in the entire world. I’d known him my whole life, and he’d get like this sometimes, all dreamy and romantic, stick his head up into the clouds for a few hours or days, but he’d always come back down. Now he was just up and leaving. I was starting to get a bit worried. “Where the heck is Romeo?” I asked Benvolio, who was sitting beside me swinging his legs without a care in the world. “Didn’t he come home last night?” Benvolio sighed and shook his head. “Not to his father’s house. I asked one of the servants.” “It’s that pale, hard-hearted hussy, Rosaline,” I growled. “She’s gonna torture him until he goes out of his own mind.” Benvolio shrugged in agreement, then leaned over to whisper out of the corner of his mouth, “You know Tybalt, Capulet’s nephew? He apparently sent a letter to Romeo’s father.” A letter? My eyes widened. A letter could only mean one thing. “I bet it’s a challenge,” I whispered, then hopped of the wall and started off toward the square with a spring in my step, Benvolio shuffling along behind me. There was nothing I needed more on this hot, stuffy day then word of a good challenge. “You know Romeo will answer the challenge,” Benvolio puffed as he struggled to keep up with my brisk pace as I weaved through the crowd of people. “Anyone who can write can answer a letter, Benvolio,” I tossed over my shoulder. “Yes, but Romeo will go straight to Tybalt and tell him whether he accepts or not.” We stopped in front of the gleaming marble fountain smack dab in the center of the square. Gazing up at the magnificence that was that fountain, I sighed dramatically. “Oh poor, poor Romeo. He’s already dead. He’s been stabbed by a white girl’s black eye, cut through the ear with a love song, heart split by that blind Cupid’s arrow. I mean, at this point, I wonder if he’s man enough to fight Tybalt!” I scoffed. Benvolio peered at me imploringly, but I ignored his looks. All that lovey-dovey business just put me in a foul mood. Romeo, once an independent young man who would have jumped at the chance to fight off another, was now wandering around Verona aimlessly without a head on his shoulders, all because of one beautiful girl. It seemed ridiculous to me. “But what’s up with Tybalt?” Benvolio asked, pulling me out of my angry reverie. Glancing about us, I pulled him down onto the marble rim of the fountain and lowered my voice to a low rumble. “Tybalt’s story? He’s tougher than the prince of Cats. He fights like you would sing, he keeps his time, distance, and proportion. He takes his breaks, one, two, and the third in your heart.” Benvolio shuddered at this, but I pressed on. “He can butcher a silk button better than anyone else, a duelist, a master duelist. A gentleman from the finest school of fighting. And his moves? The passado, the punto reverso, and the hai. All deadly.” I watched as Benvolio’s eyes turned as big as saucers. “Wait, the…the passado…the what?” I nodded gravely. “It’s quite annoying, isn’t it? All these foreign phrases, innovative phrases with weird accents and odd mannerisms, all used by those crazy guys who are always going on and on about their “aching bones”. Give me a break. It’s a sad thing, Benvolio. I mean, why do we have to put up with them, they who think they are so proper?” Benvolio nodded absently, then turned to look into the crowd. He squinted, then did a double take, before announcing “Here comes Romeo!” and pointing a chubby finger at my old mate coming through the crowd. I sighed and studied Romeo’s sallow, washed-out cheeks and little bird legs as he strode towards us. “He looks too skinny,” I mumbled to myself. “Like a dried herring without his eggs, because he hasn’t got his girl.” I snorted. “Like a character from a Petrach poem. But compared to Romeo’s girl, Laura was a slave, Dido couldn’t dress, Cleopatra a gypsy, Helen and Hero a bunch of sluts. Thisbe, maybe a blue eye or two, but what does it matter?” I sighed, straightened up and tipped my hat to Romeo as he came into view. “Bonjour, Romeo. I’m speaking French, you see, to match your pants. What are those ugly things, anyway? And thanks from bagging us last night, what was that all about?” “And a good morning to you, too. What do you mean I bagged you?” Romeo inquired bewilderedly. “You gave us the slip, man. The slip. Get it now?” Romeo sighed and rubbed a hand across his tired face. “Mercutio, I’m sorry, ok? I had some really important stuff to take care of, I kind of forgot about my manners, ok?” I snorted. “So you’re saying that you’re “important business” caused some butt-flexing?” “You mean, do a curtsy? Are you serious?” “I think that’s exactly what I was getting at.” “What a gracious and polite explanation.” Benvolio hummed under his breath, probably bored half to death with our witty banter, but I had just begun. Smiling devilishly, I said “Well, of course. I mean, I’m the master of courtesy and manners.” “The pink flower?” Romeo repeated dubiously. “Right.” “Well, my you-know-what is covered in flowers.” “Hah, ok, whatever you say. But you and I both now you’re “you-know-what” is all worn out. This stupid joke is all you have left.” “Joke? This is just silliness, Mercutio.” I sighed and sat back down on the fountain’s smooth marble. “Benvolio, break this stupid thing up. Romeo is kicking my butt.” “No, no, keep going!!” Romeo exclaimed excitedly. “It’ll end once I’ve declared myself the winner.”

Act 2, Scene 5 By: Sheila “Where //is// she? I sent her at nine; she should have been back a half an hour later! Maybe she can’t find him...no, that’s not right. She’s so slow! Messengers of love should be thoughts: they move faster than light! It’s already twelve, and the three hours have passed so slowly. If she were the one in love, she would be so much faster, delivering my words to him, and his to me—Oh, God, here she comes!” I thought to myself, hurrying to meet my Nurse at the orchard gate. “Oh, sweet Nurse, what’s the news? Have you met with him? Send you servant away,” I said, feeling flustered. “Peter, stay at the gate,” she said, making a shooing motion with her fat fingers. “Now, good, sweet Nurse—Oh, why do you look so sad? Even though your news are sad, tell them happily...and if they’re good, you shame the music of good news by telling with such a sad face.” My heart sunk down to my stomach, but I tried to keep my voice hopeful. She didn’t respond, though, and walked into the courtyard to the fountain. “I’m tired, leave me alone for a bit...ouch! My bones are sore from such a long walk!” I felt desperate as I watched her splash her glistening face with the cool, clear water and wipe it on her apron. “I wish you had my bones, and I had your news,” I said anxiously. “But please, Nurse, sweet, sweet Nurse, please tell me.” She looked up at me with an incredulous expression on her face. “Jesus, what’s the rush? Can’t you wait a little longer? Can’t you see that I’m out of breath?” I hesitated, unsure of whether or not to retort, but I let my longing overcome my uncertainty. “How can you be out of breath if you have enough to tell me that you are? That excuse that you make while stalling is longer than the entire story. Will you please just tell me if the news is good or bad?” “Well, you obviously don’t know how to pick men: Romeo, while he is extremely good-looking, is too gentle, like a lamb. Then again, it’s your choice, girl. Say, what you have eaten today?” she said, looking around for servers. My heart plummeted further south. “Nurse, I already knew all of this. What did he say about our marriage?” “Oh, my head! It hurts! My back! Shame on you for making me run all over Verona!” she cried, slumping against the fountain. “Oh, Nurse, I’m so sorry about that. But what does Romeo say?” “Your love says, like a true, kind, honest gentleman—hey, where’s your mother?” She stood, tall as possible and alert, as if she could sense my mother’s presence. “’Where is my mother?’ She’s inside, where is she usually? How weirdly you said that! ‘Your love says, like an honest gentleman, where is your mother?’” I laughed nervously, wondering what it was that she was so reluctant to tell me. “Well, now! Do you have such a temper? Is this the healing ointment for my aching bones? From now on, deliver your messages yourself,” she said, angrily splashing about in the fountain water. “Come on, Nurse, what does Romeo say?” I asked, suppressing my anger and frustration at her. “Do you have permission to go to confession today?” she asked, examining an intricate design in the sculpture as one of the men walked by, carrying a load of firewood for the kitchen. “Yes,” I said suspiciously, hoping she wasn’t changing the subject again. “Then hurry, because there waits for you a husband to make you a bride. Yes, there’s the blood rushing to your cheeks; you blush bright red whenever you hear any news.” I felt my cheeks, beyond excited, and blushed a deeper red. “Go to the church. I’ll go a different way so I can get a rope ladder that Romeo can use to climb to your window in the dark. I do all the work for your pleasure, but you’ll have to do the work at night from now on. Go on! I’ll go have lunch. Hurry!” All the anger, frustration, and dread that had built inside me melted away instantly. “Wish me luck! Oh, good-bye, sweet Nurse!” I called, already running towards the exit.

Act II, Scene vi //Romeo//

“Let the heavens be happy with this marriage so that nothing misfortunate happens to make us regret it,” Friar Lawrence said as we entered his cell. “Not even the misfortune can change the feeling I have when I look at her. All you have to do is join our hands in marriage, and then the death that destroys love can do whatever it wants. It’s fine as long as I can call her mine,” I said with all my heart. “But joys have sudden endings, and therefore you should love each other moderately. That is the key to a long-lasting love,” Friar warned. Just then, Juliet rushed into the room and embraced me tightly. She greeted the Friar and I asked her to tell me about the happiness we would have in our marriage. “There is more in my mind than I can say. My true love has made me very rich to the extent that I can’t even count half of my money,” Juliet said. The Friar rushed us so he could marry us. “Because I’m not leaving you two alone until you are together in one through marriage.” And with that, Juliet and I went off with the Friar to get married at last.

Act III Scene I By Clare Mercutio and I were walking through town the other day, talking about different things. I was entreating Mercutio to come inside, for it was hot, and I wanted to avoid a nasty encounter with the Capulets. But Mercutio told me that I was one to talk, and that is the chance arose, I would be quite ready to fight! I did not believe him, and said so, and he went on to argue his point, talking endlessly. I merely rolled my eyes and put up with him. Soon, however, several Capulets approached: Tybalt, Petruchio, and others. They came over to us, and Tybalt said he would like to speak to us. Mercutio foolishly retorted that Tybalt would follow up his words with a blow from his sword. Tybalt of course took offense at this, and accused us of consorting with Romeo. Romeo is my dear friend, and Mercutio’s as well, but the way Tybalt said it, it was clearly an insult. Then hot-headed Mercutio insulted him, and I could smell a fight coming on. Wanting to stop it before it started, I suggested to Mercutio that we leave, but of course he would hear nothing of it. And what then, but Romeo himself came striding down the street. I groaned inwardly, for I knew this would cause even more trouble. Tybalt greeted him sarcastically, but Romeo kept a civil tongue in his head, which is more than can be said for Mercutio. Tybalt, seemingly a bit unsettled by Romeo's levelheadedness, kept throwing offensive jibes at him. But instead of riling Romeo, Tybalt angered Mercutio, who drew his sword. Now I knew for certain that trouble was brewing. Romeo tried to stop the two from fighting, but to no avail. Tybalt and Mercutio began to fight, and Romeo encouraged me to draw my own sword, in order to help him stop the struggle. He mentioned how the prince had banned sword fighting in his streets, but I was reluctant to get involved. Romeo then intervened himself, coming between the two men. However, this proved to be pure folly, for Tybalt was able to reach under Romeo arm, and stab Mercutio. Romeo and I rushed to his aid, and tried to assure him that he would be fine, but Mercutio said that he knew the wound was too deep, and cursed Romeo for interfering. Romeo said that he thought it was all for the best, but I personally agreed with Mercutio. It was foolish for Romeo to try to mediate. I helped Mercutio into the house, and Romeo stayed outside. I helped Mercutio get comfortable, and cleaned his wound, but it was too late. Mercutio was dead. I went back outside to tell Romeo the bad news. He was very upset and angry, and as soon as Tybalt approached again, Romeo fell upon him with his sword. This second brawl was not so lucky for Tybalt. Romeo soon killed him. I was shocked, and urged Romeo to run, for the townsfolk would soon arrive, and he would be in trouble. However, Romeo seemed just as shocked as I was, and did not flee. Soon the prince arrived, and inquired what had happened. I explained the fight to him. Lady Capulet, who was there, said that because Romeo killed a man, he should not live himself. In the end, the prince decided not to sentence Romeo to death, but to banish him. And that is how I, Benvolio, lost two of my closest friends in little less than an hour’s time.

//Act III, Scene ii By JT// As I was in my orchard alone, I thought about how I longed for Romeo, for he was untalked of and unseen. The nurse came to me with news. She looked distraught. She told me that Romeo was dead. Oh no, this cannot be! I wondered if he killed himself. The Nurse went on. She said, “I saw his wound and he lay there as a piteous corpse!” My heart was shattered. I couldn’t think straight. I had decided I would kill myself if I couldn’t be with Romeo, the one I love dearly. “…oh Tybalt! He was the best friend I has! I didn’t think I’d live to see him dead,” the Nurse cries. Wait a minute… I was confused. Tybalt AND Romeo are dead? The Nurse needed to get her story straight. She finally clarified who was dead. Tybalt was dead and Romeo was still alive, but he was banished from the city. Oh no! “Did Romeo kill Tybalt,” I asked worriedly. Unfortunately, the Nurse told me yes. I was so angered at first finding out that Romeo killed my dear cousin. I cursed Romeo’s name, and the Nurse echoed after me. Only then did I come to regret because I was blaming my husband. I’m glad he was alive. But the fact that he was banished from the city was worse than anything else in the world, even worse than the death of my own family! I was afraid I would die without a wedding night, and I would live a widow. But the Nurse assured me that she knew where Romeo was hidden. She also told me that she would make sure that Romeo would be here for our wedding night. As a symbol of our love, I had the Nurse give Romeo a ring.

Bethany Naccarato

I called out to Romeo “Come out, you’re married to disaster and trouble likes you” “Father Lawrence, what is the news? What punishment did the prince announce? What suffering lies in store for me that I don’t know about yet?” “You know too much about suffering. I have news about the Prince’s punishment” I replied with a heavy heart. “ Is the Prince's punishment any less awful than death?” Romeo asked me, worried. “He made a gentler decision. You won't die, but you'll be banished from the city.” I replied, gauging his reaction. “Banishment? What? Be merciful and say death. Anything but exile.” “From now on, you are banished from Verona. You should be able to endure this because the world is broad and wide.” I answered. “There is no world for me outside the walls of Verona, except purgatory, torture, and hell itself. So to be banished from Verona is like being banished from the world, and being banished from the world is death. Banishment is death by the wrong name. Calling death banishment is like cutting off my head with a golden ax and smiling while I'm being murdered.” He replied, his soul crushed. “You rude unthankful boy. You have been given a gift, and you refuse it saying that you’re nothing without death.” “Its torture. There is no mercy in my punishment. You may think me unthankful but in reality I am nothing outside the walls of Verona.” “you are foolish madman.” I replied, shocked at him. “I suppose you are going to talk about Banishment again.” Romeo shot back. “I'll give you the antidote for trouble: philosophy. Philosophy will comfort you even though you've been banished.” “You're still talking about “banished?” Forget about philosophy! Unless philosophy can create a Juliet, or pick up a town and put it somewhere else, or reverse a prince's punishment, it doesn't do me any good. ” “Oh madmen like you are deaf.” “How should a madman hear, if a wise man can’t see?” “  You're still talking about “banished?” Forget about philosophy! Unless philosophy can create a Juliet, or pick up a town and put it somewhere else, or reverse a prince's punishment, it doesn't do me any good. ” Romeo shot at me. He was just not going to listen. He fell to the ground. “  Get up. Somebody's knocking. Hide yourself, Romeo!” I shouted and ran. “I’m not hiding.” He shouted. “They’re still knocking!” I yelled. “Let me come in, and I'll tell you why I came. I come from Lady Juliet.” The Nurse said as she barged her way in. “ Come in.” I said. “Where is Romeo?!” she asked. “He’s on the ground.” I replied looking for him. “Oh, he's acting just like Juliet, just like her. ” Nurse replied, annoyed. “NURSE!” I yelled. “Death is the end for everybody.” She whispered. “Were you talking about Juliet? How is she?” I inquired. “She says nothing. Just weeps” She said, worried. I watched as Romeo drew his dagger. “Don’t act out of desperation. Calm yourself. You just need to calm down, okay? Your acting like Juliet, who is a foolish naughty girl. You must stop this at once.” I shouted to him quickly. “I could listen to you all night, Friar, educated men give such good advice, its amazing.” Nurse said to me with a smile. She then turned to Romeo and said “  Here, sir, this is a ring she asked me to give you.” He snatched it up and put it on. “Now leave, Romeo. You need to get out of here and leave” “I’m off the experience true happiness, I’m sorry to depart so soon.” Romeo said as he left.
 * Act 3, Scene 3 **

We all stood awkwardly in the cool, dank hallway and talked in low voices, making sure that Juliet, who was already fast asleep upstairs, was not woken up by our conversation. When Capulet spoke, his voice was low and troubled, and I knew that he was concerned about the fact that Tybalt was dead, and also about the fact that our distraught daughter would refuse the marriage to Paris. “This gives us a change of plans,” Capulet said, looking around to make sure that Juliet was nowhere near. We can’t have any more talk about your proposal to Juliet for quite sometime. The death of her cousin has devastated her more than any of us could have imagined. In fact, she’s upstairs sleeping as we speak. We’re all exhausted. To be honest, if you weren’t standing before me this very moment, I would be asleep by now as well.” Paris was gentlemanly. Placing a hand on each of our shoulders, he spoke in a solemn voice, “I understand. The situation makes it impossible to introduce anything as romantic as a marriage proposal. I’ll leave now and give you both some rest. Tell Juliet I said ‘Hello’.” “I will tell her when the morning comes and some of her grief has passed,” I replied. Capulet, who seemed touched by the careful consideration and generosity of Paris, spoke up in a tone that was wary about what it was about to say. “I have an idea, and it may come across as incredibly unusual.” This caught both Paris’ and my attention and we exchanged a curious glance before returning our attentive gaze to Capulet. “When I stop to think about it, she is my daughter, and I am the one who tells her who to be with. I shall no longer give her a choice in the matter. She will be engaged to you, Paris, no questions asked.” Paris, though pleased, shifted uncomfortably. Capulet turned his gaze towards me now and spoke in a firm tone. “Before you go to bed tonight, stop by Juliet’s room and deliver the news to her. Assure her that Paris’ love for her is true.” I held his gaze for a moment, hoping that perhaps he would second-guess his decision. But his eyes told me that his mind was made up. I nodded. “I shall give her until Wednesday…actually, what day of the week are we on?” Paris spoke up quickly, desperate to get a word in the conversation, “Monday!” Capulet smiled to himself and shook his head. “No, no. Not Wednesday, then. That’s too close. We should give her more time to get her head together. Thursday should be a good day. Is that too quick for you, Paris? I mean, it’s not like this will be some sort of enormous ordeal. It will just be a quiet, private ceremony for the few of us. We shouldn’t draw this out very much longer. Look what happened to Tybalt! We don’t want to waste the precious time that we have left. So is Thursday okay? Paris nodded eagerly. “Thursday is perfect. In fact, I wish that Thursday would come sooner! Looking pleased with the current arrangement, Capulet put a hand on Paris’ shoulder and nodded firmly. “Well then we’ll see you on Thursday at the wedding. Lady Capulet, if you could please go now and tell Juliet the news. Make sure that she is okay with the wedding before Thursday comes around. And I? I’m going to sleep. It’s been a long day, and I’m desperate for some rest.”
 * Act 3, Scene 4 (By: B-Dog) **

Act 3, scene 5

First person, Act III scene 5 (Sammy) Romeo, my love and newly wed husband, was the face to which I awoke. He looked nervous, and told me that he must go. “But wait” I begged him, wanting more than for him to stay. “Do not fear morning. Morning is still far away. The sound you heard was the nightingale, not the lark who foretells the dawn.” My love looked anxious. “My love, I tell you that there are streaks of light in the sky. Dawn is approaching. If I stay, I will surely die.” My heart dropped at this. I deniced it instantly. “No my love” I begged. “Stay, you heard not the lark but the nightingale” He denied it a second time. “If, my love.” He started “You do not wish me to leave, I shall stay. Let me die to be with you, I fear not even death.” Just then, my nurse approached. “Morning!” she warned. “And your mother approaches.” Both my love and I were gripped with fear. We quickly said our goodbyes, and he was on his away away from me. “When will I see you again?” I begged. He assured me that the time would come, and he would do all he could to make this time soon. His words, as did any out of his mouth, calmed and assured me. My mother approached, her hideous voice ringing into my room. “My daughter” she called to me. “Are you awake?” I hid my sorrow for my Romeo’s departure behind the death of my cousin. “Are you still mourning this dead man?” Asked my mother. I nodded, mourning for another. My mother’s horrible face brightened. “I have arranged for a day of joy in this time to cheer you.” She said. “You are to marry Paris on Thursday.” I was repulsed. “Mother, how can I marry one who has not yet come to court me? In this state I would rather marry Romeo than any man.” She looked horrified. “Ah, here comes your father.” She said with a condescending tone. “Tell him yourself of how you feel.” “Why are you still weeping over your cousin?” Asked my father. “Wife?” He asked my mother. “Have you yet told our daughter of our decision?” I opened my mouth to speak but was interrupted. “Yes and she does not agree to it.” My father frowned. I had had enough of this. I was not a child to be ordered around. I simply told them. “I wish to marry no one but Romeo. I will not marry Paris.” I could not recall when I had last disobeyed my parents. My father grew red, my mother even worse. She began to scold me. “Disobedient girl!” she yelled. My nurse tried to restrain her with kind words but was only stopped. After more and more scolding, my parents left, disgusted with me. I was left only with my nurse. “How can this be stopped?” I begged her. My nurse breathed slowly. She urged me to marry Paris, comparing Romeo to him as much less. “Now her?” I thought. “Even this woman who I trust and love so much?” I had to make a choice. Deny and lie to even this woman who had raised me in such love. “Surely” I told her. “Tell my mother I am off to Friar Lawrences cell to confess what I have done. I marry Paris.” My nurse’s face lit at this façade. As she left, my heart beat faster and faster. I damned her again and again, this woman who had played such a loving character. Had it all been an act? I thought surely she of all people would understand my feelings. Still, she didn’t. Even she was against me. I couldn’t even believe her. As she ran off to tell my lie to my mother, I planned how my day would be carried out, and when I could next see my Romeo.

 // Act IV, Scene i: //

Today Paris went to Friar Lawrence and he told him that he and my father think the reason I have been crying and crying is because I am lonely, and once I get married to Paris, I will stop crying. How contradictory! The reason I have been crying is because I don’t want to be with Paris, I am married to Romeo and I want to be with only him.

The only reason I know this is because I went to confession at Friar Lawrence’s cell and I ran into Paris as well. He kept trying to act like he was already my husband, but I stayed polite to him. Once Paris left I told the Friar that I needed a way to get out of this marriage or I was going to kill myself. He came up with an idea; He gave me this potion that will make me sleep for about two days, so everyone would think I was dead. So then I would be buried and I wouldn’t have to marry Paris. Then the friar would send a messenger to Romeo and he would come rescue me! In the meantime I was supposed to go home and tell my father that I approve of the marriage and I want to marry Paris, in hopes he would be ecstatic and no one would know of my plan. I hope this works! I can’t wait to be with Romeo!

I went into the back room the other day to gossip to Marcus about what i had heard in the hall. “Marcus, come over here, I want to tell you something.” I said. “What do you want? I thought you were supposed to be finding cooks for the wedding?” replied Marcus. “I am, I am but I want to tell you something. You know how we went to the west hall to get orders for from Capulet?” “Yea. What about it?” he asked. “Well, after you left with the invitation list, I sucked up to Capulet about finding good cooks and I used that whole ‘licking the finger’ spiel. He liked it too. Anyway that’s not the point.” “Yea hurry up I’ve got to get these invitations made.” Marcus is a very impatient person. “Ok, listen! Then he started talking to the nurse about how Juliet is sooooo bad for not obeying him. Just as I walked out of the room, Juliet came running in. I believe she came from Friar Lawrence’s. She dashed up to her father and went to her knees. Then I couldn’t see anything else because I was out in the corridor but I stood by the door way and listened to what they said. Juliet started this whole repenting speech and told how she had seen Paris at the Friar’s cell, and then Capulet got really excited and said the wedding would be tomorrow. He also said that thw whole town was in debt to the Friar. Then Lady Capulet came in and confirmed the wedding would not be changed from Thursday. The nurse left with Juliet to find clothes for the wedding just after I was able to get out of view."
 * Act IV Scene II From the Servingman’s point of view**

First Person~ Act 4, scene 3- By Bethany N.

“Yes, those are my best clothes, but please leave me alone tonight. I have many prayers to say so I can be blessed. I know my life is wretched and full of sins. I have to pray for it to be better” I could hear my wretched daughter Juliet from down the corridor.

“Are you busy, do you need any help from me?” I asked, noting her reaction. Tomorrow she was to be wed, and I was exhausted but relieved she was finally repenting and decided to do what her parents had asked.

“No, we've figured out the best things for me to wear tomorrow at the ceremony. So if it's okay with you, I'd like to be left alone now. The Nurse can sit up with you tonight. I'm sure you have your hands full preparing for the wedding on such short notice” Juliet replied to me. Satisfied, I decided to leave.

“Good night. Get some rest, You will need it.” I said as I left. I paused for a moment outside her room to hear what she was saying to herself.

“Goodbye, Only God knows when we meet again. There’s a cold fear cutting my veins. It almost freezes the heat of life. I’ll call them to comfort me. Nurse…What good would she do here… In my desperate situation, I have to act alone.” I heard her whisper to herself. Thinking her to be dramatic and overtired, I left.

Act V, Scene i // **Romeo** // “Some happy news should be coming soon because of my dream last night. It seems that love rules my heart and all day I have been feeling very cheerful. Last night I dreamed that Juliet came and saw me dead. It’s a very strange dream if you ask me. She brought me to life by kissing me on the lips. I revived and was an emperor. How sweet it would be to be with the woman I love when thinking about love makes me so happy,” I said out loud when my servant Balthasar came to me. “Do you have news from Verona? Is there a letter from the friar? How is my wife? Is my father okay? How is Juliet,” I asked Balthasar. I asked him about Juliet again because if she is alright, nothing can go wrong… right? “Well in that case, she is well, and nothing is wrong. Her body is in the Capulet tomb, and her soul is in heaven. I saw that she was buried in her family’s tomb, and here I am to tell you the news. I’m sorry for bringing this news, but you told me this was my job,” Balthasar said sympathetically. I couldn’t believe it. Could this be true? I needed to see Juliet. “Balthasar, get me some paper and ink and hire some horses for me to ride. I am leaving here tonight to Verona,” I told him. Balthasar told me to calm down and be patient. Apparently I looked pale and as if I was going to hurt myself. But he was wrong. I told him to leave and do what I asked him to do. I asked him once more if he had a letter from the friar. But Balthasar didn’t. He left to do what I asked and I was left alone. I was planning to lie with Juliet tonight. I was trying to think of plan. I then remembered an apothecary that lived nearby. He had bushy eyebrows and wore worn-out clothes. He made drugs from herbs. In his shop hanged a tortoise shell as well as other strange kinds of fish. I noticed all of his poverty. If someone needed poison – which you would be immediately killed for here in Mantua – then this is the person who would sell it to them. Then an idea came before me. He must sell the poison to me. I walked to his shop as I remembered and noticed that it was closed. I assumed he was still inside so I called his name and he came outside. “Come here. I notice that you are poor. Let me have some poison and I will give you forty ducats. A poison that will kill a person as fast as gunpowder exploding in a canon,” I told the apothecary. “I have poisons like that, but it’s against the law to sell them here. The punishment is death,” the apothecary warned. I began to tell him about how poor he was and pointed out his health because of starvation. I told him to break the law, and accept the money I handed to him. The apothecary agreed only because he was poor and not because he wanted to. He handed me the poison. He told me to drink it with any sort of liquid, and it would kill me immediately. I handed him the money and told him to buy some food for flesh would be put into his bones. I decided to take the poison to Juliet’s grave where I would use it, and I went off to her grave.

Act V scene ii (Alexus) First Person: I was sitting in my cell when Friar John approached me. I gladly welcomed him into my cell, and asked him what Romeo had to say about my letter, or, better, if he wrote me one back. I figured it would be much more reliable if I heard the information straight from Romeo, through means of a letter, as opposed to Friar John’s second hand word. Friar John did not look nearly as happy as I had initially thought he should be. I was excited; I mean, c’mon, Juliet and I had conjured up this brilliant plan to save not only her, but the marriage of her and Romeo. She was already doing her part by laying in the tomb, now all was left was for Romeo to return to Verona and rescue her body. So, why was he wearing an expression of shame and fear? Friar John started to speak, slowly and carefully. The words that were leaving his lips seemed to blend together, rattling my mind with each uttered syllable. From what I was able to gather, he told me that he was on his way with my letter in his hand, ready to hand it off to Romeo. However, as soon as he reached the boundary of Mantua, he was forced to turn away. Apparently there is some sort a plague that has reached Mantua, and there are officials guarding the border, sending back individuals who are suspected to be infected. Friar John was forced to turn away?!? What have I done to deserve this?!? “The letter was not a letter of leisure boredom, but a letter full of importance!” I screamed. I was dumbfounded by the situation. How could this happen? Now I must be at Juliet’s tomb in three hours when she awakes. She is going to **hate** me for not making sure Romeo was aware of the situation. Oh dear Lord! I will write to Mantua again, and hope that Romeo gets it soon. When I get to the tomb, I’ll just explain to Juliet exactly what happened and keep her at my cell until Romeo can get here. Oh she’s going to hate me!

Act V, Scene iii //Friar// I explained what had happened between Romeo and Juliet to the Montagues, Capulets, and Price Escalus. “Romeo and Juliet were in love with each other. I had married them. This day was the very same day Tybalt died which caused Romeo to be forbidden from the city. Juliet was grieved for Romeo, not for her cousin. Her father wanted her married to Paris. Juliet came crying to me and told me what happened. I had come up with a plan. If that did not happen, Juliet would’ve killed herself right in my cell. I gave her a sleeping potion which would make it look like she had died. In the meantime, I wrote Romeo a letter telling him to come and meet Juliet at the grave for that would be when the potion would stop. I gave it to Friar John, but he was not able to for he was quarantined to his cell. My letter was returned back causing Juliet to wake up alone in the grave. I went to the tomb to take her back to my cell where she would stay hidden until I could get a hold of Romeo. I had arrived at the tomb and saw Paris and Romeo lying dead on the ground,” I explained. It appeared that Paris went to Juliet’s grave to place flowers near her. He heard someone approaching and went to hide in the bushes. It was Romeo with his servant Balthasar. After Balthasar was ordered to leave Romeo alone at the grave, Paris had confronted Romeo. They drew their swords and started fighting. I guess Paris was killed by Romeo. Romeo must have carried Paris’s body into the tomb. He probably saw Juliet laying dead, not knowing that she was under a potion. It seems that he killed himself drinking a poison. I continued on. “Juliet woke up and I begged her to come with me to my cell. I suddenly heard a noise and went out of the tomb. Juliet didn’t follow me. So I went back in the tomb and I saw that Juliet killed herself. This is as far as I know. Sacrifice my life if I am at fault here.” The Prince scolded both the Capulets and the Montagues for all the trouble caused within the town. Montague and Capulet had agreed to put all this hatred behind them. Montague decided to build a statue of Juliet, and Capulet decided to build a statue of Romeo. The Prince took us away so that we could discuss the matter at hand. He had told us, “There has never been a more despairing story than this of Romeo and Juliet.”