The painting vividly captures the moment from the play where Juliet mourns over Romeo's lifeless body, emphasizing her despair and desperation. This is evident as she clutches the dagger, mirroring her words, “O happy dagger!” and her intention to join Romeo in death by saying, “This is thy sheath.” The shadow of the approaching man at the tomb door reflects the impending arrival of consequences, paralleling Friar Lawrence’s urgent plea for her to escape before the watch arrives, highlighting the tension and tragedy of the scene.
Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
Juliet.
O comfortable friar! where is my lord?—
I do remember well where I should be,
And there I am.—Where is my Romeo? [Noise within.]
Friar Lawrence.
I hear some noise.—Lady, come from that nest
Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep;
A greater power than we can contradict
Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away.
Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead,
And Paris too. Come, I’ll dispose of thee
Among a sisterhood of holy nuns.
Stay not to question, for the watch is coming;
Come, go, good Juliet. [Noise again.]—I dare no longer stay.
Juliet.
Go, get thee hence, for I will not away. [Exit Friar Lawrence.]
What’s here? a cup, clos’d in my true love’s hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.—
O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after?—I will kiss thy lips;
Haply some poison yet doth hang on them,
To make me die with a restorative. [Kisses him.]
Thy lips are warm.
1 Watch. [Within]
Lead, boy; which way?
Juliet.
Yea, noise? then I’ll be brief.—O happy dagger! [Snatching Romeo’s dagger.]
This is thy sheath [Stabs herself]; there rest, and let me die.
[Falls on Romeo’s body, and dies.]
Enter Watch, with the Page of Paris
Page.
This is the place; there, where the torch doth burn.
1 Watch.
The ground is bloody; search about the churchyard.
Go, some of you, whoe’er you find attach.—
[Exeunt some.]
From Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Question
Use the passage and the painting to answer the question.
Juliet, clutching a dagger, kneels over the dead body of Romeo. To her left is the door of the tomb, on which the shadow of an approaching man falls.
Source: Zuri Swimmer. Alamy Stock Photo
In 1–2 sentences, analyze how the painting represents the scene from the play. Cite evidence from both mediums in your response.
(2 points)
1 answer