At the end of Act 3, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Juliet faces a profound and devastating decision. After her secret marriage to Romeo, she is confronted by her parents, who are unaware of her marriage and insist that she marry Paris, a suitor they have chosen for her. Juliet refuses, leading to a heated confrontation with her father, Lord Capulet, who becomes enraged at her defiance.
In the face of these pressures, Juliet ultimately decides that she would rather die than marry Paris. She tells her mother that she would rather "be married to the grave" than to Paris. This sets the stage for her later decision to take drastic action, as she seeks a solution to avoid marrying Paris and reuniting with Romeo. Her determination to escape this predicament reflects her deep love for Romeo and her desperation to avoid a future without him.