# Scene IV explained — Romeo and Juliet

> Chapter companion for Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

In the Capulet household early on the morning of Juliet's planned wedding to Paris, Lady Capulet and the Nurse prepare for the feast. Capulet bustles about giving orders, then sends the Nurse to wake Juliet as Paris approaches with music.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family Feud and Conflict

Capulet's frantic wedding preparations for Juliet and Paris highlight the familial pressure and conflict that will soon erupt.

### Fate and Free Will

The forced wedding arrangement sets the stage for Juliet's desperate choice, intertwining fate and personal agency.

## Character check-ins

### Capulet

Bustles about giving orders for the wedding feast, sends Nurse to wake Juliet.

### Lady Capulet

Helps with preparations and teases Capulet about his past.

### Nurse

Assists with spices and is sent to wake Juliet for her wedding.

### Paris

Approaching with music as the bridegroom, though not yet on stage.

## Key lines

> Hold, take these keys, and fetch more spices, nurse.

Take these keys and get more spices, Nurse.

_Lady Capulet instructs the Nurse to gather additional spices for the wedding feast._

> Go waken Juliet, go and trim her up; I’ll go and chat with Paris: hie, make haste, Make haste; the bridegroom he is come already: Make haste, I say.

Wake Juliet and get her ready; I'll go talk with Paris. Hurry, the groom has arrived.

_Capulet urges the Nurse to prepare Juliet for her wedding to Paris._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters