Act IV, Scene 5: The Nurse goes to Juliet's bedroom and tries to awaken her. When she finds that her charge is unresponsive, she assumes Juliet is dead and calls for help. The Capulets come in and are horrified to find their daughter in such a state. Friar Lawrence and the County Paris enter soon after. Paris joins the Capulets in mourning Juliet. The Friar advises them to calm down for if they truly loved Juliet, they would be joyful that she had gone to heaven. Capulet orders the wedding preparations be changed to funeral arrangements. Peter asks the musicians to play a particular song to ease his woe. They refuse and begin bantering. Their lighthearted conversation is a start contrast to the grave situation at hand. It serves as a reminder of the suddenness of Juliet's death.
Act V, Scene 1: Balthasar, one of Romeo's men, brings news to him of Juliet's death. Romeo is inconsolable. He had not yet received the letter from Friar Lawrence and so he believes Juliet is actually dead. He sends Balthasar away and plans to visit an apothecary he remembers. He knows the man is poor and knows he will be able to buy an illegal poison to take his own life. He convinces the apothecary to sell him the deadly poison and leaves to join Juliet in her tomb.
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Romeo and Juliet: Novel Summary: Act IV, Scene 5-Act V, Scene 1
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