Desperate, Emotional, Reproachful But Hopeful.

In Friar Lawrence's cell, Romeo learns that the Prince has sentenced him not to death, but to banishment for killing Tybalt. Overcome with grief, Romeo rails against the sentence, declaring banishment to be worse than death. The Nurse arrives to report Juliet's despair, and Friar Lawrence rebukes Romeo for his self-destructive despair, urging him to find solace in his blessings and to visit Juliet before escaping to Mantua.

The scene opens in Friar Lawrence's cell, where Friar Lawrence summons Romeo to hear the Prince's verdict. Romeo, deeply anxious, learns that instead of execution, he has been sentenced to banishment from Verona. Distraught, Romeo contends that exile-separation from Juliet-is a fate worse than death. Friar Lawrence counsels patience, but Romeo cannot be consoled, feeling that life outside Verona is meaningless if it means losing Juliet. As the Nurse arrives, bearing news of Juliet's similar anguish, Romeo's guilt and self-hatred intensify. He contemplates suicide, but Friar Lawrence stops him, sharply rebuking his cowardice and lack of gratitude, and reminding him of all that remains for him: Juliet alive, Tybalt slain instead of himself, death commuted to banishment. Friar Lawrence then devises a plan-Romeo should visit Juliet that night, then flee to Mantua until they can reveal the marriage, reconcile the families, and plead for the Prince's pardon. The Nurse gives Romeo a ring from Juliet, which lifts his spirits as he prepares to go to Juliet.