Act 5, Scene 3: the lovers die

Romeo kills Paris but lays him next to Juliet

Act 5, Scene 3 is the last scene in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It is set in a graveyard at night which creates an atmosphere of gloom and sadness.

Juliet has been placed in the Capulet tomb because everyone thinks that she has died from grief over losing her cousin Tybalt (5.3.50-51). Count Paris now arrives to mourn Juliet, his fiancée, with flowers and tears: “The obsequies that I for thee will keep, / Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep.” (5.3.16-17). His sorrow and loyalty show that he really loved her. 

Romeo then arrives, determined to kill himself in Juliet’s tomb. The two men fight, and Paris is killed. His dying wish is to be laid to rest next to Juliet: “If thou be merciful, / Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet.” (5.3.72-73). Surprisingly, Romeo agrees. He has heard a rumor that the Count should have married Juliet, and this enables Romeo to sympathize (5.3.76-81). 

As Romeo lays Paris in the Capulet tomb, he also asks the dead Tybalt for forgiveness: “Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet? [...] Forgive me, cousin.” (5.3.97 + 5.3.101). Romeo’s respect towards his deceased enemies shows his noble character. This makes his ensuing death even more tragic.

Romeo kills himself because he believes Juliet to be dead

Once Romeo is alone with Juliet, he delivers a beautiful soliloquy on death. He is unable to believe that she is dead as she still looks very much alive:

Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, 
Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.
Thou art not conquered. Beauty’s ensign yet
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,
And Death’s pale flag is not advancèd there. [...]
Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe 
That unsubstantial death is amorous. (5.3.91-96 + 5.3.102-103)

Juliet still has r...