Romeo and Juliet: Act 5, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis

Another friar, Friar John, enters Friar Laurence’s chambers and greets him. Friar Laurence happily welcomes the man, who has come from Mantua. Laurence asks if John has any news from Romeo—it is clear that Laurence sent John to Mantua to inform Romeo of Juliet’s plan. Friar John, however, states that he was held up and unable to complete the mission because he was quarantined after coming into contact with the plague. Romeo has not received Friar Laurence’s letter, and knows nothing of Juliet’s plan. Friar Laurence orders Friar John to bring him a crowbar—he is going to rush to the Capulet crypt and break in, so that he can be there when Juliet awakes. He plans to keep Juliet hidden in his cloister and write to Romeo of the new plan.