Looking for the answer to a crossword puzzle clue, “Romeo’s last words”? Look no further. Shakespeare Geek’s got the answer.

Originally I posted this content in relation to the finale of the musical HAIR, where it’s sung as background harmony. It became a massive hit for me once Google spotted it because “Romeo’s last words” frequently comes up as a crossword puzzle clue.  Without further ado:

Eyes, look your last!
Arms, take your last embrace!  and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing death!
Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on
The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark!
Here’s to my love!  (drinks)
O true apothecary!
They drugs are quick.  Thus with a kiss I die.

Romeo and Juliet, Act 5 Scene 3

If you’re here for the crossword puzzle clue, it’s “I die”.

Beyond the Crossword: The Tragic Love Story of Romeo and Juliet

While the crossword puzzle answer may provide a brief moment of triumph, it’s essential not to overlook the deeper significance of Romeo’s last words within the larger context of the play. Romeo and Juliet‘s story is a timeless tale of forbidden love, feuding families, and unfolding tragic consequences. Romeo’s final words symbolize the culmination of their ill-fated romance, reflecting the intensity of their love and the devastating loss they both endure.

What was that about HAIR?

HAIR, the iconic rock musical of the 1960s, is a vibrant celebration of youth, freedom, and counterculture. The show, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War era, explores themes of love, peace, and societal rebellion. In its powerful finale number, the musical brings together the exhilarating energy of the cast with a clever twist. The lyrics ingeniously incorporate quotes from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, infusing the modern narrative with timeless words. This blending of classic and contemporary elements adds depth and resonance, reminding us of the enduring relevance of love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of a better world.

Conclusion

So, if you’ve been seeking the answer to “Romeo’s Last Words” for your crossword puzzle, you now have the perfect clue to complete the grid. Remember, beyond its puzzle-solving value, Romeo’s final words hold immense emotional weight, representing the tragic ending of a legendary love story.

According to many “this day in history” sites March 11, 1302 is Romeo and Juliet’s wedding anniversary.

It’s not. In the opening scenes Lady Capulet tells us that it is “a fortnight and odd days until Lammas-tide”, which puts the play’s timeline in July.

5000 years ago makes it a little too early, and they never did make it to Mantua, but this article about two skeletons found locked in an embrace is loaded with enough Romeo and Juliet references to make it worth a link.  An outstanding archaeological find, to be sure, though the whole “wife was probably sacrificed to keep the dead husband company” thing kinda puts a morbid spin on the romantic aspect.

I’ve mentioned before that a friend of mine teaches Romeo and Juliet.  We had dinner this weekend, and I asked her how the class was going.  “Well,” she said, “I never knew that Romeo killed Benvolio.  I saw that on a test I was grading today.”I didn’t pester her all through dinner since I know she doesn’t love to talk about Shakespeare all night.  But it’s got me wondering.  I wasn’t there.  I don’t know what leads up to such an answer.  But why would a student give that answer?  I figure it’s pretty unlikely that they’ve misunderstood the story so much that they think that Benvolio was killed by Romeo.  More than likely they know that Romeo killed somebody (that’s probably how the question was asked, who does Romeo kill in Act III), and they blanked on the name.  They then think of all the names they can remember and pick one that sounds right.  That’s not necessarily a problem of understanding, that’s a problem of recall.  The name Tybalt doesn’t stick in the head the same way that Romeo/Benvolio/Mercutio do.  Those three also seem to come as a set, their names all sound similar.  But Tybalt’s out in the cold, you have nothing to anchor him to.  I suppose his name sounds a little like Juliet, or Capulet (that trailing T), but obviously not enough.But how do you fix that?  Say that you’re about to teach the class, and you know that at the end of class you’re in danger of getting answers like Romeo killed Benvolio.  What do you emphasize while teaching the story to prevent such mistakes from occuring?

Continuing on the Romeo and Juliet theme, here’s another question.  We all know about the “ancient grudge” between the Montagues and the Capulets.  The play starts out with a fight between them.  One of the great stylized moments of the Luhrman version was the closeup on the guns and how they were all different “brands” of “sword”. But something I’ve always wondered is, just how violent are they toward each other?  We know that they’ve “disturbed the streets” what, three times previously, the Prince tells us?  But are we talking about glorified shouting matches, where neither side is really interested in doing anything more than flaunting their manhood?  At the start, the worst we get is a thumb biting.  And even then, whoever it was (Sampson?) has to ask, “Is the law on my side if I say Aye?”  So we see that while he hates the Capulets, he doesn’t want to get in trouble, either.  Swords come out, Benvolio attempts to beat them down, and then Tybalt joins the fray.  We get the feeling that this has all happened before.  What I’m wondering is, had it not been stopped, would someone have gotten hurt?  Is it really violent, or just walking that edge?
Another thought — Montague’s first words to Benvolio are, “Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?”  That could be interpreted as meaning that the two families have not been clashing in the streets lately, that things have been settling down.  The Prince doesn’t say that they’ve disturbed the streets three times in the last month, after all.  Later, Capulet mentions to Paris, “Tis not so hard for men as old as we to keep the peace.”  So maybe this ancient grudge is actually nearly forgotten, before suddenly being thrust back into the spotlight.   What I’m wondering is, when Mercutio and Tybalt are killed, what’s the reaction of the crowd?  How would a third party look upon the news story the next morning?  Is violence just a part of daily life, and these were just two more stupid kids who ended up dead?  Or do we have a case where it’s understood that yes, they hate each other, but it’s all talk, nobody gets hurt.  Then, when somebody does finally get hurt, it has that much more impact, like “Holy cow, Romeo, what did you do???”  Did Mercutio enter into the sword fight with Tybalt without ever thinking that he might actually get hurt?  Did they not think that they were playing a life and death game?  This sort of gets back to the idea from an earlier post about maturity levels and how old these kids are.  They can act grown up, they can play with weapons like they were toys, and probably are in the habit of doing exactly that.  But then the violence finally tips over the edge, and that’s when everything comes crashing down. Dare I say it?  Momma always said, it’s all fun and games until Mercutio gets it in Act III. 🙂