Act 3, Scene 1 Summary

Romeo, Tybalt, and Mercutio argue as initially displayed in Act 1, Scene 1—now, however, the setting is a public place in Verona, Italy, not Constance's office. Constance enters—having lost her dress to Desdemona she is clad only in long underwear. She sees the argument developing between Tybalt and Mercutio. Just before the fatal blow she rushes to intervene and halts the impending physical violence by the public announcement that Romeo is, in point of fact, already Tybalt's relative.

Romeo mistakes her for a boy, apparently because of her dress, and lauds her actions and embraces her for an overlong time—alas, he swoons at her touch and in an aside announces that here, and at long last, he has found true love. Tybalt and Mercutio then engage in witty raucous banter and suggest a quick trip to the...