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Act 3, Scene 12
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in If We Were Villains, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Fate vs. Free Will
Identity and Disguise
Love and Sexuality
Theatre and Corruption
Summary
Analysis
A week later, the invitations to the annual Christmas masque have arrived. Colin stops by the fourth-years’ table at breakfast to tell them that Romeo and Juliet parts for the masque have been assigned. Meredith goes to get the letters from the mailboxes, and after a moment, Oliver follows her. He apologizes for Thanksgiving and tells her that he’s not sure what they’re doing, but he wants to buy her a drink so they can talk about it. She softens toward him, agrees, and leaves. Oliver opens his invitation and part assignment. He's been cast as Benvolio. Looking back at the table, Oliver decides he doesn’t want to know what parts the others are playing.
Oliver continues to be uncertain in his romantic endeavors, feeling the pressure of Richard’s memory and the pull of James’s disapproval. Even as he decides to try to pursue Meredith, he finds himself cast in a very familiar role: much like Banquo, Benvolio is a measured and loyal best friend to the play’s main character. If precedent holds true and James is Romeo, then the theatre is pulling Oliver back to James, but not as a romantic candidate—just as his best friend again.
Themes
