Apothecary (The True and Most Excellent Comedie of Romeo and Juliet)

An apothecary was a character in William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.

Though he only appeared in a single scene, namely Act V Scene I, he was nonetheless important to the plot, providing Romeo Montague with the poison he used to commit suicide in the wake of the apparent death of his wife Juliet Capulet. Before handing Romeo the vial of poison, he told him it had the strength to dispatch of twenty men. Romeo gave the apothecary some gold for the vial, stating the money was a "worse poison to men's souls". The apothecary was obviously poor as Romeo also told him to "buy food and get thyself in flesh" before leaving for Verona.

In an alternative version of the play conceived by Shakespeare to "make dark tragedie light", the apothecary also spoke to the Doctor, Amy and Rory, just seconds after Romeo's departure. Amy asked him where Romeo had gone but the apothecary did not reveal what he knew, saying he thought he "did hear word of his intent but find myself distract with my hunger". The Doctor gave him some gold and the apothecary thanked him, promptly revealing that Romeo was bound for the Capulet tomb to lie with his dead love. The trio then rushed off again, though not before Amy told the shocked apothecary that Juliet was merely feigining death. After they left, he spoke aloud his belief that it was "not for [him] to care what those who buy [his] goods may do in folly or remorse". He then proclaimed that it had been "a rich day of trade for him" and announced his intention to "dine and drink [his] health in wine". (PROSE: The True and Most Excellent Comedie of Romeo and Juliet)