In the present day, Oliver and Colborne visit the docks. The area looks smaller than what Oliver remembers. Colborne tells Oliver tourists often steal Oliver and his friends’ things from the castle out of morbid fascination. He asks Oliver if he blames Shakespeare for some part of the tragedy that befell the fourth-years. Oliver says, “I blame him for all of it” (296). For four years, the friends were immersed in the dramatic, emotionally charged world of Shakespeare’s characters, channeling extreme emotions like love, jealousy, and anguish. As good actors, they didn’t just speak Shakespeare’s lines, but felt them. Their feelings grew so intense that they all went off the rails. Even Richard was under Shakespeare’s spell.

Oliver returns to Ohio for Christmas break. Caroline’s health has taken a turn for the worse. Overwhelmed, Oliver decides to leave home. He goes to Manhattan to be with Meredith. Meredith’s parents, her older brother, and her sister-in-law are in Canada. Her other brother, Caleb, is busy with work, so Oliver and Meredith have the apartment largely to themselves. Oliver notes Meredith has decorated her dressing mirror with photo and memorabilia of the fourth-years. He realizes Meredith thinks of all of them as family.