In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, what does Friar Laurence give Juliet to make her appear dead?

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence gives Juliet a sleeping potion to make her appear dead.

The potion is part of Friar Laurence’s plan to prevent Juliet’s forced marriage to Count Paris. After taking it, Juliet will appear lifeless for approximately forty-two hours. Her family places her in the Capulet tomb, where Romeo is supposed to meet her after receiving the friar’s message.

The plan fails because Romeo never receives the explanation. Friar John, who is meant to deliver the message, is detained during a suspected plague quarantine. Romeo instead hears that Juliet has died and travels to the tomb with real poison.

The potion is often confused with the poison that Romeo drinks. Juliet’s potion only creates the appearance of death; Romeo’s poison kills him, while Juliet later awakens and kills herself with his dagger.