Romeo and Juliet Commentary - Act 2

During Act 3, Scene 1, a brawl occurs between Mercutio and Tybalt. In this, Tybalt ends up killing Mercutio by stabbing him from under Romeo’s arm as Romeo tried to stop the fight. Out of revenge for Mercutio’s death, Romeo kills Tybalt. Prince Escalus arrives along with some of the Capulets and Montagues to enquire into the deaths of Tybalt and Mercutio. Benvolio explains what happened and The Prince decided to sentence Romeo to exile from Verona. Romeo deserved to be banished from Verona because he committed murder, which is a serious crime and putting Romeo to death would have escalated the feud between the families.

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet – popularly considered by many to be the quintessential love story of all time – is a play that we are all familiar with in one way or another. Whether it be through the plethora of portrayals, adaptations and performances that exist or through your own reading of the play, chances are you have been acquainted with this tale of “tragic love” at some point in your life. Through this universal familiarity an odd occurrence can be noted, one of almost canonical reverence for the themes commonly believed to be central to the plot. The most widely believed theme of Romeo and Juliet is that of the ideal love unable to exist under the harsh social and political strains of this world. Out of this idea emerge two

The previous passage was Romeo describing Juliet as beautiful as the sun, and professing his love for Juliet . At this point, Romeo is in the garden speaking to Juliet on the balcony. He refers to Juliet as the light of his world, and uses colorful imagery to describe her looks. This is one another example of the false love that exists. In addition to this quote, the narrator of the play describes Romeo and Juliet as “star-crossed lovers”. Another quote by Juliet describing Romeo in a sexual, lustful way is as follows;

This is particularly apparent as he continuously and secretly visits Juliet late at night at her house, despite the dangers. His actions help prove that his only desire is to be with Juliet. He wishes for a life that “in it [Juliet] might I love, you honour, serve and please.” ( Line 513). However, their situation holds them back from truly expressing their love for one another. They are star crossed lovers with families that disapprove of their love to the extent that they are described as each other’s “deadly foes.” Overall, these characters help illustrate the main theme: romantic love. As a result of their actions and dialogue, they depict the passion and yearning that characterizes young love. Additionally, they prove that love is an overpowering force that transcends rational thinking and other emotions or values. I believe that as an effect of external forces, their love may be will be impaired which would further the

Love, in 'Romeo and Juliet' has its own importance in the theme of inner struggle between the two protagonists, Romeo and Juliet. Juliet is torn between staying loyal to her family and therefore obeying her parents to marry Paris or staying married to an enemy, Romeo, “My husband lives, that Tybalt has slain; / And Tybalt's dad, that would have slain my husband: / All this is comfort; wherefore weep I then?” (3:2). On the other hand, Romeo has his struggles too. He juggles between the idea of banishment from Verona and not being able to see his beloved Juliet again and that of death, “Ha, banishment? Be merciful, say 'death'.” (3:3). The secret marriage between Romeo and Juliet is also one of the outcomes due to love. It is because of love that Juliet risked her parents' disapproval to not marry Paris and Romeo risked the danger of being killed by Capulet's kinsmen to go to see her. Yet again, this shows the inner struggle of Romeo and Juliet.

Furthermore, during the balcony scene, Juliet becomes also responsible for the tragedy which is about to happen; in fact, after declaring her love’s vow to Romeo, she takes the decision of marrying him, and this marriage will become the main cause of their death. Love makes Romeo and Juliet act

Romeo’s speech identifies to the audience for the first time, how Romeo feels about Juliet. That Juliet’s beauty is unmatched by those in the room and that Romeo has never loved before but he now thinks he has found her, Juliet the one. At this point the audience realises just what type of love and passion Romeo feels for Juliet. This event adds much more dramatic effect and intensifies the scene. At this instant a height of drama is achieved, but Shakespeare lifts it higher with a stronger and more hating speech, that of Tybalt’s.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ is a tragic play about two star crossed lovers written by Shakespeare in 1595. The play is a timeless teenage tradgedy. “The play champions the 16th Century belief that true love always strikes at first sight,” (Lamb 1993: Introduction) and even in modern times an audience still want to believe in such a thing as love at first sight. Act II Scene II the balcony scene displays that romantic notion perfectly.

Inevitably, passionate love is woven through “Romeo and Juliet”, declared by speech and insinuated by the couple infatuation with each other. Without a doubt, several scenes were a strong representation of this obsession. Many scenes into the play, the young, lovelorn Romeo is seen in a dismal and in a disconnected state due to his unrequited love for Rosaline. But as his hopeless eyes falls upon Juliet at the Capulet’s ball, Romeo is resurrected from his depression in awe by the mesmerising beauty of Juliet; this was expressed through Romeo’s soliloquy. A little while into the aftermath of the party, Romeo, powered by the newly found momentous love, risks his life climbing the high orchard walls into the deadly grounds of his enemies, the Capulets. Although Juliet fears for Romeo’s life, Romeo fearlessly

During some of part one, and two, we slowly learn about Romeo and his dilemma. He has fallen in love with beautiful Rosaline and all of his heart is crying out to her. He vows to never see a beauty as fair as her, and complains about the rudeness and pain of love. He allows himself to go to the party with Mercutio and his friends, but remarks he won't have a good time. "I'll go along, no such sight to be shown, But to rejoice in a splendor of mine own."  That is until he sees Juliet. Instantly he forgets all of his lamenting for Rosaline love, and proclaims Juliet is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. "O! she doth teach the torches to burn bright. It seems she hangs on the cheek of night, like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."

The author, William Shakespeare, efficiently employs various events and characters in the play, Romeo and Juliet, to convey that love conquers all. Through manipulation of Act 2, Scene 2, also renowned as the 'Balcony Scene’, Shakespeare effectively demonstrates how Romeo and Juliet’s love surmounts numerous things, in the play. Additionally, Shakespeare portrays that/how the strength of Romeo’s love for his murdered friend Mercutio, creates a desire for revenge despite potentially receiving death penalty; displaying that Romeo’s love for his friend conquers the fear of death. Furthermore, the final scene also depicts how love triumphs over the terror of death and how the Montague and Capulet parents’ mutual love for their children, Romeo

The word love can mean many things. Love can be an object, emotion, and a life. However, love could lead to a loss of power, prosperity, and status. In the literary work “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare, the readers are introduced to a tragic love story. In this play, readers are also shown the different perspectives of love and the many downfalls it could lead to. The central theme of this work is the recklessness of love. The theme is significant because it is shown throughout the whole story and it’s a strong force that takes place of all the other emotions and values. In this play, Shakespeare uses characters to present different aspects of love. In addition, Nurse, Mercutio, and Romeo completely show what actual love is and what it is like to lose it due to their experiences.

Shakespeare does this by noting how Romeo and Juliet do not actually love each other. This is represented by Romeo and Juliets actions and rash decision making. Their decisions are very impulsive and rushed. As a result, it impacted them negatively in the future and as well as their relationship. Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other is not actually how love really is. They’ve mistakenly confused lust for love.

The play is so well known since it shows the deepest example of passion. The proclamation of love for the first time between Juliet and Romeo adds a great deal of passion to the play, as it helps develop their journey of love. In the balcony scene, Juliet expresses to Romeo, “My bounty is as boundless as the sea,/My love as deep. The more I give to thee,/ The more I have, for both are infinite” (Shakespeare 2. 2. 133-135). Juliet reveals to Romeo that the more love she gives him, the more love she has, and that her love for him is limitless. Additionally, the passion that Romeo and Juliet share is violent and disobedient. As Friar Laurence tells Romeo, “These violent delights have violent ends/And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,/Which as they kiss consume. The sweetest honey/Is loathsome in his own deliciousness/And in the taste confounds the appetite./Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so./Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow” (2.6. 9-15). The Friar tries to notify Romeo that his and Juliet's intense passion may end violently, as they go behind their parents backs to get married. As a result, this passion lead to the lovers death. Little did Romeo and Juliet know that something so bad could come out of their intense passion. Romeo says,

Juliet is the beautiful, daring side protagonist, who serves as the love interest of Romeo and takes advantage of the opportunities given. The story revolves around Juliet and Romeo’s struggle to be together; said in the prologue: “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes / A pair of star-crossed lovers [Romeo and Juliet] take their life / Whose misadventured piteous overthrows” (Prologue.5-8). Expectedly, Juliet’s beauty, confirmed by the nurse: “Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’er I nursed” (1.3.65), leads Romeo to fall madly in love with her. Breaching the Capulet’s walls, Romeo creeps up to Juliet’s window to catch a glimpse of her, achieving his goal and birthing the iconic love line: “It is the East, and Juliet is the sun” (2.2.2).