And I just got to know

Wednesday, May 8, 2013 @ 10:43 PM

Barely at stage Act 2 Scene 2

Not only is this the famous balcony scene, it shows the drastic change in Juliet. Previously, she was innocent and definitely not in search for love “It is an honor I dream not of” in A1S3. Because she respects her mother, calling her “Madam” and “What is your will”, she does not like the idea of marriage and love. Furthermore, she’s barely fourteen! Come on, give her some space to think.

In this particular scene, Juliet has evolved to be mature to make her own decisions and to think carefully of the consequences. Although she is independent and daring to give her heart to her parent’s enemy, she is still unsure and insecure. Besides, they have only met in that short period of time “If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully” It used to be just cheeky romantic infatuated Romeo proving his love through metaphors and continuous compliments,

"The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars
As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.”

(So guys out there trying to impress literature students, quote Shakespeare)

In return, Juliet has managed to express her true feelings but is still afraid thus the audience is aware that she keeps it to herself in the soliloquy in A2S2. On the other hand, melancholy Romeo was lamenting over Rosaline. Ironic how he got over her in an instant and claims that "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true
beauty till this night” when he set eyes on Juliet.

In A3S1, Romeo is overjoyed with Juliet’s acceptance and enters the fighting scene between Mercutio and Tybalt. He has accepted Tybalt as his own and “love thee more than thou canst devise”. Mercutio rages but ended up getting killed, under Romeo’s arms. When Mercutio falls, Romeo realizes that he has soften because of Juliet, “Thy beauty hath made me effeminate , And in my temper soften valor’s steel”. So I'm pausing here, leaving you with something to think about, Romeo is no longer bold and as impulsive as he used to. So is meeting Juliet a good or bad thing for him?

Labels: be patient., distraction, literature, motivation, study