All the characters appear and the scene is set for the two main characters Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Benvolio speaks of sunlight; secrets and silence, these ideas and images accompany Romeo and Juliet in the play, which Shakespeare uses to create a deliberate mood of love around the lovers. “The shady curtains from Aurora’s bed, locks fair daylight out, and makes himself an artificial night”.
Real love “locks daylight out” represents the eternal darkness of the tomb. Montague’s speech serves to set their love story against the backdrop of superstition, great legends and irresistible power of fate. Romeo’s speeches mix love with hate, it is confused speeches showing images of chaos, where life is seen as death and death is seen as light. “O brawling love, O brawling hate”.
Mercutio’s long speech about dreams in Act one Scene four eases the tension before Romeo and Juliet meet. In Act one scene five Romeo and Juliet meet and kiss, Juliet not knowing he was a Montague, and when the nurse reveals his name Juliet says “My only love spring from my only hate”.
The stage is now set for the tragedy to unfold; all the main characters are introduced except for Friar Lawrence. Romeo is lovesick; he is young, handsome and lively. Juliet is innocent, inexperienced and relies on her nurse. The Nurse is more part of a conventional world, which opposes to but yet aids the understanding of the passion of Romeo and Juliet.
Act two Romeo slips away from his friends into the orchard of Capulet’s house hear he overhears Juliet pledging her love for him. They exchange vows and she promises to send a messenger to him in the morning Romeo meets Friar Lawrence and asks the friar to marry them in secret, he agrees.
In Act 2 Scene 5 I am going to describe how I would have it acted out and what the actors would wear. In the Capulets’ garden I will have Juliet pacing up and down the garden wearing an expensive white gown on then sitting down to try and wait but she can’t and jumps up and keeps walking up and down the garden anxiously awaiting the return of the nurse. Next I will have the nurse return with a bluish dress and a white hat and tease Juliet with the message to show that the nurse enjoys the power of the news she is carrying. Eventually, to Juliet’s obvious relief, the nurse reveals what Romeo has said with a smile on her face she tells Juliet the good news then Juliet jumps with joy as the nurse says about the proposal from Romeo to Juliet.
Antonio Carchedi 10 Sherwin