The language used by Romeo & Juliet is very romantic and slightly poetic “no nightingale, look, love, what envois streaks, do lace the severing clouds in yonder east”(line 7-8). When the two talk they use a lot of poetic imagery like “nights candles”(line 9). During their talk, they talk about larks and nightingales. When Romeo decides its time to leave, Juliet says it is still dark, and it is the nightingale singing, not the lark. “It was the nightingale, and not the lark”(line2). Tension first starts to build here, when Romeo decides to stay and possibly die alongside Juliet happily. “I have more care to stay then will to go”(line 25). If Romeo decided to stay, there was a high chance of him getting caught by lady Capulet.
The audience would feel sympathy for the two lovers, because they would have to part after their first night. But the audience would still have a slight feeling of disapproval because they would feel the two lovers should of got their families to agree to the marriage, instead of taking that big step themselves. However they would be upset because everybody knows that they are going to die from the prologue. “A pair of star crossed lovers take their life”(pg 3), this means that two ill-fated lovers have to die, for their families to be at peace.
After Romeo takes his leave, Juliet is crying over Romeo, and how she may not ever be able too see him again. At this point Lady Capulet walks in. During this bit Shakespeare has used dramatic irony. Lady Capulet mistakes Juliet’s tears for the death of their dear cousin Tybalt. However Juliet is really crying for Romeo. “Evermore weeping for your cousin’s death?” (Line 69). Lady Capulet slowly draws Juliet in to talk about marriage by firstly giving her the soft, sympathy talk.
The tension builds up quickly in this scene; it first starts when lady Capulet first talks about poisoning Romeo unexpectedly. “Shall give him such an unaccustomed dram” (line 90). Shakespeare does some more dramatic irony here, when Juliet says that she’s wants to see Romeo, and she then quickly says Dead. “With Romeo, till I behold him-dead-“(line 94). The tension then starts to build even more, when the mood of death & anger changes into a surprising marriage talk. The Capulet wish that Juliet wed Paris. “Marry my child, early next Thursday morn”(line 112). However Juliet is in love, with Romeo, who she wishes to live with and has already married. When Juliet disagrees and says it is too quick: “I wonder at this haste, that I must wed”(line 118)
When lord Capulet enters the scene, he also mistakes Juliet’s tears, for Tybalt. He talks to her like in previous scenes nicely, as if she was a rare precious jewel that must be treated nicely and tamed. But when he finds out that she goes against his wishes and does not want to marry Paris, he forgets about her being this only beloved daughter, instead he goes into a rage. He insults her whilst in anger he says, “green sickness carrion…you baggage”(line 115). He then goes on to disown her and leave her to die on the streets of Verona. “You shall not house with me”(line 118).
The audience feel that Lady & Lord Capulet are people that wish the best for Juliet’s future, but they would want that to happen no matter what. This is because, Juliet is their only daughter of a rich man, she will inherit all his wealth, so he wants her to be married well an Elizabethan audience would understand this. However lord Capulet has also got another sneaky reason for this wedding to take place, because of his rivalry between the Montague’s. Paris is a relative of the prince; if he were related to the prince he would then be more respected, and higher then lord Montague.
When Lord Capulet finishes his rage, Juliet then appeals to her mother for help. Juliet wishes for the marriage to be delayed. “Delay this marriage for a month, a week (line 199). But lady Capulet is not that close to Juliet, she may of given birth to her, but she never actually took the time to get to no her as a friend. Lady Capulet says no to helping Juliet. “Talk not to me”(line 202)
Juliet then asks the nurse to help her. The nurse is much closer to Juliet, but she is not the brightest person in the room. She gives some very poor advise to Juliet. “ I think it best if you married the county”(line 217) the nurse advises Juliet to marry Paris. The nurse contradicts herself, by first saying Romeos good looking, but now she is saying Paris is more handsome. “For it excels your first”(line 223). The nurse being Juliet’s only friend is not helping Juliet in her time of most need.
Lady Capulet and the nurse take Juliet’s plead in two different ways, but both have the same aim: to keep Capulet happy. Lady Capulet says firmly I am helpless I cannot help you. This may be because she might be scared of Capulet or because she may give wrong advice, which can lead to more trouble. Which she wishes to avoid and not take the risk? On the other hand the nurse more confident and willing to take risk, gives Juliet what she thinks is good advice. She literally tells her to marry Paris and forget Romeo. This leaves Juliet lonely and hopeless. All her hopes that she put in her mother and the nurse have all gone in a short sad moment.
In the final piece in this scene, is properly the most powerful and strongest bit. We know from before that Juliet feels isolated because; one-by-one she is left alone on the stage. No one has helped her. The language she uses is all showing us signs of desperation and also how lonely she is. Her language tells us her real emotions and how she is feeling. The final line of the scene spoken by Juliet is a very powerful line, it emphasizes, the dramatic impact betrayal can cause. “ If all else fail, myself have power to die”(line 242). She is saying that if ever other option fails then she has the power too kill her self. I.e. commit suicide.
The mood of the beginning of the scene greatly contrasts, to the end of the scene. The beginning of the play, two lovers are in a warm romantic and nice atmosphere on the other hand, the ending of the scene, the mood is all negative. Juliet talks about death, betrayal & anger. The mood has a major difference from beginning to end.
Shakespeare throughout the scene uses many techniques to create tension. For example, he unexpectedly, makes Romeo change his mind about leaving Juliet. This would make the audience think what if he got caught? Shakespeare also uses powerful lines, which have a strong meaning. “If all else fail, myself have the power to die”(line242). Shakespeare also uses a lot of dramatic irony. In the play the least important characters talk less, whereas the more important talk more and with more fluency, also sometimes with rhyme.
The scene prepares the audience for Juliet’s biggest decision in her life and in the play. Juliet now has an option to either marry Paris or not too. However marrying Paris is not an option because it is illegal. However the audience know whatever decision she makes, it will lead to her own death and also of Romeos. We know this because of the prologue. The audience would fell very sorry for Juliet; they would want the two young lovers to get back together.
