Explain the dramatic significance of Juliet's soliloquy at the beginning of Act 3 Scene 2 of Romeo & Juliet

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Explain the dramatic significance of Juliet’s soliloquy at the beginning of Act 3 Scene 2 of Romeo & Juliet

In this play Juliet is the character who experiences the most change. As a thirteen year old at the beginning of the play she soon develops from being a ‘girl’ to a ‘young woman’. Actresses playing Juliet on stage have difficulties because they have to portray both sides of her character. Juliet’s character develops from being a young obedient and innocent daughter, “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move; But no more deep will I endart mine eye, than your consent gives strength to make it fly” to being a more mature wife. Shakespeare conveys maturity by her depth of love and descriptions of her feelings towards Romeo.

In Act 2 Scene 2 Juliet describes her love “my bounty is as boundless as the sea my love as deep”. This shows maturity because she is committing herself to Romeo by expressing the intense feelings of an adult. It is difficult for actresses to show the contrast between the two sides of Juliet’s character as she rapidly changes from being a care free child to a “star crossed lover”.

In Act 2 Scene 2 where Romeo and Julie meet, she begins by toying with Romeo as a child would but soon becomes involved in the situation and realises the intensity of her feelings and what she would sacrifice for her love. She soon becomes more practical and then realises the complications of their love. She says “I have no joy in this contract tonight, it is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden”. However, after their first meeting she automatically knows that he is the man she will marry and is ready to give up everything for him. She says,

“Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet”.

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She is prepared to give up her family and her title for Romeo. She takes charge and shows Romeo that she is committed to him, “if thy bent of love be honourable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, By one that I’ll procure to come to thee”. This is a sign of maturity because she is ensuring her own safety by making him quite reckless because after learning of Romeo’s life and love background she still goes ahead and expresses her love and feelings that she can trust him. This however is a sign of her naivety and ...

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