Unaware of Romeo’s close proximity, Juliet calls out for Romeo into the darkness around her and is frustrated by their different names acting as a barrier that separates them. Their repetition of their house names throughout this scene shows how anxious they are to dispose of them. She would like to ‘refuse thy name’, as she no longer wishes to be a Capulet, showing her willingness to be with Romeo. Juliet questions ‘what’s in a name’ as. She makes the point that a ‘rose’ would smell as sweet by ‘any other word’. She wishes for Romeo to ‘doff’ thy name as he will still keep his ‘dear perfection’ meaning Romeo is still himself whatever his ‘title’. Taking her question seriously he claims, out loud, he shall be ‘new baptised’ suggesting he will change his name as it is an ‘enemy to thee’ (Juliet).
After meeting face to face the pair continue to use imagery to describe their feelings. Juliet recognises Romeo’s voice even though her ‘ears yet not drunk a hundred words’ an oxymoron showing they have hardly spoken to each other before. The choice of ‘drunk’ seems illogical in terms of hearing but perhaps also suggests she is drunk on love, as it is a stronger adjective than ‘heard’. She is also puzzled as to ‘how camst thou hither’ but Romeo proudly claims ‘stony limits’ can’t ‘hold love out’ showing he feels strongly for Juliet if he managed to get in and stray clear of ‘thy kinsman’. Romeo would rather die ‘by their hate’ than have to want of ‘thy love’ meaning he couldn’t stand living without her and perhaps also because he is sick with the families feuding.
Juliet begins to feel she has been too abrupt and impulsive on declaring her love despite Romeo’s ambitions. She begins to become more concerned and wishes for him to bid ‘farewell compliment’ wanting him to speak plainly and to ‘pronounce’ his love instead of comparing her to this and that. Juliet is also worried that Romeo thinks she’s ‘too quickly won’ so she will ‘frown’ upon Romeo and say ‘nay’ to ‘thee’, warning him in advance. Romeo continues to swear by the ‘blessed moon’ but this offends her, perhaps as this suggests her virginity which Romeo seems more keen to dispatch of than Juliet herself. She doesn’t want him to ‘swear at all’ but if he must by ‘thy gracious self’ meaning he should swear by himself, as that’s what she treasures most. Juliet feels the nights ‘contract’ has been ‘too rash, too unadvised, too sudden’, the repetition of ‘too’ showing she is deeply concerned about how hasty they have been and compares their relationship to ‘lightning’ obviously showing their love is far too quick and that it can disappear in an instant. Romeo feels he has been left ‘unsatisfied’, and wants the exchange of ‘love’s faithful vow’ however Juliet merely recalls she has given hers without Romeo’s ‘request’ and would ‘give (it) again’, reassuring Romeo of her love for him.
As the Nurse calls for Juliet, the couple continue to convey their affections and look ahead to their future. Even after her metaphor for their love as ‘lightning’ she describes their love as a ‘bud of love’ like their love is about to blossom into ‘beauteous’ flower for when they meet again. She also describes her love ‘as boundless as the sea’ and it is ‘deep’ and ‘infinite’ meaning like the sea as endless water she has endless love to give. When Juliet is forced to go inside Romeo is worried that the ‘blessed night’ may have all been a ‘dream’ as it has been too good to be true. Perhaps bizarrely, Juliet compares their parting as ‘schoolboys to their books’, counting on schoolboys loathing their books, as lovers loath parting. Again Juliet compares them to a ‘falc’ner’ and his bird as they ‘lure’ their ‘tassle gentle’ back as if they’re attracted to each other like a falconer to his bird. Her other simile of Romeo to a ‘Wanton’s bird’ meaning Romeo is free but she can ‘pluck’ him back with her ‘loving-jealousy’, an oxymoron to show her strong feelings. Another oxymoron by Juliet is when she describes their departure from one another as ‘sweet sorrow’ which implies their parting is blissful but painful at the same time. Juliet is obviously is already looking forward to seeing him again yet is still sad to seem him leave. Finally, she stops herself from getting carried away by explaining to Romeo she will ‘kill thee with much cherishing’ meaning she has nurtured Romeo too much ,however, is also cruelly ironic as Romeo kills himself later because of Juliet’s ‘cherishing’.
Romeo and Juliet use all kinds of imagery, metaphors and similes to express their love to show how deep and meaningful it really is. Despite Juliet’s concerns she is just as keen in love as Romeo is. It is important to the rest of the play as it shows their love is complete and not just a fleeting romance. Therefore future events are more meaningful and relevant. However, her reference to their love like ‘lightening’ possibly sets the scene for the future tragedies which could have been prevented if there relationship had not been too ‘rash’.