Romeo and Juliet.

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Romeo and Juliet

 Romeo’s speech in Act II, Scene II is just after he has met Juliet for the first time at the Capulet Party. He came disguised to the party and upon setting eyes on Juliet, fell deeply in love with her. At the end of the party Romeo leaves his friends to find Juliet as he cannot bear to be apart from her. He climbs the walls of the Capulet house and climbs onto Juliet’s balcony, just under her window. He then begins to speak of her beauty. Romeo’s uses extravagant love poetry to express his feelings for Juliet. He uses metaphors and similes throughout his speech to convey just how strong his feelings are for her and how beautiful she is in his eyes. In fact, most of Romeo’s speech concentrates on the physical side of his (soon to be) relationship with her. The first metaphor used is that of the sun and the moon. He compares Juliet to the sun and then goes on to say “arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief that thou her maid art far more fair than she.” This means that not only is Juliet as beautiful and bright as the sun, but the moon, the opposite to the sun, is envious of Juliet because she is so bright and beautiful; the moon is a pale and sickly green colour, in contrast to the sun’s brightness. The fact that he associates Juliet with images of light is indicative of the way in which he sees her - happy, bright, beautiful and dreamy. Something bright is normally associated with beauty as opposed to something dull. He sees her in a good rather than a bad light. Romeo then uses repetition, to demonstrate his wonderment and happiness as Juliet approaches the window - “It is my lady. O, it is my love.”

 The next metaphor used by Romeo is that of Juliet’s eyes in comparison to the stars. He says, “Two of the fairest stars...to twinkle in their spheres till they return.” Romeo is saying that Juliet’s’ eyes are so bright that if two of the brightest stars in heaven were to have to go away they could ask Juliet’s eyes to take their place whilst they were away. That’s how bright and beautiful they are - they are equal to that of the most beautiful stars in the sky. He then extends this metaphor to that concerning Juliet’s cheek. He says that as well as her eyes being brighter/equal in brightness to those in the sky, he cheeks would shame those same stars if they were to be placed in Juliet’s face. Even her cheeks are more beautiful and bright than these brightest stars. Her cheeks would shame the stars as “daylight doth a lamp.” Had her eyes replaced the stars in heaven, they would have light up the sky so bright that “the birds would sing and think it were not night.”  

 Romeo then describes his ‘desires’ on more of a physical level. He has described Juliet’s beauty which is physical in itself but he now goes on to say “See how she leans her cheek upon her hand: O that I were that glove.” The glove is touching Juliet’s face and this is obviously what Romeo wishes he were doing, thus he wishes to be the glove. Upon hearing Juliet speak Romeo (silently) replies, “O speak again, bright angel.” This angelic reference is again something connected with beauty, light and purity. It is also a heavenly image showing as strong connection with religion and also suggesting subtly that the only place Romeo and Juliet will truly be able to be happy together is in heaven. The fact that Juliet is referred to as an angel depicts how she is viewed in Romeo’s eyes - as heavenly creature/goddess. She is viewed not only as a bright angel but as “ a winged messenger of heaven unto the white upturned eyes of mortals, that fall back and gaze on him when he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds, and sails upon the bosom of the air” i.e. when this heavenly angel is seen by humans, they will all stop and gaze at it in wonderment.  

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 This speech is typical of Romeo. It is very romantic and poetic; the poetry is gentle and flowing. It makes the audience feel very romantic and the metaphors and style give the reader a true sense of what Romeo feels for Juliet and how much he loves her. The fact that he uses such heavenly images also shows how much he loves her. The fact that Romeo constantly compared Juliet to light and angels suggests sincerity and consistency, making you more inclined to believe that he really does love Juliet. With Rosaline it was only her beauty that attracted him ...

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