However Juliet’s character ay the start of the play is quite different. She is very obedient “madam I am here what is your will?” and very dutiful “I’ll look to like if looking liking move.” She is still very innocent and we are told she is “not fourteen.” She also relies on the nurse who has been with her since birth to make many decisions for her. Unlike Romeo she has no knowledge of the power of love and so when meets him she is love struck and willing to do anything for love.
The “star-crossed lovers” first meet in Act 1 scene 5. It is a big party at the Capulet household but Romeo and his friends have decided to gatecrash even though Romeo refuses to dance saying “I have a sole of lead so stakes me to the ground I cannot move.” They fall in love at first sight, with Romeo describing Juliet as a saint “my lips two blushing pilgrims ready stand.” They talk in a sonnet to each other showing they are in tune with each other and are equals in the play, but as early on as this stage the sense of foreboding is still being felt.
Act 2 scene 2 is often called the balcony scene and is one of the best known pieces of theatre ever! The Act begins with Romeo running off back into the Capulet mansion to get to Juliet as he cannot bear to leave her “can I go forward when my heart is here?” He climbs over the high walls of the enemies mansion to get to her and risks being in enemy territory showing the height of his love and devotion and his determination to be with her. From the very first words Romeo speaks it is clear to see his mood and feelings have totally changed. He uses ‘upwards’ words “It is the east and Juliet is the sun,” Romeo could be comparing Juliet to the Sun for many reasons. It could be that Juliet is the new light of his life, she is now the centre of Romeo’s world, she has showed Romeo the light as before he sought the night or another is that he thinks it is the dawn of a new beginning in his life. Also Romeo may have already seen Juliet “what light through yonder window breaks?” she is above him at this time, like the sun. He still continues to use elaborate language “her vestal livery is but sick and green, and none but falls do wear it ; cast off” but now is not seen as the Petrachan lover as he also uses a lot more straight forward language “It is my lady, O it is my love” this showing his feelings are sincere. The fact that we see Juliet but we never saw Rosaline is so we feel she is not important to the story and also shows she was not as important to Romeo.
As Romeo s speech continues he continues to use words connected with light and upwards words for example he says “two of the fairest stars in all in all the heaven, having some business do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres till they return” comparing her eyes to the stars saying she would outshine them this again showing how pure and beautiful his love for her is, a total contrast to the fighting scenes we have previously witnessed.
Juliet’s first words “Ay me” shows how straightforward she is after Romeo has just spoke a long speech full of elaborate imagery. On hearing her speak Romeo echoes his words from the party scene when he described her as a saint and comment s that she is a “bright angel”. He sees himself as mortal and is in awe at Juliet’s beauty, showing he worships her. Juliet then continues to speak not knowing Romeo is their listening. He questions whether to speak back but continues to listen until he can listen no more and speaks “I take thee at thy word: call me but love, and I all be new baptised Henceforth I never will be Romeo.” Juliet does not know who has just been listening to her declaring her love “so stumblest on my counsel?” but he doesn’t have to say much more before she realises who it is “Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?” Through-out the rest of the scene there is a great lack of action, Shakespeare has chose to do this so that all attention is on Romeo and Juliet and the purity of their love. This is also the reason why Mercutio is killed off so early as he is a very big character and Shakespeare wanted all focus on the lovers.
Juliet’s first words ‘ay me’ are very different to Romeo’s, she is a very straight forward speaking girl and would rather just be told straight rather than use elaborate language that could be just being used to hide something. This is also shown later on in the scene when Romeo says “Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow that tips with silver all these fruit tree tops-” she then interrupts, she does not want him to swear by the moon as the moon changes: she wants to be told straight. She has never felt love before and so now is love stuck. She is willing to deny her family “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” which is seen as very wrong, but to her a name is not important “that which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet” showing a very practical nature. She is also seen as a very strong character, she asks questions that get straight to the point “how cam’st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?” and dismisses Romeo when he uses elaborate language. She is willing also to go against many traditions for love such as denying her father and rejecting the usual forms of courtship “In truth fair Montague I am too fond and therefore thou mayst think my behaviour light:” Although she is still very young she is very straightforward and does not like any messing around and even dismisses Romeo when is language is over elaborate. She overpowers Romeo and takes control of the situation “if that thy bent of love be honourable, thy purpose marriage send me word tomorrow” showing a difference in character again between the two characters.
It is evident to see that by this stage both characters have changed since when we first saw them. In our first meeting with Romeo he is depressed and full of sorrow over his infatuation with Rosaline and how she does not repay his love, he uses over elaborate language and seeks the night however now he is full of happiness and looks to the future with Juliet. His language has changed now becoming holy and saintly showing his new love for her. Juliet first appeared as subdued, modest and very obedient towards her family’s wishes; she is now rebelling and only seems to care about Romeo.
Despite their contrasting natures Shakespeare reveals the depth and sincerity of their love by the way they are “in tune” with each other. They use rhyming couplets to show their love and harmony “love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books, but love from love toward school with heavy looks.” Romeo carries on talking in rhyming couplets following on from Juliet, echoing the party scene. Also they are seen as equals in the play and balance each other out like the nurse and Mercutio.
The play is seen as one of the greatest tragedies of all time and compresses many genres into one play which would have been loved by many then and now. Its story of how love is over before it even gets to start, through the fault of others. I think Shakespeare is trying to teach a lesson that we should always be kind to each other because you don t know how it will effect you in the end. Lots of film s have been made each with their own ideas of the way it should be shown. The most recent is that of Baz Luhrmann. It is set in modern day and portrays the play in a very unique way. Whereas Franco Zeffirelli’s version is a lot more traditional, but both show the greatness of this play.
