Romeo is at the Capulet house, where a party is taking place. Despite the fact that the Montague are the sworn enemy of the Capulet, Romeo still takes the risk and attends. When Romeo sees Juliet for the first time he comes out with a soliloquy. Shakespeare has done this so Romeo’s inner thoughts can be revealed to the audience. Romeo opens the soliloquy by complimenting Juliet’s beauty: “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheeks of night”. Romeo describes Juliet’s beauty, her face makes her seem bright like fire, and he associates fire with Juliet’s beauty. He continues: “Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear; Beauty too for use, for earth too dear!” Romeo compares Juliet to an Ethiopian with jewel dangling from her ear, he says she is too good for everyday life; she is something unique and special. The play Romeo and Juliet, in terms of the comparison of darkness and light, this theme shows up commonly in successive scenes. The comparison of dark and light is a fundamental element of their love, it is interesting to note that significant love scenes are set in the dark not in the disarray of the day. This significantly suggests that Romeo loves Juliet at night. However, he kills Tybalt while it is day. This idea is particularly evident in the first act, in the way Romeo is said to be shutting out the daylight while he is yearning for his love and the rejection of Rosaline.
Romeo seems to be forgetting Rosaline. The beauty of Juliet has illumined Romeo and he has given up being depressed over Rosaline: “Did my heart love till now? For swear it sight”. Romeo is thinking that has he ever known love until he saw Juliet. Then he again speaks of Juliet’s beauty in the last line of the soliloquy: “For I never saw beauty till this night”. The previous quotation verifies that Romeo has given up the love of Rosaline and he now thinks that he has seen true beauty and is in complete love with Juliet. From what the audience have seen from Romeo so far at the first meeting with Juliet is that he has changed his course of love. The audience will see his character as fickle; he is jumping from one woman to another. This shows how immature Romeo is; he takes every opportunity to meet his circumstances.
Juliet’s first glimpse of Romeo was when he confronted her in the party. Romeo uses clever language and double meaning to seduce her: “If I profane with my unworthiest hand. This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss”. Romeo is saying to Juliet if he were to touch her he would be committing blasphemy. Shakespeare has used words such as “holy shrine” and “pilgrims”; he does this to make Juliet seem pure like religion. What Romeo is trying to do here is to kiss Juliet. However, Juliet hearing that Romeo is comparing her to a “shrine”, she continues with this religious concept. Juliet calls Romeo a “Good pilgrim”. Juliet then replies to the proposal from Romeo to kiss her: “For saints have hands that pilgrims hands do touch. And palm to palm is holy palmers kiss: By using religious theme like Romeo when he spoke to her, Juliet suggests that they should kiss but do it by touching hands. Romeo seems unsatisfied by this and he again proposes to kiss by using their lips: “Have not saint lips, and holy palmers too?” Juliet flatly refuses his second proposal: “Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer”. Juliet says that pilgrims use their lips in prayer. Romeo who is the type who does not take no for an answer again persists for a kiss: “O, then, dear saint, let lips do; they pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair”. Romeo says that let both of their lips touch or the faith he has in her will turn to despair. Juliet, who has never experienced a situation like this before is left with two paths; either to accept Romeo’s proposal, or turn him down.
Bearing in mind the fact that Juliet has not yet grasped the understanding of true human nature outside her home, so unfortunately she falls under the lure from Romeo and accepts his asking: “Saints do not move, though grant for prayers sake”. This is Juliet’s way of indicating her approval. Juliet’s lack of understanding in the sense of love makes her easily owned by Romeo. This scene at the party was Juliet’s first ever awakening to love. Romeo successfully achieves what he aimed for, but he only managed to do it after a couple of failed attempts which were used as persuasion techniques used on Juliet. Romeo’s last asking to Juliet probably made her think that she would lose someone who could love her. She never had anyone else but Paris who she can give her love to and now that she has been given a dose of Romeo’s interpretation of love she made the decision to accept his love. Romeo has done enough to convince Juliet that he is the one for her. The audience will now view Juliet as obedient to what Romeo has said to her. Adding to that, she is immature for accepting melodramatic Romeo’s wish. Romeo says himself that he will turn to despair, which is again demonstrating his melodramatic character. This could be one of the reasons for Juliet’s acceptance. She did not want to refuse an opportunity for love.
At this point in the play, it can easily be verified that Romeo has control over Juliet, in terms of their relations to one another during their first meeting. The first reason which justifies the previous statement is that Romeo notices Juliet before she does. Further on, he lures himself to her and also he asks her permission to kiss her and eventually he wins her. While, on the other hand Juliet cab be named as the follower because of her obedience to Romeo’s desire. Juliet’s characteristic in this scene can also be traced back in previous scenes where there is evidence showing her obedience. Juliet presented her obedience to her mother by stating that she will only love Paris if her parents give her their consent. however, in the current situation Juliet seems to be forgetting Paris’ asking for her hand in marriage and her sayings to her mother, now she has exited them thoughts and ideas for new ones. Currently Juliet has accepted Romeo’s affection towards her and seems to be overwhelmed by it. Obedience is still roaming in her characteristics but not towards her parents instead it is towards Romeo.
It is interesting to note that Shakespeare formatted Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting in the form of a sonnet. Sonnets are of Shakespeare’s own creation, he invented this form of literature for a purpose. The ultimate significance of sonnets is that its purpose was originally used as a piece of writing demonstrating a theme of romance and love. In this case, where Romeo has met Juliet for the first time, the use of a sonnet seems necessary to emphasize the strong romantic bond between them.
Shakespeare has cleverly devised a religious concept, which is the theme of the conversation between Romeo and Juliet, calling her a “Shrine” and reference of her as a “Saint”. The choices of words show how Romeo feels towards Juliet’s beauty. Romeo sees eh beauty and ranks her as a “shrine”. In Romeo’s point of view, Juliet seems abnormal to him, because her facial features are described as “bright”. In a religious idea, a shrine would be a sacred monument that holds an important sector in a follower’s life, also would be portrayed as something holy. This is exactly what Romeo is trying to show Juliet that he feels that she can be associated to a shrine because of her beauty that has attracted Romeo. This religious imagery is then continued then continued by Juliet. Juliet, in her response to Romeo calls him a pilgrim. Significantly, a pilgrim is the one who prays or does religious activities at a holy shrine. So when Juliet says: “Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much”, she is relating to what Romeo called her, showing her desire to align herself with him. Shakespeare’s use of religious imagery was for Romeo to use double meaning in order to gain what he wanted. This is a sacrilegious sonnet in which Juliet is a saint or shrine that is to be kissed by Romeo who is a pilgrim. This also relates to the actual fact that Romeo mean pilgrim in Italian and the play is set in Verona.
Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting has been dramatised by Shakespeare in a remarkable way. The reason for its significance is that Juliet has been engaged at this party. However, she meets Romeo, who swiftly gives up all emotions towards Rosaline and at the party he has revealed his feelings for Juliet. At the end of the party, both Romeo and Juliet have been touched emotionally by each other.
The audience already have full knowledge about the hatred and conflicts between Romeo’s family and Juliet’s family. Despite the concern of a violent incident, the young Montague still decide to attend the Capulet party that has been invited to all except the Montague family. Romeo being amongst the group has been noticed by Juliet’s cousin Tybalt: “This, by his voice, should be a Montague”. Tybalt informs his uncle Capulet about the sighting of Romeo. Much to his surprise, Capulet does not give his permission to Tybalt to do anything to Romeo because this would embarrass Capulet in the presence of his guests: “You’ll not endure him! God shall mend my soul! You’ll make a mutiny among my guests!” Shakespeare has made the first meeting of Romeo and Juliet very dramatic according its circumstances. Romeo is full aware that if he and his fellow friends are noticed they may be killed. However, Romeo still takes the risk, he does not seem too worried, this ultimately exposes his sense of immaturity.
After all guests have left, Romeo decides to head back to see Juliet again. So he walked through the Capulet orchard and eventually finds Juliet up on a balcony. Romeo talks to himself about Juliet, and Juliet is unaware of his presence. When Romeo sees Juliet again he says: "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?”, “It is the east, and Juliet is the sun”, “Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon". Romeo then invokes the darkness or the night as a type of safeguard from harm: "I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes". This conflict between darkness and light or day and night will not end until the disarray of the day in due course overcomes the passionate nights and ultimately this finishes the lives of both lovers. This also demonstrates Romeo’s metaphoric use of imagery of the cosmos. In one of the quotes above, Romeo is saying that Juliet is the sun and she should kill the moon that is jealous because of Juliet’s beauty. Personification is also present in that quote, because in reality the moon will not be able to feel jealousy. Romeo has always compared Rosaline to the moon and now that he is in love with Juliet he believes his love for Juliet has outshone the love that he had for Rosaline. This could have referred to Greek mythology because Romeo later says: “Be not her maid, since she is envious: Her vestal livery and none but fools wear it; cast if off”. Romeo is suggesting that Juliet should no longer worship the Greek god and lose her virginity to him. This reveals his inner thoughts and showing his impulsiveness.
Romeo also states that Juliet is his love: “It is my lady, O, it is my love!” an example of a hyperbole that is used by Romeo is when he says: “Two of the fairest stars in all the heavens having some business, do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres till they return”. Romeo is describing Juliet’s eyes as being so bright that they are like start n the night sky. Romeo also says that he wishes that he were a glove on Juliet’s hand so he can feel her cheek: “O, that! Were a glove upon that hand, that o might touch that cheek!” so far the audience has witnessed Romeo’s inner thoughts. Romeo also exposes his sexual desire to make love to Juliet. Romeo begins to present evidence of growing maturity in this scene of the balcony. His speeches that he is saying to himself are now in blank verse relatively different from the rhythmic iambic pentameter apparent in his earlier sonnets and couplets. Romeo is no longer the miserable that was shown in several accounts in Act 1. Up to this point; Romeo has articulated his feelings in a traditional and idiomatic style.
Juliet discovers that Romeo is a Montague and if Juliet falls in love with him, this case will certainly coincide with the disapproval from both their parents and families. However, Juliet is not troubled by this. Juliet is talking to herself in the balcony unaware of Romeo listening to her: “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny they father and refuse thy name; or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet”. Juliet is saying that she is prepared to throw away her family name just to be with Romeo. Hearing this, Romeo is fully assured that Juliet has feelings for him, he hesitates to make the decision of carrying on listening to her or to talk to her: “Shall, I hear more, or shall I speak at this?” Juliet feels that it does not matter what Romeo’s name is, all that matters is that he is still the same person: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. Juliet soon discovers Romeo has heard what she was saying: “What man art thou that thus bescreen’d in night so stumblest on my counsel”. Juliet is shocked when confronted by Romeo. Romeo says that his name is like an enemy to him: “My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, because is an enemy to thee”. Notice that Romeo is referring back to their first meeting: “dear saint”. Romeo is so desperate to win Juliet’s heart that he is willing to fulfil Juliet’s satisfaction and throw away his name. Juliet tells Romeo that if he were to be caught climbing over the Capulet walls he would be killed, Romeo immaturely replies: “For string limits cannot hold love out… Therefore the kinsmen are not let to me”.
Romeo behaves in a sweet manor towards Juliet: “Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords”. Romeo is telling Juliet that is she was to look at him harshly that would be more painful than someone coming to him with a sword. Romeo thinks Juliet as being his possession: “I would adventure for some merchandise”, Romeo sees love as an adventure. Juliet is obviously impressed by the romantic language used by Romeo: “Thou know’st the mask of night is on my face, else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheeks”. Juliet discloses to Romeo that is it was not dark he would be able to see Juliet’s face. Juliet asks Romeo if he loves her: “Dost thou love me?” instead of hearing a response from Romeo, Juliet predicts his response: “I know thou wilt say ‘Ay’ and I will take thy word: yet if thou swear’st thou mayst prove false”, Juliet tells Romeo that she knows he will reply yes to her question, however, she did not let him give his reply because she is nervous that he will say no. Juliet also informs Romeo that she is not easily won: “If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully or if thou think’st I am too quickly won”.
Romeo is left in a slight dilemma: “O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?” Romeo asks Juliet if she is going to leave him unsatisfied. Juliet got an impression that he wants to do something physical with her: “What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?” Juliet tells Romeo that in no circumstances will there be any physical activities going on between them. Without any delay Romeo makes a proposal to her: “The exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine”. Juliet happily informs that she has already given her consent before his proposal: “I gave thee mine before thou didst request it”. On the night of Juliet’s engagement to Paris, she has given her consent to the proposal for marriage from Romeo. In the matter of only the first day of Romeo and Juliet’s meeting, they have already exchanged vows. This shows how quickly their relationship has progressed.
Romeo’s attitude to love is that he feels it is an adventure. Romeo, without any hesitation has taken the burden of marriage at an inexperienced age and with an inexperienced 13 year old. He seems to not understand the fundamental aspects of love, he makes situations more chaotic. He has fallen into love with someone on the day they met and on that very same he asks her to get married. Whereas, on the other hand we have Juliet, who sees love as something that develops and progresses over time: “This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, may prove a beauteous flower when next we meet”. She is saying that she sees love as a flower that will blossom beautifully over time. Ironically, flowers die in the end and the dramatic irony in this is that they both die in the end. Juliet also uses an epithet when she says: “sweet Montague”.
The dynamic of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship has changed too, Juliet feels more confident. Juliet is obviously overwhelmed because Romeo has displayed his sincerity by declaring a marriage proposal and exchange vows. The evidence that proves that Juliet has more confidence and she has taken over control in the following quote: “Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, by on that I’ll proceed to come to thee, where and what time thou wilt perform the rite”. This is an open display of how the dynamic of their relationship of their relationship has changed. Juliet organises the marriage, she also proposes that they should get married tomorrow. Juliet asks Romeo what time they will get married tomorrow, he replies: “At the hour of nine”. She responds to this by saying: “I will not fail: ‘tis twenty years till then”. She uses extreme exaggeration; this is an example a hyperbole.
Juliet’s character has evolved from what she was in the opening scenes. She is more confident in making her own decisions and is no longer obedient toward her parents. Romeo has left his old self where he was melodramatic, but he would have been over exaggerating if Juliet too did not did not approve of his emotions. However, Romeo has revealed his impulsive nature when he asked Juliet for hand in marriage on the night of their meeting.
Over Acts 1 and 2 the audience have witnessed vast changes in Romeo and Juliet’s character. We have seen how Juliet and Romeo’s character has evolved and we can conclude that the couple make a dangerous combination. The reasons for this is that Romeo will proceed into great lengths to satisfy hi inner desire and Juliet is in illusion by Romeo’s choice of language and romantic nature. Eventually the couple will lead to their own destruction because of their tragic deaths in the final scene. Because of the fact that they are young and naïve, they do not have the sufficient knowledge and experience and this also results in their death. Shakespeare has devised this play script in a unique way; his message is to show how young love without any experience may conclude in a tragedy. He has displayed how the individual characteristics of two lovers and their attitude to love can demolish their lives.
