The scene finishes with Benvolio convinced that he can pay the ‘doctrine’ of Romeo’s love sickness.
By chance, Romeo finds out that Rosaline has been invited to a Capulet celebration, and he and Benvolio decide to go undercover. We know already that Lady Capulet has advised Juliet to look for a man that evening.
Romeo refers to himself in Act 1, Scene 4 as having a ‘soul of lead’ and he gives the impression that he is still love-sick. We have in our heads the image that Romeo is bound to the ground with a heavy burden- his state of being love-sick and that there is nothing one can do to lift him. Though Romeo claims to be ‘staked to the ground’, he is not so much so that he cannot take part in witty repartee often bawdy, with Mercutio. Mercutio suggests that he dreamt that ‘dreamers often lie’. The pun on the word ‘lie’ suggests lie down, as in sexual intercourse. Mercutio mentions such things, not only because it is in his nature, but to lift Romeo from depression so that he can look for a new love that night. The fact that Romeo still participates in bawdy conversations, suggests that his love is not as ‘pure’ as he made out.
From the prologue at the start, the audience is already aware that ‘a pair of star- crossed lovers take their lives’, so the dramatic irony is very intense when Romeo says ‘Of….untimely death’. Romeo himself suggests that due to tonight’s goings-on, hw will bring his death date forward.
As soon as Romeo sees Juliet, it as if we have never met the character of Rosaline at all, apart from the fact we can compare his earlier strained words for Rosaline, to his sincere pure love for Juliet. The focus of his attention is not now himself and his grief. Now his concern is with Juliet and not with his own imagined sorrow. Romeo’s clever use of language to receive a kiss suggest to his he is a very learned young man, who though confused about love knows exactly what to say as soon as he experiences the real thing. The sweet budding love is harshly broken by Tybalt’s words as his officious, dominant character shows great displeasure in the fact that a relation of his is with a Montague.
Romeo puts no effort into seducing Juliet as the words seem to roll from his tongue. ‘Two blushing pilgrims’ he refers to his lips as. His language has become more intense and meaningful after finding this true love. This shows a lot abut Romeo as we know his feelings are much expressed thorough the tone of his voice and his selective use of vocabulary. The word ‘pilgrims’ suggests a journey with a spiritual or holy purpose, and we can link this to his journey through feelings to get to Juliet’s holy lips. He then precedes further ‘let lips do what hands do’, he is very tactful as he could just say ‘I would like a kiss’, instead he tries to justify their actions by suggesting it is a holy encounter. He becomes more confident after their first kiss ‘give me my sin again’ and he spurs off her returned love. She, in turn compliments him ‘you kiss by the book’.
After their kiss the poetry Romeo speaks makes us believe that this love is true. Not as yet have we heard him use such detailed imagery and drawn out puns to suggest his point. His love turns him into a magician with his words. Romeo also seems to have a sense of the future, and the dramatic irony intensifies as he says ‘my life is my foe’s debt’ this suggests that now he only lives to be with Juliet and that this will end in fatality.
Romeo’s soliloquy at the start of Act 2 is very poetic and this language is used to show his maturation. Juliet’s words of love that she speaks when she thinks Romeo is not there develops him further, as he is not scared of his own feelings any longer. The use of language whilst Romeo talks about his own name develops him as a character. We start to see that this love is not the love of an idle child, but of a young man deeply besotted by a young lady. He says he ‘will be new baptised’ so that his name cannot stop his love any longer. The imagery here is very important. Romeo is below Juliet, and this shows that in their new relationship he is not expecting to be the more dominant of the two. This is a very nature attitude, as the likes of Mercutio would not settle for that type of role- reversal. The use of light imagery reflects Romeo’s love. Romeo’s earlier love for Rosaline was characterised by grief, melancholy, tears and darkness. He referred to ‘love’ whose view is muffled still’ and to ‘love’s heavy burden’. With Rosaline love seemed more like a chore. Here, ‘Juliet is the sun’ ‘her eyes in heaven/ would through the airy region steam so bright..’ He refers to her as a’ bright angel’. The whole scene is suffused with the glow and light of their love. There would have been no stage lighting at that time, so it was very important to stress the emotions and the setting through language. It is also clear in this scene that Juliet is a more practical person than Romeo and that Romeo is besotted with his love for Juliet. It is also Juliet who instigates the arrangements to advance their relationship- ‘send me word tomorrow’. Though Romeo is used to bawdy language that includes sexual innuendos, mainly from his friend Mercutio, he knows his company in this scene, and is aware of the fact that any language other that love may destroy the magic of the scene.
Romeo recalls his love in Act 2, Scene 3 in rhyming couplets, reflecting his love and devotion to Juliet. This scene does not really help develop romeo as a character but more shows his youth and insolence, and the power of young love. There is a huge contrast between the friar’s age, caution, thoughtfulness and Romeo’s youth and haste. He wishes to ‘bury love’, the dramatic irony is intense as we know that it will be love that burys him. By the end of the scene we are convinced that Romeo has learnt the error of his ways in trying to do things too fast, and the friars departing words set this in ‘Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast’. Romeo emerges from this scene a wiser man, as the friar has given him some good advice, and has also, although warning him of the dangers, has agreed to marry them.
The change in Romeo is evident in this scene, and it is a turning point in the play. He, Benvolio, and Mercutio engage in a battle of wits and Romeo can match the witty Mercutio line for line. His marriage is set for that afternoon and Romeo could not be happier. During this scene we see Mercutio’s bawdy attitude to life, and the character of the nurse shines through as she seems to enjoy his type of talk. Words such as ‘tale’ ‘occupy’ ‘prick’ ‘and ‘bawd’ all have deeper sexual meanings. The impending marriage has developed Romeo into a happier man and he is clearly very pleased. His maturation is shown as he proves himself as a good man to the nurse, who he knows Juliet confides in and wants the approval of. ‘Commend me to thy lady’, he is polite and wishes the nurse to speak well of him to Juliet. She confirms she will ‘a thousand times’.
The love of Juliet for Romeo, and of Romeo to Juliet is proved more pure in Act 2 , Scene 5, as the nurse sees love and marriage in only physical terms. When she describes Romeo to Juliet his Physical attributes are uppermost in her mind. However, for Romeo and Juliet, their love is past just physical attraction and is on a new level. This is where we begin to accept them as a ‘real’ couple who are very much in love.
Romeo knows the dangers of his marriage to Juliet which shows that he is a sensible man and has weighed up the situation. We know he interprets it accurately as there are lots of references to death. The audience already know, from the prologue how the story ends, so this lets us see that Romeo also knows the dangers of his own actions- ‘Then love- devouring Death do what he dare’. He further adds after this that it is worth Death devouring him if he may just call Juliet his own, ‘It is enough I may but call her mine.’ This shows his rational views on love, and as far as the character of Romeo extends, this is where we see the true difference between himself and the likes of Mercutio.
Throughout the first two Acts of Romeo and Juliet, we see Romeo develop from a naïve youth with language full of bawdy sex references, to a mature young man who is ready to give everything, even his life to one lady in marriage, Juliet. Although he is fully aware of the potential consequences of such actions. He is ready to accept consequences for his own actions and this is a sign of the major development of his character. His maturation is shown through his language, from his ‘love’ for Rosaline to that of Juliet and is contrasted to the crudeness of sex with no love involved by the likes of Mercutio, the Nurse and Sampson and Gregory. The imagery used also helps his character progress, the light imagery, the puns on sex and the fact that he has got through many vigorous rounds of defence before reaching Juliet’s bedroom window. This shows his determination for the love of Juliet to be returned. Altogether we have watched Romeo’s character mature, progress, love properly and develop into a true young man!
