“Discuss the Importance of Act 2, Scene 2, in the Context of the Play as a Whole”

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Romeo and Juliet essay                Claire Pilkington

September 11th 2001

“Discuss the Importance of Act 2, Scene 2, in the Context of the Play as a Whole”

Act Two Scene Two is a very important scene in Romeo and Juliet.  In this scene, William Shakespeare demonstrates development of characters, development of themes, and demonstrates linguistic and theatrical techniques.  In this essay I shall explore and deliberate all these different areas.

The characters in this play mature throughout this scene.  This scene also enables us to look closely at Shakespeare’s language.  We already know from previous themes, that Romeo is young and naïve, and his behaviour over one of his previous love interests, Rosalind, that he is a very simulated, courtly lover.  

“She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow

Do I live dead to tell it now”

(Line 221, Act 1, Sc 1)

However, the language used is romantic, but at the same time elaborate, in the way that Juliet is spoken of.  He uses clichéd, formal, beautiful verse, but whenever Shakespeare speaks, we are made very aware that Romeo wants to have sex.

“O that I were a glove upon that hand,

That I might touch that cheek.”

(Line 24, Act 2, Sc 2)

This quotation lets us have a look at his physical desire- Romeo recognisably wants to have sex with Juliet.  It is this desire for such an intimate physical relationship that permits us to question his sincerity over his enamuored love for Juliet.  When we compare the language, which is used when Rosalind is spoken of, to that of when Juliet is spoken of, we can see that the language exercised is less elegiac, and the imagery is less poetic.

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Towards the end of the scene, Romeo’s language seems to be less stylized.  

“It is my soul that calls up on my name.

How silver- sweet sound lovers’ tongues by nights,

Like softest music to attending ears!”

(Line 164, Act 2, Sc 2)

Shakespeare is convincing us that he is genuine in his love for Juliet.  This is a fairly dramatic change from the beginning of the scene, where Romeo seemed to be more interested in the physical side of the relationship.

In this scene, Juliet appears to be the exact opposite of Romeo; ...

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