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

The first 200 words of this essay...

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