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; her sudden falling in love with Romeo is the only exemption. In the beginning of this scene, when Juliet realises that there is somebody present in the garden below, watching her and listening to her, she cries:
“What man art thou, that, thus bescreen’d in night,
So stumblest on my counsel?”
(Line 52, Act 2, Sc 2)
Here Shakespeare is trying to convince his audience that Juliet is a proper lady, and that she was not used to men behaving in this shocking manner. In the time in which this story was set, the idea of two lovers becoming intimate before marriage was unacceptable. This is another possible cause for the traumatic end that the lovers come to. Shakespeare hints that Romeo’s intentions were not all pure- perhaps he wanted to marry Juliet because it would mean the two could be close. Juliet was only fourteen, and Shakespeare wanted to reassure us with the above quotation that she was a decorous young woman. His portrayal of Juliet throughout this scene also revealed that she was very pragmatic. She also came across as being very clear sighted.
“It is too rash, too unadvis’d, too sudden”
(Line 118, Act 2, Sc 2)
Speaking of the newfound love between the two characters, Shakespeare writes that their love is rushed, and very hasty. Juliet appears to be level- headed and sensible; she realises that rushing into a marriage may not be right. However, only twenty-five lines later, Juliet announces her desire to marry Romeo. This inconsistency of the characters is one of the ways in which Shakespeare creates dramatic tension.
Throughout this scene, Shakespeare also demonstrates development of themes. A theme that he continues to explore in this scene is the love and hate relationship between the Montagues and the Capulets. This theme is perhaps the most important in the play, because it is a main contributing factor towards the young lovers’ suicide.
The conflict between the two predominant families is evident in the opening scene of the play.
“What! Drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word,
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.”
(Line 67, Act 1, Sc 1)
The families never give up the opportunity to have a fight. They feel an urge to compete with each other. When either of the families lose a dispute, they compete again in order to show Verona that they are not afraid, and they strive to come out on top. Shakespeare shows us that the many conflicts between the families are taking their toll- there have been a number of casualties within both the Montagues and the Capulets. The residents of Verona are sick of the fueding.
Shakespeare achieves dramatic continuity between scenes by using recurring images and linguistic references. An example of this is when Shakespeare makes references to whether it is night or day in the characters’ speeches.
“Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.”
(Line 9, Act 2, Sc 2)
From Romeo’s verse shown above, we can tell that dawn is breaking. Shakespeare uses this technique in order to distinguish between night and day. In the Globe theatre, it would not be possible to show this change; therefore Shakespeare has used certain dramatical techniques to convey to the audience the passing of time.
Another theme which is constant throughout the play is that of light, and heaven. Shakespeare makes references to spiritual themes many times throughout the scene.
“O speak again, bright angel- for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
As a winged messenger of heaven”
(Line 26, Act 2, Sc 2)
This presents to the audience an idea of innocence in the young lovers’ relationship. It is also a very poetic image, and again we are shown that Romeo is a dramatic lover.
Towards the end of Act Two, Scene Two, Shakespeare uses the image of a falcon to compare Juliet to. This proves to be a very apt image, in the sense that a falcon may appear to be free, but in reality it is not.
“Bondage is hoarse”
(Line 160, Act 2, Sc 2)
Shakespeare has used this line to communicate to the audience that Juliet is bound by the dangers of the situation. She cannot raise her voice, and therefore sounds ‘hoarse’. She is imprisoned within her family.
In conclusion to this essay, Act Two, Scene Two is very important in the context of the play as a whole. Shakespeare has shown that the characters mature throughout the scene. He has also used a variety of methods to create dramatic tension, such as the inconsistency of Romeo’s elegant language, and the pragmatically of Juliet. The audienece has also been made aware of the historical and cultural techniques he has used. This scene is the turning point in the play, where events and promises which occur, dramatically influence the catastrophic ending of the play.