In Juliet’s first speech she is questioning where Romeo is and she wants him to reject his family. Juliet questions ‘What’s in a name’ she feels names are not irrelevant and they are not important but they keep them apart from each other. Juliet says that their families are keeping them apart ‘tis but thy name that is my enemy’ and she wishes she wasn’t a Capulet. Juliet desires Romeo physically and emotionally and wants commitment ‘ take all myself’ Juliet then wants Romeo to give up his name and if he does Juliet will also give up her name to be with Romeo. Romeo describes his name with strong emotions because it prevents them from being together and he is aware that this upsets her. Romeo and Juliet constantly repeat the names Capulet and Montague because it is what is stopping them form being together.
Romeo and Juliet describe the effects of their love
for each other using many different images. Juliet uses the
metaphor ‘my ears have yet not drunk a hundred words’
suggesting that she feels drunk and intoxicated. Juliet then
talks about the danger of Romeo being at her house ‘ and place
of death, considering who thou art, if any of my Kinsmen find
thee here’ this create tension and contrasts the element of
danger with love. Romeo uses the metaphor ‘ with love’s light
wings did I o’erperch these walls’ showing his emotions are so
powerful he feels he can fly. Romeo then says ‘ Alack, there l
ies more peril in thine eyes than twenty of their swords’
suggesting that he is not scared of being killed but he is more
worried about rejection from Juliet. Romeo uses this
comparison to show how much he loves Juliet. Romeo then says
‘adventure for such merchandise’ in Juliet were as far away as
‘that vast shore washed with the farthest sea’ which just says
he would do anything to be with Juliet.
Juliet says. “..a maiden blush bepaint my cheek for that
which thou hast heard me speak tonight”. This tells us that
Juliet is embarrassed, as she knows that Romeo was listening
to her. She also says. “Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain
deny what I have spoke, but farewell compliment”. This means
that she does not want to waste time with conventional
courtship.
Juliet seems to take control of everything. She wants Romeo
to say that he really loves her. “At lovers’ perjuries thy say
Jove laughs… if thou dost love me, pronounce it faithfully ”.
Jove was the god of oath and did not take lovers’ oaths
seriously. Romeo tries to give off the impression that he is
brave, gentle, romantic, passionate and willing to do anything
for Juliet.
Juliet becomes more direct in her speech worried that her affections have been to easily won she speaks like this because is make Romeo feel that she really is serious about their relationship. Juliet is afraid that she has given the wrong impression of herself to Romeo and she is fearful of her behaviour saying it is strange but it will become more true. Romeo swears his love on the moon and juliet get upset at this because she feels that the moon changes shape and she doesn’t want the love to change. Juliet says ‘ swear by thy gracious self, which is the god of me idolatry, and I’ll believe thee’ which means she doesn’t want Romeo to swear on the moon she wants him to swear it on himself because she idolises him and this shows the seriousness of them. Juliet uses the simile ‘too like the lightning’ to demonstrate the rashness of her confession of love as it is so sudden, dangerous and powerful like lightning. The word too is repeated is this scene throughout to etherise her love for Romeo. Both Romeo and Juliet return to talking about the depth of their feelings and the potential of their feelings. Juliet uses the metaphor ‘bud of love’ to show how their love is growing naturally becoming stronger and becoming something beautiful. Juliet compares herself to the sea in that she is wide and deep. Juliet uses this comparison as the sea is large and it surrounds everything they also thought the sea was much bigger than it is. Romeo thinks it is all one big wonderful dream and it is to good to be true when Juliet leaves for the first time. Romeo uses the simile ‘love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books, but love from love, toward school with neavy looks’ which is comparing them being naturally together and it is hard but it is painful to be separated. Romeo describes the sound of lovers ‘how silver sweet sound lovers’ as precious music. Juliet describes their relationship and compares herself to a wanton and Romeo to her bird. Juliet does this as she thinks she has the power to control Romeo by it. Juliet uses a paradox ‘ yet I should kill thee with much cherishing’ which means that Juliet loves Romeo so much that here love overpower him and kill him which does happen in the end.
Both Romeo and Juliet in this scene used a variety of ways to communicate using language. Romeo and Juliet use a range of imagery in the scene including similes and metaphors. They both use references to nature to explain their emotions and they do this because they feel it is pure, beautiful and natural. Romeo and Juliet describe love as a physical experience, not just emotional because they believe that their love totally engulfs them and they want to commit to themselves entirely. Romeo then agrees to marriage and leaves Juliet reluctantly and it is nearly morning.
In this scene Romeo and Juliet make positive references top love but Romeo makes references to pain, as it is physical torture for them not to being together. Both Romeo and Juliet are concerned with expressing their feelings for each other and this is important because it enthasises the depth, seriousness and how genuine their love is.