Romeo and Juliet Act 3 Scene 5

The couple may never see each other again because of the threat of Romeo being killed so they are filled with despair. Juliet desperately tries to stretch her time with Romeo. She even tries to combat the coming of light by claiming the lark is a nightingale. Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day:/ It was the nightingale, and not the lark;
    The lark sings in the morning and the nightingale sings at night, this lets the audience know what time of day the scene is set. Romeo also comments on the scenery, portraying it as if it was the love at the beginning. Look, love, what envious streaks/Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east: Shakespeare is adding to the fact that nobody is happy about there relationship apart from them two. Again what should be a happy, exciting time is overshadowed as the threat of Romeos death.

  Juliet knows that it is morning and she can see the light but she is ignoring it because she believes that this will keep her and Romeo together. Romeo can see that it is extremely hard for Juliet to believe it is day so he plays along with her.

 This make Juliet realise that this cannot happen and she finally gives in and tells him that is actually day and he must go.

  In this particular part of the scene Romeo cleverly uses reverse psychology against his wife to lighten the mood. The lark singing symbolises a siren telling Romeo that he must go. This entire scene is filled with irony. Romeo says ‘More light and light; more dark and dark our woes!; This is because the light which is meant to show happiness and new beginnings is actually showing there woes.

   Romeo has to leave when the nurse tells Juliet her mother is coming. Romeo bids farewell to Juliet as she stands at her window.  This is to be the last moment they spend alive in each other’s company. When Juliet next sees Romeo he will be dead, and as she looks out of her window she seems to see him dead already: “O God, I have an ill-divining soul! / Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, / As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. / Either my eyesight fails, or thou look’st pale”)

 Juliet knows the conflict that would have been caused if Lady Capulet was to catch Romeo in her room. It was uncalled for especially if they came form two feuding families. Shakespeare creates tension in the scene.

In the final line of the scene Juliet states ‘Then window, let day in, and let life out’. This obviously means Romeo is her life. This is another way Shakespeare makes the audience feel sorry for Juliet.

Shakespeare takes on a journey of love but also tragedy and violence. Romeo and Juliet is a remarkable play which will be talked about for years to come.