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A C T 2 S C E N E 5 A N D 6

ROMEO AND JULIET

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JULIET

Shakespeare paints a realistic picture of Julietsanxiety and frustrations waiting for the Nurse toreturn with news from Romeo.

Note how Shakespeare portrays her feelings andthought-processes through the method of soliloquy,where a character speaks his/her thoughts aloud

when nobody else is around.

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JULIET

Note how tightly linked this scene is to the previousscenewe the audience already knows Romeos

favourable answer to Juliets request, but she doesnot.

All this serves to focus more attention more closely

upon Juliets unrest and worry.

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JULIETS SOLILOQUY

Juliet uses a series of metaphors to describe Love asgliding faster than the suns beams and beingwind-swift and nimble-pinioned. This accurately

conveys her anxiety to the audience, as we canimmediately infer that she longs desperately fornews of Romeo and wishes she can receive thisimmediately.

However, also note that this also says somethingabout the qualityof R & Js love swift and full ofpassionate intensity, but also rash and impetuous.

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YOUTH VS. AGE

Juliet makes this point clearer when she complainsthat the Nurse arrives too slow for her; had she beenyounger and in love, she would be swift in motion.

Juliet contrasts youth and age here, implying thatthe older generation is slow, tardy and lifeless. Youthon the other hand, is lively and energetic.

Contrast this to Friar Lawrences words that theystumble that run fast youth might be energeticand passionate, but is also rash and unthinkingabout the consequences of their actions.

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THE NURSE

The Nurse finally returns and teases Juliet for quite awhile about Romeos reply. Contrast the Nurses

playfulness with Juliets anxiousness and frustrationthat she is constantly changing her topic.

How does Shakespeare make their exchange

entertaining?

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YOUTH AND PASSION

The Nurse senses Juliets increasing agitation andimpatience, and asks her why she is so hot.

Link the image of heat to other images in the playabout fire and light All these emphasize the

lovers passion and fervour for each other.

This image is taken further when the Nurse describesJuliets wanton blood and scarlet cheeks.

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JULIETS YOUTH

Juliet is clearly blushing as she is overjoyed by thefavourable news. Note how Shakespeare constantly

links youth to life (blood represents life), vigour andintensity. Juliets passionate love for Romeo is clearlyemphasized in this scene.

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THE NURSE

The Nurse clearly rejoices in Juliets happiness. Trueto her character, she ends off in making ahumorous remark about Juliet bear[ing] the burden

[of Romeo] soon at night, i.e. Juliet will carry[Romeos] weight sexually.

The Nurse serves to always remind the audience

about the cruder and less idealistic aspects of love.As always in the play, there is a contrast between R& Js conception of love and the Nurses ideas of it.

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HIE TO HIGH FORTUNE!

Before Juliet departs, she says something veryinteresting: Hie to high fortune. Fortune here refers

to fate and destiny.

What does she mean here?

Why is this line ironic?

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ACT TWO SCENE SIX

Friar Lawrence Romeo

So smile the heavens upon thisholy act/ That after-hours withsorrow chide us not.

These violent delights have violentends,/ And in their triumph die, likefire and powder,/ Which, as theykiss, consume.

Therefore love moderately, longlove doth so;/ Too swift arrives astardy as too slow

Amen, amen, but come whatsorrow can,/ It cannot countervailthe exchange of joy

Then love-devouring death dowhat he dare,/ It is enough that Imay but call her mine.

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JULIET

Conceit, more rich in matter than in words,

Brags of his substance, not of ornament.

They are but beggars that can count their worth;

But my true love is grown to such excess

I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth.

How much Shakespeare portray the differentcharacter traits of Romeo, Juliet and Friar Lawrencein this scene?