Romeo and Juliet: Free Response

Expressed by many as the most vivid and beautiful love scene in literary history, Act II, Scene ii of Romeo and Juliet – the “balcony scene” – captures the hearts of two lovers as they meet in a passionate but secret and somewhat fearful encounter. Indeed, the words spoken in this scene breathe life into the essence of “true love,” as they cannot deny their hearts what tenderness love has given them, yet must yield to the realistic concerns of their minds. Shakespeare's use of diction, syntax, and other narrative devices, such as metaphors and rhyme schemes, excites this mood of “forbidden love” in which the young lovers share.

The difference in diction between Romeo and Juliet clearly reveals the conflicting emotions of euphoria and fear. Juliet, being more pragmatic than love-struck Romeo, refers to the morbid, worst-case scenarios in her speech. With reference to “death” and “murder” she reminds Romeo of the danger he is in, due to his presence in the garden of the arch-enemies of his family. Her words are not flowery, but direct: “how cams't thou...wherefore?”; “[b]y whose direction founds't thou this place?” – one can sense her urgency and concern. On the other hand, Romeo is too much in love to be concerned with the pragmatic! With extravagant words he greets his love: “stony limits cannot hold love out”; “look thou but sweet, and I am proof against their enmity.” He almost makes a jest of the realistic problem he may face! With his head in the clouds Romeo spouts of poetic words of love and witty charm to answer Juliet's serious questions. This contrast exposes the secrecy of the romance, but, at the same time, the intensity of the romance as it brews within the lovers' hearts.

Another way in which Shakespeare emphasizes the conflicting mood is in the syntax of the two young people. Except for her first line, Juliet speaks in short, choppy questions. They are rushed; one can almost here them being whispered. However much she loves Romeo, she'd rather him be away and alive, than close-by and dead, and this anxiety is well reflected in the length of the sentences she uses. Romeo, however, takes a long time to say anything. His speech is verbose and animate, full of life and beauty and love. As it is said, “Love does not know time.” Apparently, neither does Romeo – he answers Juliet with words of passion and ardour, taking the time to woo her with his words and poetry.

Indeed, Shakespeare utilises his gift of poetry to further evoke the mood of secrecy and affection. The metaphor used by Romeo that the “light wings” of love helped him “o'erperch [the] walls” and personifying love as “len[ding Romeo] counsel” to help him find Juliet both give Love a more front-seat role in the emotions that got the two lovers to where they are. Romeo's poetic lines, all written in blank verse, add to the drama of the scene, prompting further amorousness. However, the metaphorical “cloak” of night that hides Romeo from angry eyes encompasses the whole feeling of confidentiality that the two lovers desire to hold on to.

As we observe Romeo and Juliet pouring out their hearts together, alone in a garden, under the cover of the starry night-sky, it is easy to sense the tenderness, yet also understand the trepidation. A secret love, a hidden jewel of passion, shrouded in mystery, yet surrounded by light is growing in the two hearts. The words spoken and the way they are spoken leave us with no doubt of what whirlwinds of emotions are swirling inside the two souls present, and we can not but wonder if such love will ever come across our doorstep as well.