Romeo and Juliet Act 2 Scene 2 Summaries & Analysis
The Balcony Scene – Act 2 Scene 2 – A short summary
Romeo stays behind after the party has finished and finds himself in the orchard beneath Juliet's bedroom window. In the famous balcony scene that follows, Romeo and Juliet exchange their love vows and are determined to be married. The next morning, Romeo visits his friend Friar Lawrence and persuades him to perform the secret marriage ceremony.
The Balcony Scene – Act 2 Scene 2 – A detailed summary
After leaving the Capulet party, Mercutio criticises Romeo for being a slave to his emotions. Upset by Mercutio’s comments Romeo leaves him and climbs over a wall into the Capulet orchard. Approaching the house Romeo sees Juliet at her bedroom window. Hidden in the darkness Romeo is able to eavesdrop on Juliet. As he watches her Romeo speaks of her beauty and his desire for her.
Finally, having listened for some time, Romeo reveals his presence to her. They speak of their love for each other. However, Juliet is concerned that they are rushing into things and suggests that they wait and let their love blossom. She explains that she is willing to play the game of love if Romeo desires it, conceding that this would seem rather pointless given that she has already declared her love when she thought she was alone at her window. Romeo is impatient and asks ‘wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied.’ Unsure of his meaning, Juliet questions Romeo’s intention. He replies by asking her to exchange love’s faithful vow with him. Juliet immediately consents.
With the nurse calling from within the house Juliet tears herself away from Romeo, only to return moments later. With the sun rising she urges him to leave lest he be caught by her kinsmen (family members), but Romeo longs to stay. Juliet explains that she wishes she could keep him close at all times, like a spoilt child with a beautiful pet bird on a string. Despite their passionate talk of love, Juliet is still being cautious, and tells Romeo that if he is serious about marriage then he should organise the ceremony, but if he just stringing her along he should leave her to her sadness. Romeo reassures his love and tells her that she should send a messenger to him by 9am the following morning to find out what is going to happen between them.
Happily they say adieu (goodbye), as she leaves Juliet remarks that ‘parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say “good night” until it be morrow.” Now on his own in the orchard Romeo speaks of how he will visit his friend the Friar to ask him to marry them in secret.
End of scene
Analysis Act 2, Scene 2
The interaction and conflict of night and day is raised to new levels within the second act. Benvolio states that, "Blind is his love, and best befits the dark" (2.1.32), in reference to Romeo's passion. And when Romeo finally sees Juliet again, he wonders, "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. / Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon" (2.1.44-46). Romeo then invokes the darkness as a form of protection from harm, "I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes" (2.1.117). This conflict will not end until the disorder of the day eventually overcomes the passionate nights and destroys the lives of both lovers.
It is worthwhile to note the difference between Juliet and Rosaline. Juliet is compared to the sun, and is one of the most giving characters in the play. "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, / My love as deep. The more I give thee / The more I have, for both are infinite" (2.1.175-177). Rosaline, by contrast, is said to be keeping all her beauty to herself, to die with her. This comparison is made even more evident when Romeo describes Rosaline as a Diana (the goddess of the moon) and says to Juliet, "Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon" (2.1.46).
The balcony scene is more than a great lovers' meeting place. It is in fact the same as if Romeo had entered into a private Eden. He has climbed over a large wall to enter the garden, which can be viewed as a sanctuary of virginity. Thus he has invaded the only place which Juliet deems private, seeing as her room is constantly watched by the Nurse or her mother.
One of the interesting things which Shakespeare frequently has his characters do is swear to themselves. For instance, when Romeo tries to swear by the moon, Juliet remarks that the moon waxes and wanes, and is too variable. Instead, she says, "Or if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self" (2.1.155). Shakespeare often has characters encouraged to be true to themselves first, as a sign that only then can they be true to others..
Again, note the change in Juliet's behavior. Whereas she used to obey the authority of her nurse, she now disappears twice, and twice defies authority and reappears. This is a sure sign of her emerging independence, and is a crucial factor in understanding her decision to marry Romeo and defy her parents.
There is a strong conflict between the uses of silver and gold throughout the action. "How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night" (2.1.210) and "Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow, / That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops" (2.1.149-50). Silver is often invoked as a symbol of love and beauty. Gold, on the other hand, is often used ironically and as a sign of greed or desire. Rosaline is thus described as being immune to showers of gold, which almost seem to be a bribe. When Romeo is banished, he comments that banishment is a "golden axe," meaning that death would have been better and that banishment is merely a euphemism for the same thing. And finally, the erection of the statues of gold at the end is even more a sign of the fact that neither Capulet nor Montegue has really learned anything from the loss of their children.
One of the central issues is the difference between youth and old age. Friar Laurence acts as Romeo's confidant, and the Nurse advises for Juliet. However, both have advice that seems strangely out of place given the circumstances of the play. For instance, Friar Laurence says to Romeo, "Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast" (2.2.94). He also advises Romeo to "Therefore love moderately" (2.5.9). The insanity of this plea to love "moderately" is made ludicrous by the rapid events which follow. In fact, by the end of the play we even see Friar Laurence rejecting his own advice and stumbling to reach Juliet's grave before Romeo can find her. "How oft tonight have my old feet stumbled at graves?" (5.3.123).
