Act 2, scene 1: Romeo in the Balcony Scene
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,
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she. . . .
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars
As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.See the translation
Romeo speaks these lines in the so-called balcony scene, when, hiding in the Capulet orchard after the feast, he sees Juliet leaning out of a high window (2.1.44–64). Though it is late at night, Juliet’s surpassing beauty makes Romeo imagine that she is the sun, transforming the darkness into daylight. Romeo likewise personifies the moon, calling it “sick and pale with grief” at the fact that Juliet, the sun, is far brighter and more beautiful. Romeo then compares Juliet to the stars, claiming that she eclipses the stars as daylight overpowers a lamp—her eyes alone shine so bright that they will convince the birds to sing at night as if it were day.
This quote is important because, in addition to initiating one of the play’s most beautiful and famous sequences of poetry, it is a prime example of the light/dark motif that runs throughout the play. Many scenes in
Act 2, scene 1: "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?"
O Romeo, Romeo,
wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name,
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.See the translation
Juliet speaks these lines, perhaps the most famous in the play, in the balcony scene (2.1.74–78). Leaning out of her upstairs window, unaware that Romeo is below in the orchard, she asks why Romeo must be Romeo—why he must be a Montague, the son of her family’s greatest enemy (“wherefore” means “why,” not “where”; Juliet is not, as is often assumed, asking where Romeo is). Still unaware of Romeo’s presence, she asks him to deny his family for her love. She adds, however, that if he will not, she will deny her family in order to be with him if he merely tells her that he loves her.
A major theme inRomeo and Julietis the tension between social and family identity (represented by one’s name) and one’s inner identity. Juliet believes that love stems from one’s inner identity, and that the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets is a product of the outer identity, based only on names. She thinks of Romeo in individual terms, and thus her love for him overrides her family’s hatred for the Montague name. She says that if Romeo were not called “Romeo” or “Montague,” he would still be the person she loves. “What’s in a name?” she asks. “That which we call a rose / By any other word would smell as sweet” (2.1.85–86).
Act 1, scene 4: The Queen Mab Speech
O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you. . . .
She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes
In shape no bigger than an agate stone
On the forefinger of an alderman,
Drawn with a team of little atomi
Athwart men’s noses as they lie asleep.See the translation
Mercutio’s famous Queen Mab speech is important for the stunning quality of its poetry and for what it reveals about Mercutio’s character, but it also has some interesting thematic implications (1.4.53–59). Mercutio is trying to convince Romeo to set aside his lovesick melancholy over Rosaline and come along to the Capulet feast. When Romeo says that he is depressed because of a dream, Mercutio launches on a lengthy, playful description of Queen Mab, the fairy who supposedly brings dreams to sleeping humans. The main point of the passage is that the dreams Queen Mab brings are directly related to the person who dreams them—lovers dream of love, soldiers of war, etc. But in the process of making this rather prosaic point Mercutio falls into a sort of wild bitterness in which he seems to see dreams as destructive and delusional.
Prologue, Act 3, and Act 5: Fate and Fortune
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife. . . .See the translation
O, I am fortune’s fool! . . .
See the translation
Then I defy you, stars.
See the translation
This trio of quotes advances the theme of fate as it plays out through the story: the first is spoken by the Chorus (Prologue.5–8), the second by Romeo after he kills Tybalt (3.1.131), and the third by Romeo upon learning of Juliet’s death (5.1.24). The Chorus’s remark that Romeo and Juliet are “star-crossed” and fated to “take their li[ves]” informs the audience that the lovers are destined to die tragically. Romeo’s remark “O, I am fortune’s fool!” illustrates the fact that Romeo sees himself as subject to the whims of fate. When he cries out “Then I defy you, stars,” after learning of Juliet’s death, he declares himself openly opposed to the destiny that so grieves him. Sadly, in “defying” fate he actually brings it about. Romeo’s suicide prompts Juliet to kill herself, thereby ironically fulfilling the lovers’ tragic destiny.
I'm an enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of Shakespearean literature, particularly the works of William Shakespeare, and I've dedicated extensive time to studying and analyzing the nuances of his plays. My knowledge spans various themes, literary devices, and historical context related to Shakespeare's works. Now, let's delve into the concepts used in the provided article, focusing on Act 2, Scene 1 of "Romeo and Juliet."
1. Light/Dark Motif: In the quoted passage, Romeo's soliloquy in the balcony scene vividly explores the light/dark motif. He poetically describes Juliet as the sun, transforming the night into day with her surpassing beauty. This motif is recurrent throughout the play, symbolizing the contrasts and conflicts present in the lovers' lives and the overarching theme of opposing alternatives.
2. Themes of Love and Identity: Juliet's iconic lines—"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?"—underscore the theme of love transcending social and family identities. Juliet challenges the significance of names, emphasizing inner identity over outer labels. Her willingness to deny her family name, the Capulet, for the sake of love speaks to the central theme of the tension between social and individual identity.
Juliet's famous question, "What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other word would smell as sweet," encapsulates the idea that true love is independent of societal labels and family affiliations.
3. Queen Mab Speech and Dreams: Mercutio's Queen Mab speech in Act 1, Scene 4 is a masterful exploration of dreams and their personal nature. Mercutio uses vivid imagery to describe Queen Mab as the fairies' midwife, highlighting the whimsical and sometimes destructive nature of dreams. The speech reveals Mercutio's character as playful yet bitter, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative.
4. Fate and Fortune: The quotes from the Prologue, Act 3, and Act 5 emphasize the theme of fate throughout the play. The Chorus introduces Romeo and Juliet as "star-crossed lovers," destined for tragedy due to the ongoing feud between their families. Romeo's exclamation, "O, I am fortune’s fool!" after killing Tybalt, reflects his perception of being subject to the whims of fate.
The poignant line, "Then I defy you, stars," uttered by Romeo upon learning of Juliet’s death, highlights his rebellion against destiny. Ironically, by defying fate, Romeo unknowingly fulfills the tragic destiny that ultimately leads to the lovers' demise.
In essence, the provided passages offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of themes and literary devices employed by Shakespeare in "Romeo and Juliet," showcasing the depth and complexity that continue to captivate readers and audiences alike.
