Romeo & Juliet

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One of Shakepeare's greatest tragedies, Romeo and Juliet, is a play about "two star-crossed lovers," whom as young teens, learn they must mature quickly. Due to the two families' constant feud and chaotic world they live in, there is little time for the two to experience a normal teen relationship. It is their inability to handle the situation at such a young age, which brings the two teens to their untimely death. The first scene of Act 3, when Romeo slays Tybalt is the turning point of the play. The two teens are faced with the ultimate obstacle: whether or not they honestly feel true love for one another. The two scenes following the murder of Tybalt allow us to compare the reactions of Juliet and Romeo of what happened in the first scene. When contrasting scenes 2 and 3 from Act 3, paying close attention to the tone Shakespeare uses, Juliet proves to have matured while Romeo fails to do so.

The opening of scene 2, begins with a monologue by Juliet:

Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,

Towards Phoebus' lodging; such a waggoner

As Phaeton would whip you to the west

And bring in cloudy night immediately (III, ii, 1-4).

She is anxiously waiting for nightfall to arrive. Because their love is forbidden, Romeo and Juliet must only meet at night, so no one will see them together. Her actions and tone expressed in this opening monologue show an immature Juliet; a young girl waiting impatiently for a boy to arrive.

The nurse then enters where Juliet is waiting and brings the news of Tybalt's death. Juliet mistakes the death, for Romeo's and her tone suddenly changes to disbelief and sadness. The nurse continues to talk and Juliet realizes that Romeo is very much alive, but has slain her cousin, Tybalt. This is where the climax of the scene occurs - midway through the scene - when Juliet realizes Romeo is still alive, but has killed Tybalt. She continues feeling complete disbelief and cannot believe someone whom she loves so much could kill a person of her family. At this point in the scene, Juliet matures dramatically. She quickly takes back her words, and as any loving wife would do, remains by her husband's side. She begins to mourn not for the death of her cousin, but for Romeo:

Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death,

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