Act 2 Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Act 2 Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

‘Act 2, scene 2 is one of the most important scenes in the play.

Explain why it is so vital in showing the play’s themes, emotions,

characterisation and situation.

Focus particularly on how Shakespeare’s stagecraft, imagery and

language help to bring out the moral and social significance of the

play’

Act 2, scene 2 is a vital scene in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’

because the key themes and issues of love and hate are discussed and

explored. The result of this is that the couple decided to marry, a

fateful decision, and therefore a key point. This is unexpected, as

their families have been feuding for many years. By planning to wed

they are putting their mutual love ahead of social expectations;

however they are risking all they have for each other, they risk their

lives, their reputations and the future of both families.

The theme of love is central to this scene. Romeo has scaled the walls

of the Capulet’s orchard. This is a brave thing to do, for, if he had

been seen he would have been killed. He climbs the wall as if to

rescue a princess from a tower, this in itself is very romantic,

Juliet being the princess. This demonstrates Romeo’s love for Juliet

and how much he wants to see her again. Romeo himself describes how he

came to be in the orchard, ‘with love’s light wings did I o’erperch

these walls’. This uses powerful imagery to say that his love for her

carried him, he did not feel the physical strain on ascending the wall

he sees it as a small thing in the eyes of love; he views their love

as transcendent, a bond that no-one can break. Romeo also says, ‘call

...

... middle of paper ...

...not by the moon, th’inconstant moon’ this shows that Juliet sees the

moon as inconsistent, unreliable. This can be understood as you only

ever see a full moon once a month. The stars also are men tioned,

stars are associated with many things, horoscopes, destiny and fate

are very strongly linked. When Romeo says ‘two of the fairest stars in

heaven’ and says they ‘twinkle’, this could be linked to the fate of

their love, predicted the tragedy to come. Shakespear has re-enforce

the imagery used and the recurrent themes.

To conclude, I think that Act 2, scene 2 is important because it the

first time where both the key elements in the play, love and hate are

introduced. Also it creates a scene of good drama as tension is built

up very strongly. Shakespeare uses language, imagery, structure and

stagecraft to show this.