Act II, scenes i-ii
Read II.i-ii and choose either 1) one line from which you can infer what a character wants, 2) one line in which you recognize a literary device and explain what it emphasizes, or 3) one line that is either enjoyable or confusing and why. Include your line/explanation on the blog.
Juliet says, "O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon...Lest that thy love prove likewise variable" (II.ii.114-116). She's saying that because the moon's phases are always changing, it's not reliable. Juliet wants to know that Romeo is always going to love her, and not forget about her (the way he did with Rosaline).
ReplyDeleteJuliet doesn’t know about Rosaline though, right? It’s kind of ironic that she doesn’t, and still says that.
Delete(Anya C.)
Delete1) Juliet says, “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” (II.ii. 36) Why does she ask why Romeo is named “Romeo”? Why doesn’t she instead ask why he is named “Montague”?
ReplyDelete2) Literary device: II.ii. 46-48, it’s kind of a metaphor when Juliet compares Romeo to a rose. What she means is that the true nature of a person (and things) don’t come from named or labels. A name is not part of a person unless they let it be. This kind of reminds me of Great Expectations, where the title or label for a person is often not at all who they are in their true personality. Some people break out of their labels, while others allow their labels to define them; Juliet is urging Romeo to set aside his name as a Montague because she sees him as himself. (On II.ii. 41, Juliet says, “‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy.” She then goes on to explain that a name is not a physical obstacle but a mental one.)
(Anya C.)
DeleteI think that it is very interesting to see when Juliet and Romeo exchange, "Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? Neither, fair maid if either thee dislike"(Act2.ii.65-66). This shows Romeos willingness to do anything to love Juliet, while also providing a little bit of sarcasm and humor, saying "i dont have to be a Montague if you dont want me to,". Romeo's flirtatious and silly actions reveal a deeper level of his emotion, conveying a serious and ridiculous message to Juliet.
ReplyDeleteWithin act 2:2 lines 41-55: 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
ReplyDeleteThou art thyself, though not a Montague. What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, And for that name, which is no part of thee Take all myself. I take thee at thy word. Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized. Henceforth I never will be Romeo.“ clearly we can see that Romeo and Juliet are willing to change there own names just so they can be together. I find this extremely strange because in today’s age flirting and a kiss isn’t enough to even say there in love. Here we see there willing to take such drastic measures when in our age we define them as strangers. So I’m so confused why there so deep in love. It is because this is just a play for entertainment? Or maybe is it becuase it’s a different time so things like that were normal? It’s interesting!
I think that Shakespeare used this scene as a more dramatic way to show how love, especially when it has just begun, can make people very reckless and irrational. The adrenaline of being in love makes people think that they are willing to do anything to be with each other. It is almost like a “honeymoon phase”.
DeleteAt line 5, when it says,"Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, Alike bewitched by the charm of looks" it is talking about how Romeo is infatuated with Juliet due to her looks, and will not lose this obsession unless he is greeted by a rude Juliet, and not the one he thought she was.
ReplyDeleteIn lines 41-50, Juliet highlights how a name is superficial and doesn’t represent the value or personality of someone, similar to the theme of the superficiality of social class in Great Expectations.
ReplyDeleteI agree, where you come from or your background does not define who you are and should not affect how you are viewed by others, although it does. As you said, being a Montague should not be a problem in Romeo and Juliet’s relationship but unfortunately it has a big effect.
DeleteIn II.ii.76-78, Romeo says that "there lies more peril in thine eye Than twenty of their swords." Romeo displays that he feels Juliet could make him do something even more than the threat of death, which highlights his love for Juliet. He has fallen for her so hard, and realizes it, but he just can't help himself despite the consequences if someone finds out. He also believe he is armed against the hate of the Capulets against the Montagues which demonstrates that he is being reckless for this love that he feels.
ReplyDelete“O, swear not by the moon, th’ inconsistent moon,
ReplyDeleteThat monthly changes in her circled orb”
Juliet, II.ii.114-115
I think that this quote shows that Juliet has had many suitors, but she didn’t believe that any of them actually loved her. I think that this shows that she really loved Romeo, and that she wants him to love her too, so she is asking for a better promise, that her other, fake suitors wouldn’t have been able to give her.
Juliet expresses her need for verification that Romeo genuinely loves her as she speaks to him, "if thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully"(II.ii. 99). The necessity for constant reinforcement of devotion here surprised me. I never considered it being an issue in Shakespeare's time because it has always seemed to be a modern problem. Clearly, it has persisted throughout many centuries.
ReplyDeleteAnother idea I was surprised to find was stated by Juliet who proclaimed, "My love is deep. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite" (II.ii.141-142). I think it's super interesting that Julie acknowledges all these truths about love while still being fully immersed in it. Her observation about love (or perhaps obsession in her case) increasing as more is given rings true today.
II.ii.114-121.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s interesting how Juliet has Romeo swear by himself, after telling him not to swear by the moon, as it changes phase. This illustrates to me how much Juliet loves Romeo after just meeting him. She doesn’t really know him, but already trusts him enough to swear on himself.
II.ii.63-64 “My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words of thy tongue’s uttering, yet I know the sound.” Here, Juliet seems to be saying that although she hasn’t been around Romeo for long, she feels immediately familiar with him- this is part of love at first sight.
ReplyDeleteWhen Romeo and Juliet are talking she asks, "Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?" and he responds "Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike" (2.ii.65-66). This shows how in love Romeo is with Juliet by showing that he would change is name because she doesn't like it. It also shows that his emotions will take over his logical thinking.
ReplyDeleteWhen Romeo is visiting Juliet it seems like she is questing his love or trying to get him to prove it to her.
ReplyDeleteII.ii.2-3
ReplyDelete“But soft, what light though yonder window breaks?
It is the East, and Juliet is the sun”
The metaphor above emphasizes the love Romeo has for Juliet. Romeo compares Juliet to the sun and in later lines explains that the moon is jealous as the sun arises in the east.
II i 1-2 “Can I go forward when my heart is here? Turn back, dull earth, and find thy center out.”
ReplyDeleteWe know Romeo wants to see Juliet, and this is the first we see if him valuing his love for Juliet over his friends, who have stood by his side so far
Romeo and Juliet just met recently, and I think the thing we studied in class”love in first site” . And I think it does exists. Romeo and Juliet for me is just a more dramatical version of Pip and Estella.
Delete“Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,
ReplyDeleteAnd young affection gapes to be his heir;
That fair for which love groan’d for and would die,
With tender Juliet match’d, is now not fair.
Now Romeo is beloved and loves again,
Alike betwitched by the charm of looks,
But to his foe supposed he must complain,
And she steal love’s sweet bait from fearful hooks:
Being held a foe, he may not have access
To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear;
And she as much in love, her means much less
To meet her new-beloved any where:
But passion lends them power, time means, to meet
Tempering extremities with extreme sweet” (ll. i. 1-14). This is a sonnet about Romeo and Juliet’s love and it further tells the audience how much Romeo adores her if they didn’t get it before and sets up the chapter for further yearning and pining.
Romeo says, “O blessèd, blessèd night! I am afeard,
ReplyDeleteBeint in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering sweet to be substantial” (II.ii.139-141).
Romeo realizes what Mercutio says about dreams and how they’re misleading which makes Romeo doubt his feelings for Juliet. This shows some change in Romeo’s view of relationships and love.
“With love’s light wings did I o'erperch these walls, For stony limits cannot hold love out, And what love can do, that dares love attempt. Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me” (|| ii 67-70). In this excerpt Romeo claims he mounted the wall using wings of love. I infer that this means as conflicts between the family’s begin, their love will diminish creating a wall between them that Romeo can no longer scale. I think Romeo will stay aligned with the montagues even though his love with Juliet sepeates them.
ReplyDeleteIn ll.ii.39, it says “ and I’ll no longer be a capulet” . This shows that Juliet doesn’t care about the family feud and that it doesn’t matter the background of the person and that the only thing that matters to her is that if she likes them or not.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that Romeo is confessing his love to Juliet when he says “what dare love can do, that dares love attempt.” Meaning he will risk everything for his love for Juliet, when just moments ago all he could think about was Rosaline. It makes me wonder if he was really in love with Rosaline if he is able to so quickly change his affection to Juliet.
ReplyDeleteJuliet shows emotion in her first lines of scene 2, unlike how indifferent and obedient she was before. She even breaks her family’s rules by letting Romeo stay at her home. I believe this is a sign that Juliet is maturing.
ReplyDelete“‘Tis almost morning. I would have thee gone, And yet no farther than a wanton’s bird”(II.ii.190-191). Juliet is comparing Romeo to pet bird. This metaphor is saying that he will be with her for.
ReplyDeleteI conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes,
ReplyDeleteAct 1 Scene 2 Line 17
I like how during this part of the story even though we know what has entailed between the two lovers, Benvolio and Mercutio do not yet know about Romeo and Juliet, and think it’s interesting when the reader knows more than what actual characters in the story do yet.
In act 2 scene 2, lines 37-42 juliet says,"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... 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague" in this quote juliet (seemingly blinded by her love for Romeo) renounces her family, which causes romeo to do the same. I feel like this is the part of the book where Romeo and juliet's relationship begins to mean something/ affect other around them, where it begins to be important. Because they are renouncing their families, and in a way uniting the two families. This is ultimately achieved, but only after their death.
ReplyDeleteI also thought this line was important because despite everything she has learned in her past and everything she has been told she is willing to throw it all away to be with Romeo. She isn’t thinking rationally seeing as her emotions and attractions toward a Romeo cause her to forget everything she has ever known. I think by denying everything they are it shows they’re passion, however passion can’t be the only one they have in the relationship. In the moment they might be happy and what they believe is in love but by not being genuinely suited for each other they are throwing their futures away and creating a toxic environment.
DeleteOn line 35-36, Mercutio and Benvolio talk about Romeo’s blind path for love, and how he isn’t using his mind. I was reminded about talking about if following our mind or heart was the right way to go, and we can see that Mercutio and Benvolio thinks it would be best for him if he used his mind more and not wander blindly into the darkness based on his heart’s content.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that Romeo has decided that he wants to be with Juliet forever, as he is willing to change his name, which is something he did not mention he was willing to do for Rosaline. “I take thee at thy word, call me love, and I’ll be new baptized. Henceforth I never will be Romeo” (II. ii 53-55)
ReplyDeleteWhere it says, “Blind is his love and best befits the dark. [Mercutio]: If love is blind, love cannot hit the mark.” (II.i.35-36). These lines between Benvolio and Mercutio are in a couplet, showing how they compliment each other. Also, the amount that Juliet speaks in comparison to when the reader/audience first met her is much greater with Romeo than her own family, the Capulets. Juliet seems closer to Romeo than her mother and father. Some lines that I found enjoyable for this reason were II.ii.121-122, as Juliet cuts off Romeo to speak nine consecutive lines. All Romeo can say is “If my heart’s dear love”, before Juliet interrupts. She became a lot more emotional and vocal with Romeo, which I find quite an interesting contrast to her manner at home. It also demonstrates how Shakespeare compares the family rivalries, that Juliet can better communicate with a Montague than the Capulets.
ReplyDeleteJuliet says, “Thou art thyself, though not a Montague" (II.ii.42). Juliet (as well as Romeo) is able to see past the rivalry that has defined the Capulets and Montagues for generations. It makes me wonder why this generation of both families is more accepting of the other.
ReplyDeleteIn II.ii Shakespeare is almost constantly trying to ensure that the reader/viewer gets the message the Romeo and Juliet are already deeply in love despite just meeting. Even by II.ii 3 Romeo is already making a metaphor to emphasize his love, and it just continues. In II.ii 15-24 he compares Juliet's eyes and then cheeks to starts, before she comes out. Then in II.ii 39&65-66 first Juliet and them Romeo both place the other above loyalty to their feuding families, especially meaningful considering that even servants of the Capulets and Montagues severely dislike each other (see I.i). The scene continues on and at II.ii 128-9 Juliet compares their love to a budding flower that will grow when they next meet, which helps to show that this is not something that will end soon. Lastly at the very end of the scene in II.ii 149-155 Juliet pretty much says she'll stay loyal to Romeo forever as long as he truly loves her, quite a statement from people who met only hours prior.
ReplyDeleteIn II.ii, 82-83, Romeo says “My life we’re better ended by their hate Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love”. This is foreshadowing to later in the book when Romeo kills himself rather than living without Juliet’s love
ReplyDeleteIn II.ii, 82-83, Romeo says “My life we’re better ended by their hate Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love”. This is foreshadowing to later in the book when Romeo kills himself rather than living without Juliet’s love
ReplyDeleteII. V. line 74 the nurse says to Juliet "There stays a husband to make you a wife." The nurse is saying that there is a husband waiting to make Juliet his wife, although Juliet doesn't want that because she is falling for Romeo. Does the Nurse know this yet?
ReplyDelete