Act II, scenes iv-vi
Read II.iv-vi 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.
It’s obvious only a few lines into scene 4 that Mercutio has become drunk at the party. His lines seem very random and jumbled, they are hard to understand. It appears that Benvolio has kept his sense, though.
ReplyDeleteI agree but I also would like to bring up the fact that from earlier in the play we learn Mercutio is very dramatic and the way he speaks is a little crazy with metaphors and shares his opinions in a confusing manners so he could not be that intoxicated
DeleteOne line that was enjoyable to me were lines 5-30 of act 2 scene 5. This was enjoyable because Juliet switched so quickly from being enraged at the nurses speed, and then immediately goes into terms of endearment such as “honey” and “sweet nurse”. It is almost like Juliet is having mood swings!
ReplyDeleteLines that I found enjoyable were II.v.56-65. I thought it was funny how Juliet was obviously very excited to hear news from the Nurse, but the Nurse kept on going on about how sore and achy she was. Then, exasperated, Juliet mimics a question about her mother.
ReplyDeleteI found Mercutio's statement comparing Tybalt to a "prince of cats," both enjoying and confusing.
ReplyDelete"Why. what is Tybalt? More than a prince of cats"(II.iv.19-20).
I found it both enjoyable and confusing because I found it funny that he uses cats in his comparation, but I don't know what Mercutio's statement meant. He sort of explains it in his following dialogue, but I still struggled to find the meaning in "prince of cats".
The “prince of cats” mentioned is a reference to a character named Tybalt in Reynard the Fox. It is explained in the footnotes.
DeleteI was confused when Nurse said "I anger her sometimes and tell her that Paris is the proper man But i will warent you , hen i say so she looks as pale as any clout in the versal world (2,5,208,)
ReplyDeletewhat does the nurse think is right for Juliet and is she controlled by Julius parent as what she can say.
Lines 4-6
ReplyDeleteMercutio says he is disgusted with Rosaline but does he approve of Juliet?
I don't think he knows about Romeo's love for Juliet yet. If he did though, I doubt that he'd approve. From what we've seen, Mercutio supports the Montagues and I suspect that he hates the Capulets as much as they do. Benvolio certainly wouldn't be happy about it either.
DeleteA line I found enjoyable was on line 208-210, when the Nurse says, “...when I say so, she looks as pale as any clout in the verbal world. Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter?” I found this amusing, as Romeo then points out how they both begin with an R, but it’s very obvious and easily recognizable that it seems as if it is sarcasm.
ReplyDeleteI think the Nurse asked Romeo that in the first place was because the Nurse is illiterate and Romeo is just confirming that they start with the same letter.
DeleteA line I found slightly confusing but also amusing was from scene 5 lines 21-23 when Juliet is talking to the nurse. She says “Now, good sweet Nurse— O Lord, why look’st thou sad? // Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily. // If good, thou shamest the music of sweet news // By playing it to me with so sour a face.” Juliet is kind of contradicting herself because she doesn’t want to be discouraged with the news. She is telling the nurse that whatever she says to say it with a smile and act like it’s somethijg happy.
ReplyDeleteWhen Mercutio says, "I will bite thee by the ear for that jest" (2.iv.79). What is the meaning of "bite thee by the ear"? I am assuming that it is a gesture of anger, but did many people during their time say that as sort of a threat or did it kinda not have any meaning to it and was just a saying?
ReplyDeleteI am confused on why Romeo and Mercutio are talking so much about gooses in 2.iv.75-85. Is it a metaphor for something?
ReplyDeleteJuliet: I would thou hadst my bones and I thy news.
ReplyDeleteNay, come, I pray thee, speak. Good, good Nurse, speak.
Nurse: Jesu, what haste! Can you not stay awhile? (II.v.28-31)
Juliet is eager to hear what Romeo said to the Nurse. This shows great change with Juliet because she used to be extremely reserved, only speaking when spoken to, to being impatient and forcing people to answer her.
I agree, and it connects with the idea of growing up requires the challenging of authority. When she was first introduced, she didn’t really speak for herself. But this line shows that she is starting to make decisions for herself and she is telling other people what to do instead the opposite.
DeleteI found II.iii.99 enjoyable to read. In this line, Friar Lawrence is proposing that the marriage of Romeo and Juliet could end the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. I found this enjoyable because this would make it possible for Romeo and Juliet to be married and spend time together without their families getting angry. It would be a happy ending and there would be no more conflict between the two families.
ReplyDeleteDuring act 2:3 I stumbled across some lines from Friar that I found very interesting. They really provoked me to reflect on love, standards and our decision making. Within lines 69-85, Friar brought up so many good points that I personally believe were Shakespeare’s beliefs of society and ways that he may of disagreed with in his time and was trying to teach generations after. For example, Friar raises the point that Romeo was madly in love with Rosalie but how could he of moved on practically over night. He references the emence amount of tears and heart ache that he’s gone over Rosalie. Yet, he now is in love with another so quickly. Then he connects this back to a life lesson that often times young men fall in love with ones appearance rather then the person themselves. This Shakespeare has brought up many times before in his Sonnets in reference to how beauty is fleeting. So this explains why Romeo was able to move on quickly because the moment he saw a more attractive women out there he was able to move on with his infractions. This is a life lesson that relationships should never be based of ones outward appearance but the content of there character. The reason why Shakespeare says Young men often fall in love with appearances is because society for centuries has placed such a standard of beauty and appearance on women. Especially ages ago that was the job of women to be beautiful to land herself a husband. So within that the point Shakespeare trying to raise is that when a relationships based off of looks it won’t last. He uses Romeo as an example by house fast he moves from Rosalie. If a relationships based off looks, the truth is there is always going to be another women of person who is more beautiful or attractive then the one your with. Also, there such in change in taste, what you once thought was beautiful is not what your after anymore, it’s all so relative. If there always someone out there more beautiful then how can any relationship with a foundation of appearance remain when you can reach higher. He’s also raising the point that with his Sonnets. Appearance is fleeting, when you marry someone they will not always remain as beautiful as what they once were. So what do you do then? If the foundation of the relationship was based on a true connection it outlast any wrinkles or freckles. This also might explain a reason for cheating. If men in that time went after what was beautiful, if your married yet you find a more attractive female then we have ourselves a scandal and broken hearts. Within this long collection of teachings he states that if men can’t be trustworthy. Do to the fact that since all there choices are based off appearance cheating is more then possible how can there be any trust. when loyalty and trust should be one of the building blocks of relationship. Yet, this focus on appearance leads people to run to the next pretty thing around the corner. Lastly, all this shows the impulsivity in Romeo and maybe not just within a Shakespeare’s time but within our own. Romeo moved on from a women he cried tears over in one day and the next day he’s running to get married all because of beauty. We also see how Shakespeare tries to push this across because he later warns Romeo not to rush or you’ll stumble. Another life lesson that when you rush through your decisions in relationships and life you’ll often make big mistakes. We also see Friar fulfill his character as moral and almost moral teacher like figure with all the guidance and life lessons.
ReplyDeleteMercutio’s speech at Ii.iv.38-45 alludes to many women who were famed for their beauty and appeared in romantic stories and claims that Romeo would find them all unattractive, to show that Romeo is deeply in love and could not have his attention diverted by anyone.
ReplyDeleteJuliet talks to the nurse when she returns in and says “To say to me that thou are out of breath? The excuse that thou dost make in this delay Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse. Is thy news good or bad? Answer that. Say either, and I’ll stay the circumstance. Let me be satisfied; is ’t good or bad?”(II.v.34-39) Juliet is very impatient and has changed a lot since the beginning of the story. She is eager to her what the nurse has to say and is acting very impatient because she wants to marry Romeo. She is demanding now because she really just wants to know what the news is and is impatient when the nurse doesn’t tell her right away.
ReplyDeleteII.ii.4-6
ReplyDeleteWhy that same pale hard hearted wench, that
Rosaline,
Torments him so that he will sure run mad
I think Mercurcio wants Romeo to get over Rosaline and thinks she only causes him pain
II. iii 12-13. “We sucking on her natural bosom find, Many for many virtues excellent.” Friar Lawrence is expressing a sense of comfort when talking about that certain subject.
ReplyDeleteFriar Lawrence seems to represent good decisions, similarly to how Benvolio represents goodness in general. Friar Lawrence is the one person who has comforted and accepted Romeo and Juliet throughout this entire novel.
ReplyDelete“Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman” (ll.iv.178). Here it seems even more apparent that the nurse only wants what’s best for Juliet or what she wants. Her loyalties lie with her and not with the rest of the Capulets. Obviously the nurse is like Juliet’s true mother figure but she works for the Capulets.
ReplyDelete“This drivelling love is like a great natural that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole” (|| iv 93-95). Does this represent romeo and his passion for love? Romeo himself has his own highs and lows, but manages to stash away what has happened in his life. For example he had moved on from Rosaline in a matter of days and had set his sights on Juliet. Is Friar Lawrence where Romeo hides his bauble, or in this case secrets and true feelings?
ReplyDeleteA few things that I noticed:
ReplyDeleteMercutio seems all over the place. He’s making jabs at Romeo, inappropriate puns, disrespecting the nurse. He’s probably drunk, which may be why he’s losing his inhibitions and filter. He does seem like a very hotheaded character, but even so, this is a bit much.
Juliet finally fights back! II.vi lines 28-35, when the nurse keeps whining rather than pass on Romeo’s message, Juliet makes sarcastic quips at her and tells her that her excuses are taking longer than the actual message would. This is very different from the passive compliance we saw from her when she was first introduced.
I think Tybalt has issued a challenge to Romeo, which I assume would be some kind of duel. As expected, he did not let the party incident go. I wonder, will Romeo accept his challenge? Mercutio and Benvolio seem to think that he will. I also wonder how the fiery Tybalt would react when faced with the news of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.
“How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath
ReplyDeleteTo say to me that thou art out of breath?” (Act 2, Act 5)
This line from Juliet shows a few things to me. It clearly shows how much Juliet craves the nurse’s opinion. She wants her to know her view on things so desperately, she really appreciates her opinion and wants her perspective. This line also shows some of Juliet’s character development to me. It shows how she’s getting more assertive, and saying how she feels to someone she respects.
I agree, Juliet is very anxious and in prior scenes impatiently waiting for the nurse in the Capulet household. In the lines below, Juliet is begging the tired and out of breath nurse to tell her the news.
Delete“I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news.
Nay, come, I pray thee, speak. Good, good Nurse,
speak” II.v.28-30
I was also going to comment on this! I think it was really cool how we can see Juliet change and become more independent and assertive. She voices her concerns and she asks for what she wants which I think is really important for later in the story. By establishing her voice early on she may be able to confront her parents about Paris and Romeo. She might be able to live the life she wants.
Delete“Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo...” (II. iv. 90-91)
ReplyDeleteMercutio believes that the version of Romeo that jokes around with his friends is the “true Romeo”, and that the love-sick version of him is nothing more than someone shackled down by something ridiculous. Does this mean that the Romeo that we see with Juliet is not truly who he is?
Act 2 scene 3 23-31. I think friar is trying to say how love have to sides. If you only look at it, it feels good, but if you dig into to it, it’ll hurt you.
ReplyDeleteThese violent delights have violent ends
ReplyDeleteAnd in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume.(II vi 9-11)
Jesu, what haste! Can you not stay awhile?
Do you not see that I am out of breath? (II v 29-30)
Both these quotes show both the nurse and friar Lawrence warning against going too quickly. While the friar tells Romeo directly, the nurse keeps on stalling to tell what Romeo has said to Juliet. While this does provide for comedic value, I think it also shows that the nurse wants Juliet to slow down as well. Both of these characters want Romeo and Juliet to be happy together, but both also want them to be wary.
“In one respect I’ll thy assistant be, For this alliance may so happy prove To turn your households’ rancor to pure love. O, let us hence. I stand on sudden haste. Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.” (Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 97-101) I am surprised the friar, who should be a source of common sense and morality, encourages the marriage of Romeo and Juliet: in order to join the families, and stray them from their hatred for one another. And it is also interesting how then Romeo afterwards is in a rush to get it done, he is hasty. Then the friar tells him rushing only leads to trouble and mishaps. I don’t think it foreshadows anything in this story, but I feel like usually this would be a good example for foreshadowing because it ends the scene on those very last words and I feel that usually the last words of anything are supposed to be significant in some way.
ReplyDeleteLL.iv Not a specific line, but the part of Peter got me wondering. What is his purpose in the scene? Is it to accompany the nurse because she cannot go alone? Is he key later? He seemed unneeded but maybe there was something deeper I didn’t understand.
ReplyDeleteJuliet’s nurse and Friar Lawrence are both parental figures to Juliet and Romeo, and I think that Shakespeare might have made them this way for one of two reasons: one, he didn’t have caring parents growing up, or two, a lot of kids at the time didn’t have caring parents, so he was trying to write about something that they wanted, so that his play seemed more appealing to them, and/or it gave them some kind of hope.
ReplyDeleteIn scene 6, there is a huge moment of foreshadowing right before Romeo and Juliet are married. Friar Lawrence says, “These violent delights have violent ends” (II. vi, 9). This is obviously foreshadowing a tragic ending to Romeo and Juliet’s love.
ReplyDeleteThroughout scenes 4-5, Peter seemed to be very powerless in his relationship with the nurse. He did none of the talking and both the nurse and Juliet seemed rude in II. V. 19-20. This was interesting to me because men were usually the ones who had control and power over the women, so to see the nurse take control surprised me.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like both the friar and the burst are parental figures to Romeo and try to tell him to take it slowly, where in II.vi.9 he even warns them that these relationships often end violently, and making this grave warning during a marriage which is generally an event of joy not of foreshadowing negative things in the future.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is some foreshadowing during these warnings, and also that especially the Friar are quite parental. I wonder now, if these parental figures are reacting in the same way as Romeo’s real parents would. I believe that the Montagues would not have these same warnings, but possibly feel betrayed or angry.
DeleteIn scene 5, the nurse seems to try as hard as possible to deliver the positive news about Romeo and Juliet’s marriage in a casual manner. She delays, saying she was aching from her journey and randomly asks where Juliet’s mother is. In lines 40-46, she shows her dislike of Romeo, and when she finally delivers the news in lines 73-82, she refers to Romeo as a burden. Why is this?
ReplyDeleteIn scene 5 the nurse says to juliet,"what haste! Can you not stay a while? Do you not see I am out of breath" This quote appears to be the asking juliet to slow down, because she is tired of walking(out of breath). But I think that this is actually the nurses way of asking Juliet to think before marrying Romeo. She seems to think that they are moving too fast,and she is so attached to juliet, that she doesn't want her to leave.
ReplyDeleteThe Nurse overall just wants what is best for Juliet. She is most likely hesitant for Juliet to run away and marry the enemy of her family, and despite her servant status, she hold a lot of influence over Juliet.
DeleteBe shrived and married. (gives her coins) Here is for thy pains. It’s interesting that Romeo feels he must give compensation to the nurse for her efforts and although at first she refuses she ends up taking the money, if she really is doing what’s best for Juliet why is she swayed by a “bribe”. She then seems to regret her decision and tries to get Romeo to see differently by saying Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter? By bringing up Paris and Rosaline it seems that she doesn’t like Romeo but instead of saying it outright she tries to get Rosaline back in romeos head.
ReplyDeleteII.v. 20 Mercurio says that Tybalt is “more than a prince of cats”. This is an allusion because the footnotes tell us that Tybalt is the name of the Cat in a popular series of stories.
ReplyDeleteOne thing in act two that I found interesting was II.iv 209-215 where Juliet's nurse says "Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter?" Does the nurse know about Romeo and Rosaline and is trying to suggest that he be with Rosaline instead so Paris can be with Juliet? Or is this just coincidence? Either way it seems that the nurse changes her mind by 215 and is fine with Romeo and Juliet being together.
ReplyDeleteMercutio alludes to many famous characters/heroines while speaking to Romeo. He describes them in negative ways, for example calling, "Dido a dowdy" (II.iv.43). He does this to playfully mock Romeo.
ReplyDeleteIn II.v., when Romeo returns after Benvolio and Mercutio have been searching for him, Mercutio speaks to/about him and jokes with him using puns (39 "Without his roe"), similes (39 "like a dried herring") and metaphors (47 "slip"(=counterfeit coin), 59 "pink," 76 "goose," etc.). These literary devices illustrate Mercutio's playfulness, emphasizing his friendship with Romeo. They also show that Mercutio is again trying to minimize and distract Romeo from his fixation on love by joking around and making sexual puns (making love seem rather trivial). This, along with Mercutio's meanness to the nurse (who's bringing Romeo a message from his love interest), suggests that Mercutio is afraid of losing his friendship with Romeo to Romeo's love life.
ReplyDeleteWhere it says, “Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy. ‘Pink’ for flower. Right. Why, then is my pump well flowered.” (II.ii.59-62) This is like the beginning where Sampson and Gregory are discussing colliers. Shakespeare likes to do this, and at the time, audiences would find this funny, but now, it’s a lot more difficult to understand. It’s a humorous segment in the midst of a tragedy, something that is repeated often.
ReplyDeleteMercutio still believes in his idea that love (and dreams) ruin people: on II.iv. lines 14-17, he says of Romeo, “he is already dead, stabbed with a white wench’s black eye, run through the ear with a love-song, the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy’s butt shaft.” This quote provides an allusion to Cupid again, and also refers to love as something that makes people blind and deaf (probably to others’ suggestions and their own logical reasoning). What is the “white wench’s black eye” though?
ReplyDelete-Anya C
I really enjoyed reading the parts where Mercutio was drunk. I think the alcohol and his dramatic ness led him to be Saying and acting sort of funny which was amusing to me as I enjoy comedic parts a lot
ReplyDelete