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Romeo and Juliet: Act II, prologue and scenes i-iii
Prologue
Make inferences: What does the prologue to Act II say about Romeo’s love for Juliet?
Scene i
In this scene, Mercutio and Benvolio look for Romeo as he gives them the slip, hoping to find
Juliet.
Scene ii
This is the famous balcony scene. Read it carefully. Focus on what Romeo says of the moon.
This is the second time in the play the moon is mentioned concerning Romeo. Juliet is connected
to the sun, while Romeo is connected to the moon.
1. What does it mean when Romeo speaks aside in lines 28-35?
2. Analyze closely what Juliet says of Romeo and his name. “What’s in a name?” What is she
asking of Romeo in this monologue, and what does she vow she would do for him? (II, ii, 36-39,
41-52).
3. Read closely until lines 82 and 83: “My life were better ended by their hate/ Than death
prorogued wanting of thy love.” What is Romeo saying here? Why does it strike you? This is an
example of which literary device?
4. What does Juliet say of Romeo’s vow by the moon? (lines 112-121) Why is it fitting for
Romeo to swear by the moon?
5. Read carefully lines 150-155. What is Juliet asking of Romeo? Who normally has this
conversation with a man? What are your opinions on Juliet, a young girl, taking over this role?
6. Analyze these lines by Juliet, “Sweet so would I/ Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.”
(III. ii, 197-198) What is Juliet trying to say, literally? How can we interpret these lines, knowing
what we do about the end of the play—how does Juliet really “kill” Romeo with “much
cherishing”?
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Scene iii - focus on what Friar Lawrence says to Romeo about his switch of love from Rosaline
to Juliet. Pay special attention to the message Shakespeare is sending to his audience here.
1. What is Friar Lawrence’s first reaction to the news that Romeo wants to marry
Juliet?
2. Why does the Friar agree to help the young couple?
Act II, scenes iv - vi Analysis
In addition to developing the plot by which Romeo and Juliet will wed, Act 2 offers a glimpse of
Romeo among his friends. Romeo shows himself to be as proficient and bawdy a punner as
Mercutio. This punning Romeo is what Mercutio believes to be the “true” Romeo, suddenly
freed from the ludicrous melancholy of love. Which lines reveal Mercutio’s relief that the
“real” Romeo has re-emerged?
Juliet has tried to battle the social world through the power of her private love; here Mercutio
tries to assert the social language of male bravado and banter over the private introspection of
love. Interestingly, both Juliet and Mercutio think they know the “real” Romeo. A conflict
emerges; even friendship stands in opposition to Romeo’s love. Romeo must remain both the
private lover and the public Montague and friend, and he must somehow find a way to navigate
between the different claims that his two roles demand of him. Have you ever felt conflicted
like this? Pulled in different social directions? Explain how that made you feel.
Throughout these scenes, Shakespeare emphasizes the thrilling joy of young, romantic love.
Romeo and Juliet are electric with anticipation. In scene 5, Juliet can barely contain herself when
the Nurse pretends to be too tired to give her the news. Romeo is equally excited, brashly and
blasphemously proclaiming his love is the most powerful force in the world. When was the last
time you felt this excited about something? Did the experience you were anticipating live up
to the level of your excitement? How did you feel after?
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Friar Lawrence’s devotion to moderation is interesting in that it offers an alternative to the way
in which all the other characters in Romeo and Juliet live their lives. From Romeo to Tybalt, and
Montague to Capulet, every character follows passion and forsakes moderation. The friar
criticizes this way of acting and feeling, noting its destructiveness. Friar Lawrence is most
certainly correct, but after expounding his belief, the friar gets himself embroiled in all of the
excess and passion he counsels against. Why do you think this is? What are the possible
reasons the friar would contradict himself?