Romeo & Juliet - The Balcony Scene (Extended)

How Does Shakespeare present idyllic
teenage love in the Balcony Scene?

I was told to rewrite this one with more detail so here goes:

Romeo and Juliet is a play about teenage love that breaks through the conflict of two families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Act II scene 2 - or the balcony scene - one of the best-known scenes in all of Shakespeare, symbolises many of the broader themes of this play. The scene is set at the Capulets’ mansion, where Romeo has climbed over the orchard wall (despite the fact if the guards find him they will kill him) into the estate, where he finds himself underneath Juliet’s balcony. The balcony scene is an important part of the story. It tells us more about the characters and their personalities, and what they are willing to do for each other. Before this scene, we have seen the party, where Romeo and Juliet first meet and supposedly fall in love. This is an example of Shakespeare’s portrayal of idyllic love; they have only just met and already Romeo is putting his life at risk just to see his ‘love’. At the end of the scene, Romeo goes to see a friend of his, Friar Lawrence about getting married to Juliet. We know from the prelude that both Romeo and Juliet are going to die, so we can understand that this is a cause to their deaths and that Romeo is unwittingly compounding the problem.

Scene 2 comes immediately after a particularly short episode with Mercutio and after all the action of the party. Romeo on stage alone would have a powerful theatrical effect on the audience. It opens with Romeo’s soliloquy, which is littered with exaggerated diction. The soliloquy is a dramatic tool used so that characters can share their feelings with the audience and here Romeo expresses the extent to which Juliet has affected him. His extravagant phrases compare Juliet to the sun radiating ‘a stream so bright/ That birds would sing and think it were not night’. This rhyming couplet is a fairly banal cliché and the epic imagery – the frequent reference to stars and heaven – are an exaggeration of the girl he has met only once. This imagery also tells us of the distance he feels between her because of the social status that separates them; their families are in a bitter war. This soliloquy also gives us an insight into Romeo’s character. We can see here that he is somewhat immature, and despite having sworn his love for Rosaline at the beginning of the play, after meeting a girl once at a party he has already got over this and is after the next woman – he is a fickle adolescent. There is also little difference between the love he describes here and the love he expressed for Rosaline. This presents teenage love and gives us the impression that even though Romeo swears his love for Juliet, it still may only be a phase, which he may get over that very weekend. But then Romeo- upon seeing Juliet for the first time in this scene- expresses his genuine feelings for her: ‘It is my lady, O it is my love: O that she knew she were!’ The second line of this couplet is particularly important. As it is only three poetic ‘feet’ as opposed to the accustomed five, we get the impression that Romeo cannot find words to describe his emotions. The use of the balcony is significant in this scene as well. It shows that Romeo is looking up to Juliet, and she is above him not only in social status, but also in maturity.

Before Romeo reveals himself to Juliet, we hear her talking about Romeo and describing the frustration she feels that they may never be able to be lovers and will always be separated by their families’ quarrel, ‘tis but thy name that is my enemy’. This shows that she is only imagining what could have been and is considering the consequences and obstacles of their love, whereas Romeo does not dwell on these and without any hesitation he is risking his life for Juliet. This compares their characters and shows us that although Juliet is only fourteen and about three years Romeo’s younger, she is still thinking ahead about the long term-effects their love can instigate. She is taking into account the families’ argument, and the punishments issued by the Prince that states any agitator of violence can be sentenced to death; a punishment she would surely not want to be given to any of her family or her love. She also sees her boundaries, and recognises that her and Romeo are at different ends of the spectrum; two ends that are never meant to meet and only the most severe consequences will emerge if they do. This is why she refers to Romeo’s heritage, and she questions why he is a Montague, ‘Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo.’ She does not mention the name Montague, however, which can show that maybe she is so frustrated about it that she does not want to remind herself of his name, and so she can just think about her Romeo, the romantic boy that is not like her family’s enemy. She then goes on to say how she would be willing to change her name, if he would only swear his love for her. Romeo responds to this by saying ‘ Call me but love… and I’ll never be Romeo’ This is a sort of exaggeration, and once again presents idyllic love as we still do not know how genuine the love these two teenagers feel for each other is, and Romeo could just be using this phrase as a key to Juliet’s heart. This gives us the impression of teenage love as they may be swearing to betray their families now, but really they are only exaggerating and we know from the end that they never will do this and were only using these commitments to try and express their feelings for each other.

Juliet then goes on to ask Romeo how he managed to climb over the high orchard-wall. In response to this, Romeo claims that ‘with love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls’. This means that love gave him wings so that he could fly over the wall to meet Juliet and be with her. This is again an exaggeration, and a fairly obvious romantic gesture to Juliet, but perhaps Romeo is trying his best to appear to her as a sweet, sensitive romantic boy. Juliet then replies by saying ‘If they do see thee, they will murder thee’, which shows that Romeo’s idealism contrasts with Juliet’s realism, and tells us that she is considering the consequences and danger of Romeo’s presence, whereas he is blinded by his idyllic love for her. This again represents the distinction of their personalities; Juliet is a mature, considerate and prudent young girl and Romeo is a love- struck, indecisive, teenage adolescent who has no worries except for the job at hand- winning Juliet’s heart. This again relates to the setting of the scene, and emphasizes the fact that Juliet is above Romeo in maturity as well as social stature. Juliet then goes on to ask ‘By whose direction found’st thou out this place?’, which shows again she has ignored Romeo’s romantic responses to her practical questions and wants to know more about the mysterious character that is in her garden and how he came to be here. Romeo –who is still trying his best to satisfy Juliet romantically- answers ‘by love, that first did prompt me to enquire’. Romeo expresses love as a person, as if love is a wise man whom he consulted and whose one purpose is to bring Romeo to his love, Juliet. He also says ‘As that vast shore wash’d with the farthest sea, I should adventure for such merchandise’, which means that he would do whatever ‘Love’ would tell him to do, and he also uses the cliché that he would go anywhere for Juliet. This again presents us with idyllic, teenage love.

 As the scene progresses, Juliet feels that she is playing along too easily to Romeo’s advances- as she expresses in her speech ll. 85-106. Juliet recognizes the fickle nature of teenage love, ‘yet if thou swear’st, / Thou mayst prove false.’ Her reference to a classical god introduces an element of fate. Romeo’s taste is at the whim of the laughing ‘Jove.’ Consequently she decides she should not be ‘too quickly won.’ It would appear she is impressed but not convinced by Romeo’s charm and needs some confirmation; she dispenses the conventional courting ritual, asking bluntly, ‘Dost thou love me?’ Juliet is concerned that Romeo may think that she has been ‘too quickly won.’ Juliet makes it clear that she is so fond of Romeo that she feels no need for false pretension or to be more like ‘those that have more coying to be strange.’ It is not a case of Juliet ‘yielding to light love’ but rather that Romeo is indeed her ‘true-love.’

Romeo wants to immediately respond to Juliet’s assertion by swearing his love for her. However, when he goes to say ‘Lady, by yonder the blessed moon I vow’ (and swear his love by the moon), Juliet interrupts his attempt to assure her of his love, and says ‘O swear not by the moon, th’inconsistant moon… Lest that thy love prove likewise variable’, which is saying if Romeo were to swear his love by the moon, it might prove to be inconsistent and change. In this phrase, she disregards everything Romeo wants to vow, and shows that she may doubt ever having any relation to this mysterious character underneath her balcony. This is backed up in the next few lines, where Juliet seems to become incoherent to all Romeo has to say. She interrupts and contradicts his love for her and the fact he wants to swear his love by something that would be of significance. We then see that Romeo is willing to do what Juliet tells him to when she tells him ‘Swear by thy gracious self, which is the god of my idolatry’, he replies to her, ‘If my hearts dear love-‘ and then Juliet interrupts him again. This gives us the impression that she does not expect him to succumb to this request, and so when he does, she does not want to hear it. At this point in the text, it seems that Juliet does not trust Romeo and even thought he was sworn his love and done everything she has requested, she feels he is only saying this so he can be with her. In her next speech she expresses her feelings frankly, and informs Romeo that ‘Although I joy in thee, I have no joy in this contract tonight’ and she also expresses how she feels it is too ‘rash/too unadvis’d’, which is saying that they are moving too fast, and although Romeo may be sensitive and romantic, Juliet is essentially saying ‘maybe we should get to know each other better’- a phrase only known too well in the teenage world of love.

As Juliet then decides to leave and says that ‘This bud of love… may prove a beauteous flower when we next meet’, Romeo as a last resort appeals ‘O wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?’ This phrase of desperation has a double meaning, and the one Juliet perceives is not the meaning Romeo was hoping to articulate. Juliet believes that all Romeo wanted, after a night of romantic gestures and clichés, was to engage in a sexual relationship. She inquires ‘What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?’ to confirm her suspicions. Romeo, who would have to verify all he has claimed that night, answers ‘Th’exchange thy love’s faithful vow for mine’. According to her next speech-‘My love as deep; the more I give it to me’ –shows that Juliet has finally yielded to Romeo’s charm and enticing lines, and Romeo will not be leaving so ‘unsatisfied’ after all. When Juliet is requested inside by the nurse, we see another soliloquy by Romeo in which he expresses his emotions, ‘I am afeard, being in night, all this is but a dream too flattering-sweet to be substantial’- he is saying the fact that the contract of love is two way, is too good to be true; it is like a dream. In this speech we are assured that Romeo is true to what he says, and was not just using exaggerated clichés to get into Juliet’s bed. When Juliet returns to the balcony, the two lovers discuss marriage, and there is a sense of idealism in this suggestion; they have only just met and they are about to get married. Marriage is an important bonding of two people, and the person you want to marry has to be perfect for you. The fact that these two teenagers have just encountered each other for the first time a few hours prior to the balcony scene suggests that already they can tell they are perfect for each other, which would be ideal in our world. However, this also suggests an aspect of teenage love; they may still be moving too fast and might not be perfect for each other. The fact their families are bitter enemies does not help their case. We also know from the end of the play (or the prologue) that they will not have much time to find out if it would work. Nonetheless, they agree on this engagement, and arrange to meet at nine the next day where they can marry and (so they think) live happily ever after. At this point of the dialogue, Juliet seems to have lost her distinctive, mature character and is lead along blindly with what Romeo wants. Maybe this is what Romeo brings out in her, which can be reflected in many couples, teenage or otherwise. They then engage in a childish, flirtatious game, in which they quarrel in a petty, soft manner: ‘I shall forget, to have thee still stand there’ to which Romeo replies: ‘And I’ll still stay, to have thee still forget.’ In the end, Juliet lets her instincts get the better of her, and returning to her old mature temperament, she steals back into her room, and leaves Romeo by himself to end one of the most important and well-known scenes in Romeo and Juliet.

Act II Scene 2, the balcony scene is the most significant encounter between the two lovers in the play. We learn more about both of their characters, how Juliet is mature, sensitive yet somewhat stubborn teenage girl, and how Romeo is a fickle, indecisive adolescent who, in this scene, has reveals his inner emotions for Juliet. This contrast in character is represented by the centerpiece of the scene- the balcony. This image can be depicted by the balcony set on the Elizabethan stage, and Shakespeare must have written this scene with that idea in his mind, as to portray the basic idea of this scene. Shakespeare has presented the teenage love in this scene extremely accurately, and the nature of teenage love must have been the same in the Elizabethan times as it is today, as I can relate to this encounter entirely. The boy is obviously out to impress and flatter the girl, as she will perceive him as a sensitive loving person. This is what Romeo attempts- successfully- throughout the scene, and this method of pursuing the girls is still present today, except of course not in Elizabethan language! Shakespeare also portrays the frustration and rewards of teenage love exceptionally well. We can see from the beginning Romeo tries in vain to flatter Juliet with his romantic clichés, at first she does not succumb to his charm. Eventually, after many a trial, Romeo breaks through and manages to persuade Juliet that he is not the sleazy teenager she thought he was. This again portrays an aspect of teenage love; first impressions are not everything, and may come to change. Overall, we can see that teenage love is not always idyllic in the sense that in the long run not everything goes to plan. It is also hard to accept that these teenagers fall in love at first sight, and having barely spoken a word to each other, Romeo is climbing over walls and risking his life for Juliet. On the other hand, this may be an exceptional case, and without this element Romeo and Juliet might never have been the play it is. But teenage love is not always like this, and more often than not does not turn out the way it is expected. This is portrayed by Shakespeare, as neither of the lovers would have thought they would be killing themselves for each other when their relationship began. One might see that Romeo and Juliet is just a portrayal of idyllic teenage love on a much larger scale. There is no question, however, that this encounter between Romeo and Juliet is idyllic, and it is this teenage love entrapped in the war between two families that has provided one of the most renowned pieces of literature in the world.