"These notes give a slightly more detailed commentary on four of the most important scenes of the play."
"The scenes chosen are:"
"*Act I, Scene v - Romeo and Juliet meet"
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"*Act II, Scene ii - the balcony scene"
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"*Act III, Scene i - the duelling scene"
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"*Act V, Scene iii - the final tragedy"
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"*Act I, Scene v"
"A vital scene in the development of plot and character."
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"This is a busy, bustling, crowded scene for the most part, although it has a quiet spell when Romeo and Juliet actually meet."
"It is obvious from the instant that Romeo catches sight of Juliet, that their love is something special."
"The imagery used by Shakespeare becomes more intense, more poetic, to signal this crucial point."
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"Alongside the pure love with its religious imagery, the violent hatred of Tybalt stands out even more clearly."
"This reinforces the theme of co-existing love and hate."
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"*Act I, Scene v (Cont.)"
"We now feel more respect and liking for Romeo, after his first appearance as a rather weak love-sick character."
"For Juliet too, there is respect due for her modest yet, witty and passionate speech as she meets her future husband."
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"Her intelligence is shown too, as she cleverly finds out Romeo's identity from the Nurse without revealing her own interest."
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"Most important of all in this scene is the cleverly contrived sonnet which the two lovers share, thus showing the equality of their love."
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"*Act II, Scene ii"
"This is the most famous love scene of all time, and one that has been imitated thousands of times."
"It begins with a continuation of the light imagery that Romeo uses to describe Juliet."
"*See IMAGERY (NOTES MENU)"
"The character of Juliet in particular is developed here. We see a thoughtfulness and a maturity here that is surprising in one so young."
"She muses on the irony that people may be judged by their names, not their true qualities."
"In a gesture that is typical of the unselfish love between them, she offers to get rid of her name, if Romeo will not abandon his."
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"*Act II, Scene ii (Cont.)"
"*...be but sworn my love"
"*And I'll no longer be a Capulet."
"She is also revealed as frank and open, quickly realising the vanity of pretending in the conventional manner."
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"In contrast to Romeo, she is practical, fearing for his safety, and worrying about the dizzying speed of their love."
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"There is beautiful poetry here and a keen eye for human behaviour, for instance in Juliet's reluctance to let Romeo leave her side."
"Shakespeare is also practical, not forgetting to hurry the plot along towards the marriage of Romeo and Juliet."
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"*Act III, Scene i"
"After the sweet poetry of the preceding scene comes the stark contrast of the heat and violence of this one."
"Notice the Dramatic Irony of Mercutio's and Benvolio's speeches, which seem to predict what is about to happen."
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"Romeo's calmness and tolerance is contrasted with the inflamed passions of both Mercutio and Tybalt, but Romeo can be inflamed too as seen in his line"
"*And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!"
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"This is the central point of the play. From the moment of Tybalt's death, Romeo's fortune begins to wane."
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"*Act III, Scene i (Cont.)"
"Notice that the Prince also appears in this central scene, the middle appearance of the three symmetrically placed time that we see him."
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"An important quote from Romeo reveals that he now realises the part Fate is playing in his life"
"*O I am Fortune's fool!"
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"We also find new respect for Mercutio due to his courage in the face of death."
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"*Act V, Scene iii"
"This scene brings the tragedy to its bitter heights, and confirms what the premonitions of various characters have hinted at all along."
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"As well, there are a few extra elements here worth noting:"
"-the generosity of Romeo towards Balthasar"
"-the loyalty of Balthasar towards Romeo"
"-the thoughtfulness of Romeo to lay the body of Paris in the tomb"
"-the cowardice of Friar Lawrence"
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"Notice also the poetry with which Romeo describes Juliet's beauty, even though he thinks she is dead."
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"*Act V, Scene iii (Cont.)"
"Light imagery is also noted again in Romeo's words."
"*...her beauty makes"
"*This vault a feasting presence full of light."
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"The great power of Romeo and Juliet's love for each other is also confirmed by the way neither of them hesitates to take their own life."
"We are reminded several times of the importance of Fate in what happens."
"In fact it is chance that Juliet wakes moments too late and that Friar Lawrence arrives moments too late."
"The Friar refers to it as"
"*A greater power than we can contradict."
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"*Act V, Scene iii (Cont.)"
"As the final scene of the play, this scene succeeds in bringing out the main themes of the play, the relationship between love and hate, and the part that Fate plays in our lives."
"This is neatly summed up in the words of the Prince"
"*See what a scourge is laid upon your hate,"
"*That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love."
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"The play is neatly rounded off with the mending of the feud between the two families, and we are left to ponder the cruel fate of the innocent lovers."
