An Analysis of the Balcony Scene in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Essay

Act II Scene 2 is one of the most famous scenes of the play. It iscommonly known as the "Balcony Scene" because Juliet appears on a smallbalcony outside her bedroom window, and exchanges words, expresses truelove with Romeo who is standing below in her father's orchard. The scene isfamous for its moving and vivid images, used to express love between twopeople of contrasting nature. In my study I will compare the language ofRomeo and Juliet in this famous scene.The balcony scene is physically separate from the rest of the playby being set in a moonlit garden. The lovers exist outside the feuding andquarreling but cannot completely ignore it. Their love is shown as eternaland pure, rather than motivated by physical desire, lust or money grabbing.This is reflected in the kind of language and imagery that the lovers use. In this scene we notice that the way Romeo expresses his love isdifferent from the way Juliet expresses her love. Romeo speaks in high-flown language to express his love but compared to his, Juliet's languageit is more sincere and filled with sweet seriousness. Romeo expresses his love for Juliet right at the beginning of thescene through the use of light imagery. He declares"It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill theenvious moon Her vestal livery is but sick and green"Romeo connects the pale moonlight with sickness and grief and says thatonly fools have anything to do with it. Here Romeo refers to how foolishlyhe fell in love with Rosaline. He could also be referring to the courtjesters. In those days Elizabethan court jesters wore a chequered costumeof pale and green which is why he said"none but fools do wear it."Romeo's comparison of Juliet to the sun provides an understanding to hisstate of mind. Previously when Romeo was in love with Rosaline he alwayssad, depressed and associated her with darkness. When Romeo uses lightimagery it...