The balcony scene takes place in Act II, Scene 2, just after Romeo has ditched Mercutio and Benvolio to go over the wall into the Capulets' orchard with the express purpose of seeing Juliet again. At the end of Act I, Romeo learns from the Nurse that Juliet is a Capulet, the daughter of his family's bitter enemy. Despite knowing that being found near Juliet's balcony would mean violence and maybe even death, Romeo is...
The balcony scene takes place in Act II, Scene 2, just after Romeo has ditched Mercutio and Benvolio to go over the wall into the Capulets' orchard with the express purpose of seeing Juliet again. At the end of Act I, Romeo learns from the Nurse that Juliet is a Capulet, the daughter of his family's bitter enemy. Despite knowing that being found near Juliet's balcony would mean violence and maybe even death, Romeo is not dissuaded; he was struck with love at first sight when he saw Juliet earlier in the evening at the Capulets' party. This scene is called the balcony scene because Romeo initially hides underneath the balcony of Juliet's bedroom, and the entire scene is played out in this setting. When he first sees Juliet standing on the balcony, Romeo utters one of the most famous lines in Shakespeare:
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the East, and Juliet is the sun.
As Juliet comes out to enjoy the night, she also has Romeo on her mind and speaks the equally famous lines:
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name,
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
Juliet wishes Romeo was not a Montague, an enemy of her family. She offers to abandon her name if it means they can be together. Eventually the two speak and pledge their love to one another, which leads to their marriage later in Act II.
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