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STUDYWORLD STUDYNOTES

Romeo and Juliet

Analysis of Act Two

The purpose of the first scene is to isolate the lovers from family and friends. It serves to introduce the romantic climax of the play; the balcony scene and the rashness of the love affair. Both lovers exhibit a change of feelings as they experience the power of love.

The imagery of "light" is used by means of lyric poetry to describe Juliet. As she stands on her balcony above Romeo, she is compared to the sun, the source of light and warmth.

The scene showing Friar Lawrence gathering the herbs also serves to foreshadow their use later on in the play. The Friar exhibits an understanding of them and a knowledge of what mixture could produce a trance that resembles death. This is the reason why he so readily prescribes such a potion to Julia to help her escape her impending marriage to Paris.

The action starts to rise greatly at the balcony scene where each profess their love for each other. They decide to get married and plan it out. The rising action continues through the marriage.