Summary: Act 2, scene 4
In the Capulet orchard, Juliet impatiently waits for her
nurse, whom she sent to meet Romeo three hours earlier. At last
the Nurse returns, and Juliet anxiously presses her for news. The
Nurse claims to be too tired, sore, and out of breath to tell Juliet
what has happened. Juliet grows frantic, and eventually the Nurse
gives in and tells her that Romeo is waiting at Friar Lawrence’s
cell to marry her. The Nurse departs to wait in the ally for Romeo’s
servant, who is to bring a ladder for Romeo to use to climb up to
Juliet’s chamber that night to consummate their marriage.
Read a translation of
Act 2, scene 4 →
Summary: Act 2, scene 5
Romeo and Friar Lawrence wait for Juliet to arrive at
the cell. An ecstatic Romeo brashly states that he does not care
what misfortune might come, as it will pale in comparison to the
joy he feels right now. Friar Lawrence counsels Romeo to love moderately
and not with too much intensity, saying, “these violent delights
have violent ends” (2.5.9). Juliet enters
and Romeo asks her to speak poetically of her love. Juliet responds
that those who can so easily describe their “worth” are beggars,
her love is far too great to be so easily described. The lovers
exit with Friar Lawrence and are wed.
Read a translation of
Act 2, scene 5 →
Analysis: Act 2, scenes 4–5
Throughout these scenes, Shakespeare emphasizes the thrilling
joy of young, romantic love. Romeo and Juliet are electric with
anticipation. In a wonderfully comic scene, Juliet can barely contain
herself when the Nurse pretends to be too tired to give her the
news. Romeo is equally excited, brashly and blasphemously proclaiming his
love is the most powerful force in the world.
Though the euphoria of love clearly dominates these scenes, some
ominous foreshadowing is revealed. The Nurse’s joking game in which
she delays telling Juliet the news will find its sad mirror in a
future scene, when the Nurse’s anguish prevents her from relating news
to Juliet and thereby causing terrible confusion. A more profound
foreshadowing exists in the friar’s observation, in reference to Romeo’s
powerful love, that “these violent delights have violent ends” (2.5.9).
Every audience member knows that the play is a tragedy, and that
Romeo and Juliet will die. The friar’s words therefore are more
than just a difference of opinion with Romeo; they reinforce the
presence and power of fate.
Friar Lawrence’s devotion to moderation is interesting
in that it offers an alternative to the way in which all the other
characters in Romeo and Juliet live their lives.
From Romeo to Tybalt, and Montague to Capulet, every character follows
passion, forsakes moderation. The friar criticizes this way of acting
and feeling, noting its destructiveness. Friar Lawrence is most
certainly correct, but after expounding his belief, the friar gets
himself embroiled in all of the excess and passion he counsels against.
The passion of the young lovers might be destructive, but it is
also exquisitely beautiful; if Romeo and Juliet were moderate in
their affection, their love would not strike such a chord.
