Analysis of Act Two, Scenes 1-2

Question 1

Benvolio and Mercutio try to find Romeo in Act 2, Scene 2.
How does Mercutio try to provoke Romeo into appearing?

Answer 1

Mercutio tries to draw Romeo out by teasing him about Rosaline — e.g. he makes sexual puns that he thinks will get a reaction from Romeo.

Question 2

What decision do Romeo and Juliet make in act 2, scene 2?

Answer 2

Romeo and Juliet decide to get married. Juliet tells Romeo to send word the next day if his “purpose” is “marriage”, and Romeo says he will be in touch by nine o’clock the next day.

Question 3

Juliet says that she’ll “no longer be a Capulet” if Romeo loves her. What does she mean by this?

Answer 3

Juliet means that she is willing to give up her family and her name for Romeo as the feud between their families prevents them from being together.

Question 4

In Juliet’s balcony speech, she repeats the words “name”, Montague” and “Romeo”.
What is the effect of this repetition?

Answer 4

This shows that Juliet is preoccupied with their different names and families, which emphasises how significant the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues is. Juliet knows that the fact of Romeo is a Montague will cause them many problems, because their families hate each other so bitterly.

Question 5

How does Shakespeare create tension in Act 2, Scene 2?

Answer 5

Shakespeare creates tension by having the nurse called Juliette from off stage. This shows how risky Romeo and Juliette relationship is, because they could get caught at any moment. The facts that Juliet re-enters the scene multiple times increases the tension by drawing out her interaction with Romeo for longer, increasing the risk of getting caught even more.