“Romeo and Juliet”, one of the most popular play written by William Shakespeare, is the universally-accepted representation of pure and immutable love that even death cannot separate the main characters, Romeo and Juliet. However, tasting the artwork carefully, I doubt that their love is not really that strong and invulnerable. The love between them was not affected by external factors but exactly by the desperations of both Romeo and Juliet after the banishment of the bridegroom. Because both of the characters are young and impulsive, any incident could alter their emotions dramatically, and change their behaviors in front of their lover. In order to demonstrate the alternation, I, excerpt lines from Act II Scene 1, when Romeo and Juliet reveal their deep love to each other and Act III Scene 5, when Romeo is forced to leave after their wedding night. As these two scene all happen intensely at Juliet’s balcony before the separation of them, the comparison of the Romeo and Juliet’s emotions and behavior between the two scenes is extraordinarily strong. Acting as Juliet, I gradually feel her extreme passion and desperation when facing the two contradict situation and have a better understanding of this play.
The performance starts when Romeo confess his admiration under the balcony in Act II Scene 1. Romeo expresses his deep love to Juliet by saying “It is the East, and Juliet is the sun(2.1 3).” This metaphor vividly indicates how important and fascinating Juliet is for Romeo, since “the sun” is the brightest and most unique substance in the universe. Knowing Juliet’s real mind when she say, “In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond” , he could not conceal his exhilaration and vows to the moon immediately. By putting himself into danger and promise Juliet faithfully, Romeo bravely pronounces his love as well as determination. Romeo’s love to Juliet is strong, pure and urgent. Similarly, young Juliet also has an intense desire on Romeo. She would like to discards her family and “no longer be a Capulet” for Romeo if possible; she also discards a girl’s reserved manner and straightforwardly pour out her heart to the man she only meet once:“Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, And all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay”. The innocence and candidness of Juliet demonstrate her enthusiasm towards love and freedom. Furthermore, Juliet is confident about their love. She wholehearted believes that they will meet again and prove their love legally: “This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.” As Juliet says, “I would have thee gone, And yet no farther than a wanton’s bird, That lets it hop a little from his hand”, she feels reluctant to let Romeo leave. In this scene, Juliet is forced to get into the room because of the Nurse, and immediately comes out to the balcony to meet Romeo again; She says multiple times of “goodbye” and “a thousand times good night” and just could not let Romeo leave. Romeo as well, grabs Juliet for multiple times and waits her patiently when she is in her room. They feel loath to part from each other and gain plenty of hope for the future because of their fervent love.
In order to show the beauteous and brightness of this scene, our group constructs an atmosphere of cozy and romantic. The entire scene is staged at the back of two windows, with a large table in front as fences of the balcony. I wear a dark red medieval dress and my partner, acting as Romeo, wears an orange shirt, to show the vividness and ardour from our hearts. In the beginning of this scene, I, Juliet, am positioned on a little chair which is lower than the fence and therefore could only see but not hear anything outside of the “room”. After Romeo quietly presenting his monologue, I suddenly stand up and shove the windows. With a sigh, I start my own monologue with a complaining tune: “O, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo.” Not so much complaint as coquetry like a little girl, I show the disappointment as well as expectation of Juliet with an face of imagining, reflecting her eagerness for Romeo. When I find out that Romeo has heard my murmur, I first become shock, and immediately I start to smile with excitement. I talk with him as genteelly as possible, while I could not hide the chuckle in my voice. When Romeo vows, I stop him nervously with my hand trying to cover his lips: “O, swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her < circled > orb , Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.” My voice starts to raise higher and faster when I feel ambivalent for his promise: I want him to give me his vow, but I do not want it to be informal. I even touch his check to show how much I am attracted by him when I say, “swear by thy gracious self”. The most significant part which I emphasize is how hard it is for Juliet to leave Romeo even for a second. When I “hear some noise within”, I ask Romeo urgently for waiting for me, and running away and back to him as soon as possible. I really pretend that I am running in a hurry for that short distance to show how much I care about Romeo and in fact do not want him to wait for too long. The second time when I say “a thousand times good night”, I still hold his hand when I turn back. Suddenly, I rush out again and speak loudly to him: “hist Romeo hist!” , and then ask him when should I send people to him the next. During the whole part of asking, I am looking at his eyes with smile. In addition to admiration, I express my dismay of his leaving by rising my hand and assimilating him to a “wonton’s bird” whom I just want to hold in my hand. I finally hold Romeo’s hand for the last time and return to my room with a satisfied smile. When our hands finally have to separate, I still keep my hand spread at my back and try to touch him with my finger tips. This scene ends with Romeo’s passionate monologue about his love and eagerness of marriage.
Analysis scene 2:Romeo’s desperation , Juliet’s desperate and the contrast on dialogue and movements.
Evaluate: The contrast of costume and How did I act as Juliet.
Ending: What have I achieved, learnt and what should be improved
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