Act II

This act sets up the complication of the play. By the end of the act, all the characters are clearly defined and the consequences of the collision between love and hate begin to be felt. The audience is positioned to feel great empathy for the main characters and a sense of foreboding about what is to come.

• Romeo hides in Capulet's orchard.
• There he finds Juliet and they express their love to each other.
• Friar Laurence agrees to marry the two lovers.
• Tybalt sends a challenge to Romeo.
• The Nurse helps Juliet to get married secretly.
• Romeo and Juliet meet at Friar Laurence's cell so that they can be married.

Scene i: outside Capulet's orchard after the masquerade ball

The chorus, apart from indicating a change in act, reiterates (retells) the story and gives the audience an idea of the complications that will arise and how they will be overcome - 'passion lends them power, time means, to meet,/ tempering extremity with extreme sweet' (II.i.14).

Benvolio and Mercutio have left the ball but Romeo has jumped a wall into the Capulet's orchard and hides from them. He is hoping to see Juliet again. Benvolio and Mercutio look for him thinking that he is still sulking over his unrequited love for Rosaline. Mercutio again makes fun of Romeo's serious attitude towards love in an attempt to draw him out. This doesn't work and they decide to let him be.

Important Points to note from Act II, Scene i:

• It is late and everybody has gone home.
• Mercutio mocks Romeo's spiritual attitude towards love using the imagery of magic and mocking of Romeo's Petrarchan verse.
• Mercutio and Benvolio are unaware of Romeo's new love.

Scene ii: Capulet's orchard (The 'balcony scene')

The 'balcony scene' is the most famous scene of this play and one of the most famous romantic scenes in English literature. Much of this has to do with the build-up of Act I and the language that is so skilfully used by Shakespeare. Refer to the links on theme, characters, dramatic effect and language for more information.

Romeo dismisses Mercutio's comments and talks aloud of his love for Juliet. Juliet, ignorant to Romeo's presence, appears outside and professes her love of Romeo. This is when the famous quote, 'O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?' appears at line 33. She is in love with Romeo but very much distressed by the fact that he is a Montague. Romeo shows himself and with much dramatic language he woos her and they agree to be married in the morning. Juliet promises to send Nurse as the go-between and Romeo leaves to find Father Laurence.

Important Points to note from Act II, Scene ii:

• It is late and Juliet is preparing to go to bed.
• If Romeo is found in the Capulet's orchard he will be severely punished.
• Although Juliet is practical she nevertheless agrees to a prompt marriage.
• The language of this scene has huge impact on its meaning.

Scene iii: Friar Laurence's cell

We first meet Friar Laurence collecting weeds for poisons and cures in his garden. This is important for the plot as he will later give Juliet the poison that will end in tragedy. He is introduced as a wise and kindly man as he is considering good and evil using a metaphor of the flowers that have both poisons and cures. His wisdom is contrasted sharply with that of the interrupting Romeo who is excitable and immature. Friar Laurence, upon hearing Romeo's story, warns him about rushing into such things. This is something that likely to be on a responder's minds. The Friar claims that this proves that 'Young men's love then lies / Not truly in their hearts but in their eyes' (II.iii.63-63) and asserts that 'they stumble that run fast' (II.iii.90). By the end of the scene Friar Laurence consents to marry Romeo and Juliet because he believes it will unite the two feuding families.

Important Points to note from Act II, Scene iii:

• The Friar is a wise man.
• The Friar is not convinced of the truth of Romeo and Juliet's love.
• The Friar agrees to marry the two because he thinks it may help calm the tensions between the two families.

Scene iv: Verona

The scene begins with Mercutio and Benvolio discussing the whereabouts of Romeo. Benvolio reveals that Tybalt has sent a letter of challenge to Romeo and expresses his belief that Romeo will accept it. Benvolio claims that Romeo is too love sick to fight and expresses some concerns over the skill that Tybalt has in the art of fighting. Romeo enters and, much to their surprise, he is a changed man. They embark on some extremely witty conversation. The Nurse enters and continues the wit and bawdy jokes as Romeo discusses the plan for the marriage. Juliet will pretend to go to confession and whilst at the church be married to Romeo. Meanwhile the nurse will receive a rope ladder so that Romeo and Juliet might consummate their marriage later that evening.

Important Points to note from Act II, Scene iv:

• Tybalt has sent a challenge to Romeo and this keeps impending tragedy in the audience's minds.
• Juliet will pretend to go to confession but once in the church she will be married.
• Neither Benvolio nor Mercutio know that Romeo has fallen in love.
• The dramatic effect of the humorous tone in this scene contrasts with the solemnity of Scene iii and serves as comic relief. Through contrast, this comedy also heightens the intensity of Romeo and Juliet's love.

Scene v: Capulet's house

Juliet waits eagerly and with some anxiety for the Nurse to return with news. She confirms her love for Romeo is as meaningful as Romeo's is for her. The Nurse arrives hot and flustered. She delays telling Juliet the news and both mocks and praises Romeo as a means of teasing her. She finally tells Juliet that she needs to go to confession and she will be married to Romeo there by Friar Laurence. The Nurse explains that she is going to pick up a ladder so that Romeo can go to her room that night.

Important Points to note from Act II, Scene v:

• Juliet is just as in love with Romeo as he is with her.
• The Nurse is very willing to help Juliet.

Scene vi: Friar Laurence's cell

Romeo and Juliet meet at Friar Laurence's cell. They are there to get married. Friar Laurence warns Romeo of the dangers of loving too deeply and then praises Juliet's beauty.

Important Points to note from Act II, Scene vi:

• Juliet has pretended to be going to confession so that she can keep her love affair a secret.
• Romeo and Juliet do not actually get married on stage. It is merely implied that they will and by Act III they are married.