Austin Montez

Mrs. Balka

ELA Pre AP 9

29 November 2017

Juliet's Feelings

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, quite possibly the most recognized love story of all

time, depicts a pair of star crossed lovers caught up in an ongoing family feud. Juliet, however,

appears to play the role of a dynamic character as she seems to change her personality upon her

cousin Tybalts death. Especially after hearing that the executioner of Tybalt is none other than

the man whom she loves, Romeo Montague.

Before the fall of Tybalt Capulet, we see Juliet as a young lady whom is looking for

someone to marry and not much more. Upon meeting Romeo she is greeted with several lines

such as If I profane with my unworthiest hand To smooth that rough touch with a kiss.

(1.5.104-107) This leads to several more lines involving many analogies comparing love to such

as pilgrims and sins. However, it is important to note that Romeo is doing about 95% of the

talking. Juliet is even softly rejecting Romeo at first. (which she later stops) Later, Juliet is

standing atop her tower in the ever so famous balcony scene. She talks into what she believes is

the empty night sky, Or, if thou wilt not , be but my sworn love And Ill no longer be a

Capulet. (2.2.38-39) Notice her word choice, she says that she is willing to not be a Capulet for

him, referring to marrying him of course. This rotates back to matter that she is to be married to

someone else whom she doesnt care for. Yet, another suitor walks by exclaiming his love for

her and she immediately believes that he is the one. Juliet doesnt love Romeo, sh is in love with
the idea of marrying him.

On the contrary, Juliets behavior seems to change rather suddenly after hearing of

Tybalts ascension. She immediately yells phrases such as ....beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical

damned saint, honorable villain (3.2.81-85) With such a reaction we can easily infer that Juliet

is caught off guard by the fact that her Romeo could do such a thing. Upon closer examination

we can find that each statement she makes is none other than an oxymoron. None other than

Romeos signature figurative language, to which he uses to describe what he cannot explain.

Possibly Juliet is inheriting some of Romeos lingo and simply cant explain her current state of

emotion. Minutes later her nurse asks Juliet to explain what she thinks of Romeo now and to

which she replies But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would

have killed my husband. (3.2.110-111) These are her first clear emotions after the news of

Tybalts slain has reached her. She is already making excuses for Romeo by stating how Tybalt

was probably trying to kill him and the murder was only in self defense. So Juliet is witnessing

one of the side effects of love in which ones significant others positive block out all negatives.

In other words Juliet fell in love with Romeo but not on the balcon. Instead sometime the next

day.

Overall Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet portray a unique love story that surely wont be

forgotten and tells the tale of Juliets feelings. These such feelings quickly blossom from a like, a

simple alternative from an arranged marriage. To instead a love, one in which she can see no

mistakes or flaws, only reason and charm.