SUMMARY OF THE SCENE

Romeo is waiting under Juliet's window and when he sees her, yearns for her beauty. Juliet goes out onto the balcony and, thinking she is alone, speaks.  She wishes Romeo was not a Montague and that she was not a Capulet and professes her love for Romeo. Romeo speaks out that he will be baptized and change his name. Juliet is surprised that someone was listening to her and inquires who is outside. Romeo answers. Juliet asks how he got there and says it is dangerous. Romeo thinks he is invincible because of how much he loves Juliet. She becomes embarrassed because he heard her proclaim her love for him. Romeo returns the proclamation of love. The nurse calls for Juliet a few times. Romeo agrees to the marriage. They reluctantly say goodnight although it is almost morning. Both Romeo and Juliet display childlike excitement about their wedding.

ANALYSIS ROMEO AND JULIET, ACT II, SCENE II

The interaction and conflict of night and day is raised to new levels within the second act. Benvolio states that, "Blind is his love, and best befits the dark", in reference to Romeo's passion. And when Romeo finally sees Juliet again, he wonders, "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. / Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon". Romeo then invokes the darkness as a form of protection from harm, "I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes". This conflict will not end until the disorder of the day eventually overcomes the passionate nights and destroys the lives of both lovers. 

It is worthwhile to note the difference between Juliet and Rosaline. Juliet is compared to the sun, and is one of the most giving characters in the play. "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, / My love as deep. The more I give thee / The more I have, for both are infinite". Rosaline, by contrast, is said to be keeping all her beauty to herself, to die with her. This comparison is made even more evident when Romeo describes Rosaline as a Diana (the goddess of the moon) and says to Juliet, "Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon"

The balcony scene is more than a great lovers' meeting place. It is in fact the same as if Romeo had entered into a private Eden. He has climbed over a large wall to enter the garden, which can be viewed as a sanctuary of virginity. Thus he has invaded the only place which Juliet deems private, seeing as her room is constantly watched by the Nurse or her mother. 

One of the interesting things which Shakespeare frequently has his characters do is swear to themselves. For instance, when Romeo tries to swear by the moon, Juliet remarks that the moon waxes and wanes, and is too variable. Instead, she says, "Or if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self". Shakespeare often has characters encouraged to be true to themselves first, as a sign that only then can they be true to others.

Again, note the change in Juliet's behavior. Whereas she used to obey the authority of her nurse, she now disappears twice, and twice defies authority and reappears. This is a sure sign of her emerging independence, and is a crucial factor in understanding her decision to marry Romeo and defy her parents.

There is a strong conflict between the uses of silver and gold throughout the action. "How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night" and "Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow, / That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops" . Silver is often invoked as a symbol of love and beauty. Gold, on the other hand, is often used ironically and as a sign of greed or desire. Rosaline is thus described as being immune to showers of gold, which almost seem to be a bribe. When Romeo is banished, he comments that banishment is a "golden axe," meaning that death would have been better and that banishment is merely a euphemism for the same thing. And finally, the erection of the statues of gold at the end is even more a sign of the fact that neither Capulet nor Montegue has really learned anything from the loss of their children.

One of the central issues is the difference between youth and old age. Friar Laurence acts as Romeo's confidant, and the Nurse advises for Juliet. However, both have advice that seems strangely out of place given the circumstances of the play. For instance, Friar Laurence says to Romeo, "Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast". He also advises Romeo to "Therefore love moderately". The insanity of this plea to love "moderately" is made ludicrous by the rapid events which follow. In fact, by the end of the play we even see Friar Laurence rejecting his own advice and stumbling to reach Juliet's grave before Romeo can find her. "How oft tonight have my old feet stumbled at graves?".