In the famous balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare expertly uses language to emphasize the emotions expressed by the two love-birds. Romeo's language is noticeably poetic and religious, certainly by comparison with previous scenes. Then, Romeo was much more bawdy and immature in the language that he used, especially in relation to the opposite sex. But now, as he stands beneath Juliet's balcony, his discourse is considerably more elevated, in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion. He refers to Juliet as a "bright angel," indicating the almost heavenly nature of her beauty and the love that she inspires.
Through the use of personification, Romeo also compares Juliet to certain features of the natural world:
"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,
Who is already sick and pale with grief," (Act II, Scene ii)
The metaphor of Juliet as the sun perfectly encapsulates Romeo's feelings for her as well as the astonishing effect she's had upon his life in such a short time. Since coming into his life, she has lit up the darkness in which it was previously enveloped. Yet unbeknownst to Romeo, the sun metaphor has an altogether different, less welcome connotation: Juliet, like the sun itself, will always remain out of reach.
By the same token, Romeo compares Juliet's eyes to a pair of twinkling stars. Yet once again, the metaphor serves to highlight not just the overpowering effect of Juliet's beauty but also the sad fact that the two young lovers are destined never to be together. Like the stars, Juliet will always be there, but not always seen.
Juliet's language, on the other hand, is much more restrained. This isn't because she doesn't reciprocate Romeo's feelings, it's just that she seeks assurances from Romeo that his love for her is real. That's why she comes right out and asks him straightforward questions such as "Dost thou love me?"
Romeo responds by swearing his love by the sacred moon, but Juliet's not satisfied by this response. The ever-changing moon is unreliable and so if Romeo swears his love by it, then Juliet fears that their budding relationship will follow the same path. Juliet wants a firm commitment from Romeo if she's to take such huge risks to be with him. And talk of swearing by "yonder blessèd moon," for all its romantic beauty, simply doesn't do that.
Juliet's impatience with Romeo's high-flown language of love is further demonstrated when she interrupts him after he begins to speak of "his heart's dear love." She will hear no more of such language, no matter how beautiful or heartfelt. Juliet, for all her youth and relative immaturity, understands better than Romeo the high stakes involved in such an illicit relationship and her much more down-to language is a reflection of this.
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