# Scene II explained — Romeo and Juliet

> Chapter companion for Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Juliet, alone in Capulet's orchard, passionately awaits nightfall and Romeo's arrival. The Nurse arrives with news that Tybalt is dead and Romeo is banished for killing him. Juliet initially rages against Romeo but quickly defends him, torn between love for her husband and grief for her cousin. She sends the Nurse to find Romeo with a ring, bidding him to come for a final farewell.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Impulse

Juliet's passionate longing for Romeo and her immediate shift from rage to defense of her husband highlight the impulsive, all-consuming nature of their love.

### Death and Tragedy

The news of Tybalt's death and Romeo's banishment foreshadows the tragic outcome, as Juliet equates banishment with death and speaks of dying a 'maiden-widowed'.

### Duality and Oxymoron

Juliet's language is filled with oxymorons—'Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!', 'Dove-feather'd raven! wolvish-ravening lamb!'—reflecting her inner conflict between love and horror.

## Character check-ins

### Juliet

Juliet anxiously awaits night and Romeo, then learns of Tybalt's death and Romeo's banishment, experiencing a whirlwind of emotions from love to rage to despair.

### Nurse

The Nurse brings Juliet the devastating news of Tybalt's death and Romeo's banishment, expressing her own grief and later agreeing to find Romeo.

### Romeo

Romeo is the subject of Juliet's longing and the cause of her anguish; he is banished for killing Tybalt.

### Tybalt

Tybalt is reported dead, killed by Romeo, which triggers the central conflict of the scene.

## Key lines

> Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Towards Phoebus’ lodging: such a waggoner As Phaethon would whip you to the west, And bring in cloudy night immediately.

Hurry, you fast horses, pulling the sun toward the west, so that night can come quickly.

_Juliet impatiently calls for night to fall so she can be with Romeo._

> O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!

You have a snake's heart hidden behind a beautiful face. Could a dragon ever live in such a lovely cave? You are a beautiful tyrant, an angelic demon!

_Juliet expresses her shock and anger at Romeo for killing Tybalt, using contradictory images._

> There is no end, no limit, measure, bound, In that word’s death; no words can that woe sound.

The word 'banished' has no limits; its pain is beyond description.

_Juliet feels that Romeo's banishment is worse than death itself._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters