Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Romeo And Juliet Balcony Scene - 1,118 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

Meaning of Light in Act II Scene II of Romeo and Juliet Scene II of the second Act of Romeo and Juliet is usually being called as the Balcony scene. Its noteworthy that William Shakespeare himself in his poetry or stage directions does not give any word showing that Juliet appears exactly on the balcony, the author only states that she comes out above Romeo. This scene is one of the happiest and moving in the whole tragedy, it includes famous part of amorous poetry beginning But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? Is it the east, and Juliet is the sun. O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

The scene is being developed in Capulets orchard next to their house, where Romeo is waiting patiently under Juliets balcony with hope to see her. She shows her face in contemplation, thinking of Romeo, and, delighted, he craves for her beauty. Romeo compares her with light in his world of darkness, with the sun, asking it to rise and "kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou her maid art far more fair than she." Supposing that she is alone and there is no one in the orchard, Juliet speaks, admitting her love to Romeo though he is from Montague, the family of enemies. Romeo gets excited and pleads Juliet who still does not know that he is there: "Speak again, bright angel, for thou art, as glorious to this night, being over my head, as is a winged messenger of heaven." Being not aware that Romeo is nearby, Juliet refers to him, asking: "Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet." Down in the orchard Romeo can not decide if he has to go on listening secretly or reveal his presence.

With her famous lines: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet", Juliet expresses her concern and sadness, because the names and parentage of two lovers create huge obstacles for their love. Romeo steps out from the shadows and replies aloud saying, "I take thee at thy word. Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized." Having seen him, Juliet gets embarrassed because he could hear her words of love to him. She warns Romeo about the danger of being captured next to the house of the Capulets, his enemy, but he bravely remains by her side in the orchard and says that their love will protect him. He wants to swear for his love by the moon, but Juliet notices that the moon is regularly changing, it waxes and wanes.

She asks him: "Or if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self." Romeo professes his love to Juliet too, and two young people decide to get married. Juliet asks Romeo to give his word about marriage to her the next day with a messenger (her Nurse) which she will send to him. Though the events of this scene take place at night, in the lovers talk to each other they express themselves with the imagery of light. During the whole play Shakespeare uses the metaphor of "light" in different forms as an element of his lyric poetry to describe the beautiful love which young people feel to each other. Mutually, Romeo and Juliet imagine one another in terms of light.

For Juliet her Romeo is like daylight in the night, because their love can shine only under cover of darkness. She associates their love with lightning, possibly, because of its fast emergence and development, because of the strength of its flashes. Romeo compares his beloved with the sun, the source of light and warmth, rising from the east to send away the night. Infatuated with Juliets glamour, he says that she is turning night into the day. He notices that even the moon, being a symbol of female purity and prettiness, is envious to Juliets beauty. Besides, the moon-goddess Diana is supposed to be representation of chastity that emphasizes Juliets being a chaste maid.

Romeo aspires to her passionate sincere love, much more gorgeous and bright than pale, modest light of the moon. Such allegory is used to express how deep Romeo's love is. This comparison of Juliet to sunlight is one of the most romantic and poetic in the whole play because it links a girl, a human being to divine heavenly object, which is a vital source of life, warmth and light for all mankind, as Juliet becomes vital with her existence and love for Romeo himself. The young man comes out with his lyrical speech with such a genuine devotion, and it becomes clear to the readers that for him it is not just a comparison. For Romeo, Juliet is the sun, she is light, and there are no darkness and night anymore. Moreover, when Romeo describes Juliet and refers to the sun, he proclaims something considerably more powerful: the sun as life-giving power of the heavens is eternal.

Therefore, Juliet's enchanting beauty and splendor will remain forever and even will not depend upon Romeo's imagination. This metaphor is a perfect example of using of poetical tools to momentarily transformation of time and environment at the service of love and affection. Notable also that the young lovers take light in their unique way. Unlikely to common perception that light represents good and darkness symbolizes evil, it is not true for Romeo and Juliet. They get together and interact in darkness and that is why in their minds darkness is friendly to light. In the daylight their relatives can find out the secret of the lovers easier than at night.

It also appears that rising morning sun becomes their enemy. Romeo makes it clear, saying: "More light and light it grows, more dark and dark our woes!" (Act III, Scene 5). Therefore, the lovers create setting for their love in the darkness and night which are in anyway better for their special lighting. The imagery of light and darkness plays an important role particularly in the Balcony scene and in the whole tragedy in general. Shakespeare uses many forms and expressions of light in the surrounding of two lovers, not only like sun, moon or stars, also like torch, taper, candles. The conversions between darkness and light, night and day are the most consistent visual themes throughout the play.

Because of its romantic and touching lyric, the poetical beauty of this love scene is incomparable and unrivaled in literature. Its lightness, its lyrical glimpses of passion, its amorous passages of the poetry fill this fascinating scene with strong emotional impulses.


Free research essays on topics related to: romeo, scene ii, romeo and juliet, balcony scene, young people

Research essay sample on Romeo And Juliet Balcony Scene

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com