Juliets Monologues From Shakespeares Tragedy

Who is the protagonist of Romeo and Juliet? Do both titular characters share that role  equally? Typically, stories and plays focus on one protagonist and the rest are supporting characters (with an antagonist or two thrown in for good measure). With Romeo and Juliet, some might argue that Romeo is the main character because he gets more stage time, not to mention a couple of sword fights, too. However, Juliet experiences a great deal of family pressure, as well as an ongoing inner conflict. If we label the protagonist as the character that experiences the deepest level of conflict, then maybe the story is really about this young girl, swept up by her emotions and caught up in what will become the most tragic love story in the English language. Here are some key moments in the life of Juliet Capulet. Each monologue reveals the growth of her character. The Balcony Scene. II ii 36 In her most famous speech and her first monologue, Juliet wonders why the newfound love (or is it lust?) of her life is cursed with the last name Montague, the long-standing enemy of her family. This scene takes place after Romeo and Juliet met at the Capulets party. Romeo, infatuated, wandered his way back into Capulets gardens right to Juliets balcony. At the same time, Juliet comes out, unaware of Romeos presence, and ponders her situation out loud. The monologue beings with the now-famous line: O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? This line is often misinterpreted as Juliet asking about Romeos whereabouts. However, wherefore in Shakesperean English meant why. Juliet is thus questioning her own fate of falling in love with the enemy. She then continues to plead, still thinking she is alone: Deny thy father and refuse thy name;Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,And Ill no longer be a Capulet. This passage reveals that the two families have an antagonist history, and Romeo and Juliets love would be difficult to pursue. Juliet wishes Romeo would give up his family but is also ready to give up hers. To soothe herself, she rationalizes as to why she should continue to love Romeo, saying that a name is superficial and does not necessarily make up a person. Tis but thy name that is my enemy;Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.Whats Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,Nor arm, nor face, nor any other partBelonging to a man. O, be some other name!Whats in a name? that which we call a roseBy any other name would smell as sweet; Declarations of Love. II ii 90 Later in the same scene, Juliet discovers that Romeo has been in the garden all along, overhearing her confessions. Since their emotions arent a secret anymore, the two star-crossed lovers profess their affections openly. Here are some lines from Juliets monologue  and an explanation in modern English. Thou knowst the mask of night is on my face,Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheekFor that which thou hast heard me speak to-nightFain would I dwell on form, fain, fain denyWhat I have spoke: but farewell compliment! Juliet is glad it is night time and Romeo cannot see how red she is from the embarrassment of breaking conventions and letting him overhear all she has said. Juliet wishes she could have kept up her good manners. But, realizing it is too late for that, she accepts the situation and becomes more straightforward.   Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say Ay,And I will take thy word: yet if thou swearst,Thou mayst prove false; at lovers perjuriesThen say, Jove laughs. [...] In this passage, Juliet displays the disposition of a person in love. She knows that Romeo loves her, but at the same time is anxious to hear it from him, and even then she wants to make sure he isnt simply falsely exaggerating. Juliets Choice.  IV iii 21 In her last longer monologue, Juliet takes a big risk by deciding to trust in the friars plan to fake her own death and wake within the tomb, where Romeo should be waiting for her. Here, she contemplates the potential danger of her decision, unleashing a combination of fear and determination. Come, vial.What if this mixture do not work at all?Shall I be married then to-morrow morning?No, no: this shall forbid it: lie thou there.(Laying down her dagger.) As Juliet is about to take the poison, she wonders what would happen if it doesnt work and she is afraid. Juliet would rather kill herself than marry someone new. The dagger here represents her plan B. What if it be a poison, which the friarSubtly hath ministerd to have me dead,Lest in this marriage he should be dishonourd,Because he married me before to Romeo?I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should not,For he hath still been tried a holy man. Juliet is second-guessing whether or not the friar is being honest with her. Is the potion a sleeping potion or a lethal one? Since the friar married the couple in secret, Juliet is nervous that he might be now trying to cover up what he did by killing her in case he gets in trouble with either the Capulets or Montagues. In the end, Juliet calms herself by saying the friar is a holy man and wouldnt trick her. How if, when I am laid into the tomb,I wake before the time that RomeoCome to redeem me? theres a fearful point!Shall I not, then, be stifled in the vault,To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in,And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes? Thinking of other worst-case scenarios, Juliet wonders what would happen if the sleeping potion wore off before Romeo could remove her from the tomb and she suffocated to death.  She ponders that if she wakes up alive, she might be so afraid of the darkness and all the dead bodies, with their horrible smells, that she might go crazy. But in the end, Juliet rashly decides to take the potion as she exclaims: Romeo, I come! This do I drink to thee.