Topic One 3-06-06

The two lines I have chosen from act two scene two of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare are-
"O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name."
These lines are spoken by Juliet on page eighty from the No Fear Shakespeare book. I chose these lines to talk about because I think they are the single most famous lines from Romeo and Juliet. Of any two lines from Romeo and Juliet I think these are the most recognizable. If I translated these lines into modern day English, Juliet would basically be asking herself why Romeo had to have the name of Romeo, telling him (although she does not know he is really there) to forget about his dad, and change his name. I think the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet is a very romantic and poetic scene. Describing the predicament of two young adults in love who are deciding if and when they should elope. I think this scene is strongly controversial, at the same time romantic, and anyone would enjoy reading it. I enjoyed reading this scene, partially because it is so legendary in even modern society.

Just from reading Scene two of act two I learned a lot about the characteristics of Romeo and Juliet. I figured that these are two young adults whose families obviously do not want them to be together are in love. I discovered that Juliet is a young woman madly in love with what seems to be a bold young man named Romeo. Both Romeo and Juliet seem to be rebellious against their parents, and willing to risk it all for each other. It is hard to tell why Romeo and Juliet are attracted to each other from this point without reading the rest of the play. If I were in this situation I do not know what I would do, but I doubt I would get myself into this situation in the first place. I do not agree with Romeo and Juliet going behind their parent’s backs to get married, but if they didn’t I guess there would not really be a story, would there?