The young, privileged Juliet is suddenly stricken with
tragedy in Act III, Scene 2. Moreover, the tragic news is confusedly reported by the
grief-stricken Nurse who cries out names and keeps Juliet in doubt about what has
actually occurred. At first, Juliet believes that Romeo has killed himself because the
Nurse calls out his name and does not respond to her questions, but instead speaks of
the gore and blood. Juliet then cries,
readability="12">
O, break, my heart! poor bankrout, break at
once!
To prison, eyes; ne'er look on liberty!
Vile earth, to
earth resign; end motion here,
And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier!
(3.2.60-63)
Then, when the
Nurse speaks of Tybalt, Juliet is confused, asking if Tybalt is dead and Romeo
slaughtered. She despairs, saying,
readability="9">
Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the general
doom!
For who is living, if those two are gone?
(3.2.70-71)
Finally, the
Nurse explains what has really happened, telling Juliet that "Tybalt is gone, and Romeo
banished." When Juliet asks if Romeo has killed Tybalt, the Nurse answers. To this
Juliet responds in oxymorons which indicate her confusion and feelings of betrayal by
Romeo:
O
serpent heart, hid with a flow'ring face!
Did ever dragon keep so fair a
cave?
Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!
Dove-feather'd raven!
wolvish-ravening lamb!
Despised substance of divinest show!
Just
opposite to what thou justly seem'st—
A damned saint, an honourable villain!
(3.2.76-82)
But, when the
Nurse says, "Shame come to Romeo," Juliet comes to her husband's defense, railing
against the Nurse and scolding herself,
readability="8">
Blister'd be thy tongue
For such a
wish! He was not born to shame.
Upon his brow shame is asham'd to sit;
For 'tis a throne where honour may be crown'd
Sole monarch of the
universal earth.
O, what a beast was I to chide at him!
(3.2.95-100)
Certainly,
Juliet's emotions are turbulent as she is misled by the Nurse and grieves over her
cousin. However, Juliet's loyalty is with her husband despite her feeling somewhat
betrayed by his killing Tybalt.
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