Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Prologue

Romeo and Juliet
Act II, Prologue

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Shakespeare
for Scholars: Shakespeare
for Everyone Else:

Enter Chorus
CHORUS

Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,

And young affection gapes to be his heir;

That fair for which love groan'd for and would die,

With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair.

Our old friend the Chorus is back for another attempt at some poetry. Yes, friends, it is another sonnet.

This time, the Chorus does not really give away any more of the stuff to come. Instead, the Chorus reminds us of what happened back in Act I.

Now Romeo is beloved and loves again,

Alike betwitched by the charm of looks,

But to his foe supposed he must complain,

And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks:

The most curious line is when he speaks of the two young lovers: “Alike bewitched by the charm of looks,” (line 6). Does this suggest that Romeo is only interested in Juliet’s looks? Was she better looking than Rosaline? Just how "attractive" was this Juliet?

Being held a foe, he may not have access

To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear;

And she as much in love, her means much less

To meet her new-beloved any where:

But passion lends them power, time means, to meet

Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.

Exit CHORUS

Scholars will remind us that the original Juliet would have had to have been played by a male actor; I think the less said about that, the better...

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	You can listen to some music as you read. Click on the icon above. (You can also shut if off, if you find it annoying.)

Shakespeare for Scholars:	Shakespeare for Everyone Else:
Enter Chorus CHORUS Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie, And young affection gapes to be his heir; That fair for which love groan'd for and would die, With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair.	Our old friend the Chorus is back for another attempt at some poetry. Yes, friends, it is another sonnet. This time, the Chorus does not really give away any more of the stuff to come. Instead, the Chorus reminds us of what happened back in Act I.
Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, Alike betwitched by the charm of looks, But to his foe supposed he must complain, And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks:	The most curious line is when he speaks of the two young lovers: “Alike bewitched by the charm of looks,” (line 6). Does this suggest that Romeo is only interested in Juliet’s looks? Was she better looking than Rosaline? Just how "attractive" was this Juliet?
Being held a foe, he may not have access To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; And she as much in love, her means much less To meet her new-beloved any where: But passion lends them power, time means, to meet Tempering extremities with extreme sweet. Exit CHORUS	Scholars will remind us that the original Juliet would have had to have been played by a male actor; I think the less said about that, the better...