Act II, Scene iii Timed Write Student Exemplar Response
Act II, scene iii in the play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare opens with Friar Lawrence delivering a soliloquy about mother earth, herbs, plants, and stones. While the subject of his speech might seem strange directly following Romeo and Juliet’s decision to get married in scene ii, it serves as a clear warning about the conflict and trouble that is to come. The friar uses elements of language to communicate the idea that within human nature, there is a fine line between good and evil and life and death.
To begin his soliloquy, the friar addresses the fact that it is morning. The language he chooses, however, has negative connotations, creating an ominous atmosphere. The personification of the “gray-eyed morn [smiling] on the frowning night” sets the conflicted mood of the scene (2.1.1). Because of the contrasts in word choice, the mood is dark like night. Just like the night is leaving, so is darkness and despair as the cheerful sun lights the day; however, we know night will be back again in due time. Additionally, “the flecked darkness like a drunkard reels” (2.1.3). The darkness is stumbling away like a drunk who could come back at any time. Continuing his explanation of the dawn, Friar Laurence alludes to a common myth. The reference to the “Titan’s burning wheels” is a reference to the sun god’s chariot (2.1.4). This references the story of Phaethon, the son of Apollo, who asks his father if he can drive the sun chariot alone. Apollo agrees but warns his son not to fly too high or too low. The impulsive Phaethon loses control of the chariot and brings destruction to the mortals on the earth and himself. This allusion warns against the impulsivity of the young, which hints at the recklessness and destruction to come.
The friar then begins to talk about the contradiction of life and death. He says, “The earth, that’s nature’s mother, is her tomb” (2.3.9), which means that earth is the place where people both live and die. After establishing the idea of the circle of life, he turns to his main point: Earth possesses good things, like herbs and plants, but just as they can heal, they can also kill.
As he brings his speech to a close, Romeo arrives and immediately asks if the friar will officiate the wedding between him and Juliet. The timing is no accident. While the friar is literally talking about plant life, readers can read between the lines to discover how there is a fine line between light and day, life and death, and youth and age.
Grade 9: Romeo and Juliet