Romeo and Juliet, Act 2 Scene 0 — Summary & Analysis
- Setting: CHORUS. Who's in it: Chorus Reading time: ~1 min
What happens
The Chorus returns for a second sonnet. The old love — Romeo's one-sided longing for Rosaline — is dying, and a new affection has taken its place. Now Romeo loves Juliet and is loved back, both struck by the other's looks. But the Chorus spells out the problem: he must plead his love to an enemy, and she must steal love's sweet bait off a fearful hook. Each is forbidden to the other, with little chance to meet. Yet passion gives them the strength, and time gives them the chances, to find their way together despite the danger.
Why it matters
This is the only place Shakespeare pauses mid-play to remind us that the love we just watched ignite is built on looks and speed. "Alike bewitched by the charm of looks" is not entirely flattering. The Chorus keeps a cool distance from the heat of the orchard scene we have just seen.
The sonnet form returns, tying Act 2 back to the prologue. Both choruses are love poems; both sit just outside the action, watching. After this the Chorus disappears for good — the play stops narrating itself and lets the lovers' own choices carry the weight.
The Chorus names the danger plainly and then names the only thing pushing against it: desire. From here every meeting is stolen, and the clock the prologue set running starts to move faster than anyone in the play can manage.
Original Shakespeare alongside modern English. Synced read-along narration in the app.
Hear Act 2, Scene 0, narrated.
