Romeo and Juliet · Chapter
Scene II explained
Capulet prepares for Juliet's wedding to Paris, believing she has repented her disobedience after meeting with Friar Laurence.
What happens
Capulet prepares for Juliet's wedding to Paris, believing she has repented her disobedience after meeting with Friar Laurence. Juliet feigns compliance, asking the Nurse to help her choose ornaments for the next day, while Capulet, overjoyed, decides to move the wedding forward.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This scene is the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of the Capulets' gr…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Family Feud and Conflict
Juliet's feigned obedience masks the ongoing conflict between her loyalty to her family and her love for Romeo.
- Fate and Free Will
Juliet's deception and Capulet's haste to marry her to Paris set the stage for the tragic events driven by fate and personal choices.
Characters to notice
- Capulet
Organizes the feast and wedding preparations, expresses joy at Juliet's feigned obedience.
- Lady Capulet
Assists in wedding preparations, notes the short time until the ceremony.
- Nurse
Confirms Juliet's visit to Friar Laurence and accompanies Juliet to help with wedding ornaments.
- Juliet
Pretends to repent her disobedience and agrees to marry Paris, but secretly plans to avoid the wedding.
Key passages
“Where I have learn’d me to repent the sin Of disobedient opposition To you and your behests, and am enjoin’d By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here, And beg your pardon: pardon, I beseech you! Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.”
Juliet tells her father she has learned to regret her disobedience and promises to obey him from now on, as instructed by Friar Laurence.
Juliet's false confession is part of the Friar's plan to avoid marrying Paris.
“Send for the county; go tell him of this: I’ll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning.”
Capulet orders that Paris be summoned and announces the wedding will take place the next morning.
Capulet's haste accelerates the timeline, increasing the tension.
