The young,
privilegedis suddenly stricken within . 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 thathas 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,
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 , Juliet is confused, asking if
Tybalt is dead and Romeo slaughtered. She despairs, saying,
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,
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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