Juliet’s Monologue from Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 5: "The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse"

Synopsis

Juliet eagerly awaits the Nurse’s return with news from Romeo about their secret wedding plans. Impatient and filled with the energy of young love, she imagines the speed and urgency with which messages of love should travel. Juliet’s frustration grows as time drags on, and she reflects on the sluggishness of the Nurse in contrast to her own youthful passion. Her monologue shifts between romantic longing, impatience, and playful annoyance.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Earlier, Juliet tasked the Nurse with meeting Romeo to finalize their wedding plans. As the hours pass, Juliet becomes increasingly anxious, waiting for the Nurse’s return with the promised news.

Original Text

"The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse;
In half an hour she promis’d to return.
Perchance she cannot meet him – that’s not so.
O, she is lame! Love’s heralds should be thoughts,
Which ten times faster glide that the sun’s beams
Driving back shadows over louring hills;
Therefore do nimble-pinion’d doves draw Love,
And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings.
Now is the sun upon the highmost hill
Of this day’s journey; and from nine till twelve
Is three long hours, yet she is not come.
Had she affections and warm youthful blood,
She would be as swift in motion as a ball;
My words would bandy her to my sweet love,
And his to me.
But old folks – many feign as they were dead
Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead.
O God, she comes."

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language

*"The clock struck nine when I sent the Nurse,
And she promised to be back in half an hour.
Maybe she couldn’t find him—but no, that can’t be.
Oh, she’s so slow! Messengers of love should travel
As fast as thoughts,
Which move ten times quicker than sunlight
Chasing away shadows over dark hills.
That’s why doves pull Love’s chariot,
And Cupid has wings as swift as the wind.

Now the sun is at its highest point in the sky.
From nine to twelve is three long hours,
And still she hasn’t come back.
If she had passion and young blood,
She’d move as fast as a ball
That my words could throw to my love
And back again with his message to me.

But old people—oh, they act like they’re already dead!
They’re slow, clumsy, and pale as lead.

Oh God, here she comes!"*

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words

  • Perchance: Perhaps.

  • Lame: Slow or weak; lacking speed.

  • Heralds: Messengers.

  • Nimble-pinion’d: Light-winged.

  • Louring hills: Dark or shadowed hills.

  • Bandy: Toss or pass back and forth.

  • Feign: Pretend.

  • Unwieldy: Clumsy or awkward.

Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing with Acting Notes

  1. "The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse; In half an hour she promis’d to return. Perchance she cannot meet him – that’s not so."
    Acting Note: Start with anxious curiosity, then dismiss the thought with confidence. Juliet is trying to reassure herself but is clearly impatient.

  2. "O, she is lame! Love’s heralds should be thoughts, Which ten times faster glide that the sun’s beams Driving back shadows over louring hills;"
    Acting Note: Shift to playful frustration. Juliet’s romantic imagination envisions how swift love’s messengers should be, contrasting with the Nurse’s slowness.

  3. "Therefore do nimble-pinion’d doves draw Love, And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings."
    Acting Note: Emphasize Juliet’s poetic vision of love. This section can be spoken with a dreamy, romantic tone.

  4. "Now is the sun upon the highmost hill Of this day’s journey; and from nine till twelve Is three long hours, yet she is not come."
    Acting Note: Return to impatience. Juliet’s frustration builds as she reflects on how long she has been waiting.

  5. "Had she affections and warm youthful blood, She would be as swift in motion as a ball; My words would bandy her to my sweet love, And his to me."
    Acting Note: Add a playful, teasing tone as Juliet contrasts her youthful energy with the Nurse’s sluggishness.

  6. "But old folks – many feign as they were dead, Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead."
    Acting Note: Deliver this line with exaggerated annoyance and humor. Juliet is venting, and her complaints are lighthearted.

  7. "O God, she comes."
    Acting Note: Shift suddenly to excitement and relief. Juliet’s energy and anticipation peak as the Nurse finally arrives.

Journey Keypoints

  • Hook: Juliet starts with an anxious reflection on the Nurse’s tardiness, setting the tone of impatience.

  • Turning Point: Her romantic imagination envisions the ideal speed of love’s messengers, showcasing her passion and creativity.

  • Climax: Juliet’s playful frustration peaks as she contrasts her youthful vitality with the Nurse’s supposed sluggishness.

  • Resolution: The Nurse’s arrival shifts the mood from frustration to excitement and anticipation.

Famous or Notable Actors Who Have Played the Role

  • Olivia Hussey (1968 Film, directed by Franco Zeffirelli)

  • Claire Danes (Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 Film)

  • Lily James (Garrick Theatre, 2016)

  • Jessie Buckley (National Theatre Live, 2020)

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