Juliet’s Monologue from Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2: "Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face"

Synopsis

In this intimate and vulnerable monologue, Juliet speaks to Romeo during the iconic balcony scene. Embarrassed by the boldness of her earlier confession of love, Juliet reflects on her feelings and questions the sincerity of Romeo's affection. She expresses her desire for genuine love and honesty while acknowledging the risks and the unorthodox manner in which their love has blossomed. This monologue captures Juliet’s innocence, passion, and emotional maturity.

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

After the Capulet feast, Romeo sneaks into the Capulet orchard and overhears Juliet professing her love for him on the balcony. Surprised and embarrassed by Romeo's presence, Juliet now tries to navigate her feelings, attempting to balance her vulnerability with her longing for assurance of Romeo’s love.

Original Text

"Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face,
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight.
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
What I have spoke; but farewell, compliment.
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say ‘Ay’,
And I will take thy word; yet, if thou swear’st,
Thou mayst prove false. At lovers’ perjuries,
They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully,
Or if thou think’st I am too quickly won,
I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay,
So thou wilt woo, but else not for the world.
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,
And therefore thou mayst think my haviour light.
But trust me, gentleman, I’ll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But that thou overheard’st, ere I was ware,
My true-love passion. Therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered."

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language

*"You know it’s dark, so you can’t see my face;
Otherwise, you’d see me blushing because of what I said tonight.
I wish I could take it back and deny my feelings,
But I can’t hide behind polite formalities anymore.
Do you love me? I know you’ll say yes,
And I’ll believe you. But even if you swear it,
You might be lying—people say that gods laugh at lovers’ lies.
Oh, Romeo, if you love me, say it sincerely.
But if you think I’m too easily won,
I’ll play hard-to-get and pretend to resist,
Just so you’ll try harder to win me.
But otherwise, I wouldn’t do that for anything.

Honestly, Romeo, I’m too in love with you,
And because of that, you might think I’m being careless.
But believe me, I’ll be more faithful
Than women who play games to make men chase them.
I know I should have been more reserved,
But you overheard me before I realized you were there,
And you heard me confess my true feelings.
So please forgive me,
And don’t think this openness means my love is shallow.
The darkness of night just revealed my deepest feelings."*

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words

  • Mask of night: The darkness that hides her face.

  • Bepaint: Cover or color.

  • Fain: Gladly or willingly.

  • Compliment: Polite formalities or conventions.

  • Jove laughs: A reference to Jupiter (Jove), king of the Roman gods, who is said to laugh at the lies lovers tell.

  • Perverse: Contrary or difficult.

  • Haviour light: Flirtatious or careless behavior.

  • Cunning to be strange: Skilled at playing hard-to-get.

  • Ere I was ware: Before I was aware.

Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing with Acting Notes

  1. "Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face, Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight."
    Acting Note: Start with shyness and embarrassment, but allow a playful undertone to emerge. Juliet is self-conscious but aware of the romantic moment.

  2. "Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny What I have spoke; but farewell, compliment."
    Acting Note: Shift to determination. Juliet is rejecting societal conventions, showing her bravery and honesty in expressing her feelings.

  3. "Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say ‘Ay’, And I will take thy word; yet, if thou swear’st, Thou mayst prove false. At lovers’ perjuries, They say, Jove laughs."
    Acting Note: Let her vulnerability show here. Juliet is seeking reassurance, her voice tinged with both doubt and hope.

  4. "O gentle Romeo, If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully, Or if thou think’st I am too quickly won, I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, So thou wilt woo, but else not for the world."
    Acting Note: Add a teasing tone. Juliet is playful but serious, showing her willingness to adapt to Romeo’s expectations if it means securing his love.

  5. "In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, And therefore thou mayst think my haviour light. But trust me, gentleman, I’ll prove more true Than those that have more cunning to be strange."
    Acting Note: Play this with a mix of sincerity and determination. Juliet is vulnerable yet firm, promising the depth of her love.

  6. "I should have been more strange, I must confess, But that thou overheard’st, ere I was ware, My true-love passion."
    Acting Note: Show a moment of self-reflection. Juliet acknowledges her lack of reservation, but it’s tempered by her authenticity.

  7. "Therefore pardon me, And not impute this yielding to light love, Which the dark night hath so discovered."
    Acting Note: End with heartfelt sincerity. Juliet pleads for understanding, her vulnerability making the final lines poignant and tender.

Journey Keypoints

  • Hook: Juliet acknowledges the darkness hiding her blush, setting a tone of vulnerability.

  • Turning Point: She questions Romeo’s sincerity and considers societal expectations, blending doubt and trust.

  • Climax: Juliet declares her love’s truth and depth, promising loyalty despite her unreserved confession.

  • Resolution: She seeks Romeo’s forgiveness for her openness, concluding with a plea for him to understand her honesty.

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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