The audience's first impression ofcomes in
act 1, scene 3. It is of particular importance because we never hear her speak like this
againsuggesting how much she is changed by her meeting with . The first and most striking
observation is that she is almost silent, speaking less than eight full lines in a scene
whereand the Nurse both have long speeches. Furthermore, she seems to have very little
personality or will of her own. She never expresses a point of view or a preference except when
asking the Nurse to stop telling embarrassing stories about her childhood. Her longest speech
comes at the end of the scene:
I'll look to like, if
looking liking move:
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent
gives strength to make it fly.
Not only will she make
every effort to fall in love with the man her parents have chosen, she will consult their
opinion on just how much she should love him.
Our first impression of Juliet,
therefore, is of a dutiful young daughter, docilely complying with all her parents' wishes and
having, apparently, no strong feelings or ideas of her own. This makes the revelation of her
strong will, passionate nature, and high intelligence later in the play even more
surprising.
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