Act 2 summaries

Second prologue.

The second prologue of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet sums up the events of Act 1 where Romeo and Juliet met and fell in love, despite being enemies. Romeo has forgotten all about Rosaline whom he never truly loved.

As the prologue looks to the future, it explains how things will get difficult for the young lovers. They are so passionately in love, however, that they will do whatever it takes to be together.

Scene 1: A lane by the wall of Capulet’s orchard.

After the party, Romeo sneaks into the Capulet orchard in search of Juliet. He hides when his friends, Mercutio and Benvolio, come looking for him.

Scene 2: Capulet’s orchard.

This is the famous ‘balcony scene’ where the young lovers profess their love to one another. Romeo hears Juliet talking to herself on her balcony and addresses her. Together they play with the idea of casting off their famil...