As we learned in the previous guide, imagining characters’ reactions to what others say helps us make sense of what is happening in a scene: we get what is said as they get what is said.

We worked with the first portion of Juliet’s long speech. Now we will continue with the second half.

Scan the next lines in Juliet's speech to find where the next full stop is.

Juliet

In truth fair Montague I am too fond:

And therefore thou mayst think my behavior light,

But trust me, Gentleman, I’ll prove more true

Then those that have coying to be strange.

I should have been more strange I must confess,

But that thou overheardst ere I was ware

My true love’s passion therefore pardon me

And not impute this yielding to light love

Which the dark night hath so discovered.

Again, it’s a lot of words to make sense of — Juliet is having lots of second thoughts. But if we do the same analysis, imaging what Romeo would say if he had a line and then acting out that response with a gesture or two, we’ll have a sense of what is going on.

Juliet

In truth fair Montague I am too fond:

Romeo

[what would he say; act it out]

Juliet

And therefore thou mayst think my behavior light,

But trust me, Gentleman, I'll prove more true

Then those that have more coying to be strange.

Romeo

[what would he say; act it out]

Juliet

I should have been more strange I must confess,

But that thou overheardst ere I was ware

My true love's passion, therefore pardon me

And not impute this yielding to light love

Which the dark night hath so discovered.

And now, at last, Shakespeare gives Romeo lines and he speaks!

Romeo

Lady, by yonder moon I vow,

  That tips with silver all these fruit tree tops.

And Romeo and Juliet talk with one another, in the way they did when they first met at the dance.

Imaging characters’ reaction to what others are saying helps us understand Shakespeare’s text. Remember: people don’t just talk — they talk to someone. In performance, other characters’ reactions help the audience understand what is being said. We get what is said as they get what is said.

But before you start working with that conversation, you may like to have some fun imaging a comic bit that might start it off. If so, click on the next guide.