soliloquy (Act One, Scene 5)

One famous soliloquy in Romeo and Juliet would have to be when Romeo sees Juliet for the first time and says “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright. It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows. The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I never saw true beauty till this night.” Romeo is staring at Juliet and saying that she is so beautiful that she made the torches around the hall appear to grow dim. She is a dazzling jewel illuminating the dark night sky. She stood out from the other girls like a snowy dove in a field of crows. He can’t find the words to describe her. She couldn't be real: such beauty wasn't possible.

In this scene, Romeo sees her dancing from far away, and suddenly is captivated by her beauty. He can’t seem to get his eyes off of her, and all he wants to do is talk to her. This scene is important because he sees her for the first time, and from this point on their rocky love relationship begins. If Juliet wasn't dancing, or if Romeo had decided not to come to the party, the two of them would have never met, but fate brought them together. The speech Romeo says is just the starting of their relationship.

I like this speech because I find the comparisons and choice of words that Romeo used very cute. He said all the things that a girl would love to hear. It makes you believe that love at first sight can exist because the both of them go through so much for their relationship even though they have only met each other for a while. All the things he says are genuinely what he’s feeling because Juliet can’t hear him when he’s saying them.  He is just saying out loud whatever he’s truly feeling at that moment.