Act 2 Scene 5

Juliet has now been waiting three hours for her Nurse to return with some news. She delivers another soliloquy in which she ponders “Love’s heralds should be thoughts, which ten times faster glide than the sun’s beams, driving back shadows over louring hills.” It is clear that she is impatient in awaiting news that will be brought back to her by her nurse. She is anxious as to why it is taking so long, and she is starting to fear that Romeo has vanished and is no longer interested in her. Juliet expresses her excitement and anticipation when the nurse finally arrives (“O God, she comes. – O honey Nurse, what news? Hast thou met with him?”) but the Nurse is painfully slow to deliver the message, complaining that she is exhausted and unwell from being sent out to do Juliet’s bidding. Finally, the salient point is reached, and Juliet is informed that she must go to Friar Lawrence on the pretext of being “shriven” (absolved of sins) as this is the only way she will be able to leave the house without arousing suspicions. Meanwhile, Juliet is informed that the Nurse will collect the ladder from Romeo’s servant.