Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet runs 685 lines across 7 scenes, carrying about 22.2% of the play’s total dialogue with 8 named speakers. It’s longer than the play’s average act (616 lines).
Act opens (Scene 0, Chorus): “Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,”
Act closes (Scene 6, Friar Laurence): “Till holy church incorporate two in one.”
The 7 scenes of Act 2
| Scene | Lines | Speakers | Share of act |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scene 0 | 14 | 1 | 2.0% |
| Scene 1 | 45 | 3 | 6.6% |
| Scene 2 | 204 | 3 | 29.8% |
| Scene 3 | 97 | 2 | 14.2% |
| Scene 4 | 208 | 5 | 30.4% |
| Scene 5 | 80 | 2 | 11.7% |
| Scene 6 | 37 | 3 | 5.4% |
Who speaks in Act 2
The leading voice is Romeo with 25% of Act 2’s dialogue (172 lines).
| Character | Lines in act | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Romeo ♂ | 172 | 25.1% |
| Juliet ♀ | 166 | 24.2% |
| Mercutio ♂ | 122 | 17.8% |
| Nurse ♀ | 93 | 13.6% |
| Friar Laurence ♂ | 90 | 13.1% |
| Benvolio ♂ | 22 | 3.2% |
| Chorus ♂ | 14 | 2.0% |
How Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet compares to other tragedys
| Play | Act 2 lines | Scenes |
|---|---|---|
| Antony and Cleopatra | 883 | 7 |
| Coriolanus | 762 | 3 |
| Hamlet | 748 | 2 |
| Othello | 735 | 3 |
| Romeo and Juliet (this act) | 685 | 7 |
| King Lear | 678 | 4 |
| Julius Caesar | 552 | 4 |
| Titus Andronicus | 538 | 4 |
| Macbeth | 396 | 4 |
| Timon of Athens | 291 | 2 |
About Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet
How many lines are in Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet?
685 lines spread across 7 scenes.
Who dominates Act 2?
Romeo delivers 25% of the act’s dialogue (172 lines).