In act 2, scene 6 of Romeo and Juliet, the two young lovers go to Friar Laurence so that he can marry them. In the previous scene, through Juliet’s dialogue with the nurse, it was established that she and Romeo were eloping. Although Friar Laurence has some reservations about going behind their parents’ backs, he understands that the passionate lovers are serious in their intentions. If he did not perform the ceremony, they would likely go ahead and have sexual relations—which would be sinful because it would be unsanctioned by the church. The lovers cannot gain their parents’ blessing of their union because of the families’ long-standing feud, which was exacerbated by Romeo’s having killed Tybalt. They must also keep their plans secret from their friends because all are affiliated with one family or the other and because Romeo is a fugitive.

William Shakespeare goes to great efforts to enhance the atmosphere of secrecy that surrounds the ceremony. All the action and dialogue in the scene lead up to the ceremony, but he stops short of showing it. By excluding the audience from the wedding, he establishes an affinity between the audience and all the characters who are likewise excluded. This technique increases the audience’s awareness of the profound isolation that the couple is experiencing.