Romeo and Juliet Has No Balcony

by Lois Leveen Read the Original

The word "balcony" was unknown during Shakespeare's lifetime, so the iconic balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet was not in the original play. It was added to the play by Thomas Otway in his play Caius Marius, which was more popular than Romeo and Juliet at the time. The balcony scene has become iconic over time, as it is a symbol of Juliet's sexual desirability and her desire to step out of her father's house. It has been widely adapted and is a popular trope in stage and film, with Romeo climbing up to the balcony to a romantic and sexually charged moment.

The word "balcony" never appears in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, as it wasn't known until 1618, two years after Shakespeare's death. Tom Coryat, an Englishman, first described the concept of a balcony in 1611, noting its use in Italian cities as a place from which to view the city. “The word “balcony” never appears in Shakespeare's play. In fact, Shakespeare didn't know what a balcony was.” The lack of a balcony in Romeo and Juliet was due to a lack of knowledge about balconies during Shakespeare's period. This explains why the iconic balcony scene is absent from the original play.

17th century English readers found balconies scandalous because viewers were on display. Shakespeare's England was too cool for such architectural innovations, so the balcony became associated with Romeo and Juliet from Thomas Otway's play Caius Marius, which was more popular than Shakespeare's play for centuries. David Garrick revived Romeo and Juliet in the 18th century, keeping Otway's balcony scene. “These kind of tarrasses or little galleries of pleasure ... serve only for this purpose, that people may from that place as from a most delectable prospect contemplate and view the parts of the City round about them.” Balconies in the 17th century were places of pleasure, where one could take in the sights of the city. This explains why the balcony scene has become so iconic in Romeo and Juliet - it is a place of romance, pleasure and desire.

The balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet has been widely adapted and is a popular icon. Adaptation is not a violation of the play, but integral to its experience. The window Juliet speaks from in the play has its own importance in 14th-century Italy, marking the boundary between interior and exterior. “In no Habitations lesse privacie" than those of the Italians. The Italian balconies were seen as a symbol of lack of privacy, and a representation of the Italian's more open culture in comparison to the English.

The balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet has become iconic despite its absence in the play. It's a liminal space that has become a symbol of Juliet's sexual desirability and her desire to step out of her father's house. It's become a trope in stage and film of Romeo climbing up to the balcony, and audiences revel in the romantic, sexually charged moment. “The staged scene most strongly associated with Shakespeare actually comes from another playwright entirely, Thomas Otway." The iconic balcony scene that is associated with Shakespeare was not written by him, but rather by Thomas Otway in his play Caius Marius.