In Romeo and Juliet, why is it important for Romeo to hear Juliet proclaim her love for him? Is he having second thoughts about the wedding? Is he...

In Act II, Romeo and Juliet pronounce their love in the famous balcony scene. They have just met at the Capulet party a few hours earlier and are getting to know each other more intimately. Romeo only wants Juliet to proclaim her love to him after she goes on for about twenty lines asking him to swear his love for her. Then she changes her mind and says the following:

"Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,

I have no joy of this contract tonight.

It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden. . ." (II.i.158-160).

This "contract" she mentions above is not one of marriage. She merely wants Romeo to promise that he loves her, but then she decides against it, saying these promises are too quickly made since they just met each other. Romeo must be confused by this girl at this point. First she asks him to make a vow that he loves her, but then she says never mind, see you tomorrow? So, a confused Romeo asks, "O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?" She asks what he wants and he answers, "Th'exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine" (II.ii.166, 169).

Basically, Romeo just wants to know they are both in love with each other—as if they both agree they are now boyfriend and girlfriend. No mention of marriage has happened before this point in the play; but it comes swiftly afterwards because a few lines later Juliet says the following:

"If that thy bent of love be honourable,

Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,

By one that I'll procure to come to thee,

Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite" (II.i.185-188).

The above passage shows that Romeo was not worried about the wedding not happening when he asked for Juliet's proclamation of love because it is she who proposes marriage after the fact. Therefore, Romeo is also not necessarily worried that the relationship won't work out; Romeo just wants validation from Juliet for his vow that she returns the same. Juliet's response to the unsatisfied Romeo is that she gave her vow to him before he even asked for it. But once Juliet brings up marriage, Romeo is all for it.