Notes

Julia’s speech is a delightful look at the first pangs of youthful love.  She is trying to be the picture of public modesty by not showing an eagerness to learn what is in the love letter, which has been sent to her by Proteus. But the desire to know the contents is overwhelming.  She can’t just blurt out that she is dying of curiosity so she is coy and must pretend to be uninterested.  She pines over how difficult it is to be in love and yet live by the rules of modesty.  Her goal, however, is to somehow find a way for Lucetta to return with the letter without admitting she was wrong in sending her away in the first place. But her desire to read the letter outweighs her need to save face and she decides to take her medicine by calling Lucetta back and asking forgiveness for sending her away.