Tuesday, June 30, 2015

What does the following quote from "Romeo and Juliet" mean: "What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face. O, be some other name...

In this line, Juliet laments Romeo's last name as a result of the feud between their families. She asserts that his name is not as vital as a body part (hand, foot, arm, face). This line is closely akin to "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," as both relate to the idea that one's name holds little importance in the affairs of affection.

What's more, Juliet wishes Romeo's last name to be different in the last line: "O, be some other name belonging to a man." The "O" here shows her dire discontent with the situation, and her request plays directly into the idea of her previous statement about the unimportance of title. Despite her argument that names don't matter, she still desires Romeo's name to be something other than what it is.

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