romeo and juliet
Victoria
Mr. Luebbe
English 1 Block G
21 February 2014
Juliet’s Realization
In William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet speaks of her love for Romeo to herself on her balcony in Act 2, Scene 2. Juliet’s obedience to her family is violated when she falls in love with Romeo Montague instead of County Paris. In Juliet’s soliloquy, she ponders “’tis but thy name that is my enemy,” (2.2.38) meaning a name is a meaningless title in the way of her love. Juliet’s use of personification enhances the stupidity of the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets because a name is restraining her love. Upon meeting Romeo, Juliet is able to see past Romeo’s name and view Romeo as a person not the enemy. Juliet realizes Romeo would still be the same without the name Montague and leads her to the question, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any word would smell as sweet,” (2.2.43-44). Juliet reveals through the metaphor Romeo’s true identity has a stronger effect than a name. The effect is so strong it causes Juliet to disregard the thoughts of her family. She wills Romeo to “doff thy name” and in return she will rid herself of “thy name, which is no part of thee.” (2.2.48). Juliet offers herself to Romeo, to turn her back on her family, and to be with him. The theme is expressed of suffering love that cannot be because of her families’s rejection of a title in a person’s name. Juliet realizes her love is stronger than a title that her parents falsely taught her defined a person.
Mr. Luebbe
English 1 Block G
21 February 2014
Juliet’s Realization
In William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet speaks of her love for Romeo to herself on her balcony in Act 2, Scene 2. Juliet’s obedience to her family is violated when she falls in love with Romeo Montague instead of County Paris. In Juliet’s soliloquy, she ponders “’tis but thy name that is my enemy,” (2.2.38) meaning a name is a meaningless title in the way of her love. Juliet’s use of personification enhances the stupidity of the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets because a name is restraining her love. Upon meeting Romeo, Juliet is able to see past Romeo’s name and view Romeo as a person not the enemy. Juliet realizes Romeo would still be the same without the name Montague and leads her to the question, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any word would smell as sweet,” (2.2.43-44). Juliet reveals through the metaphor Romeo’s true identity has a stronger effect than a name. The effect is so strong it causes Juliet to disregard the thoughts of her family. She wills Romeo to “doff thy name” and in return she will rid herself of “thy name, which is no part of thee.” (2.2.48). Juliet offers herself to Romeo, to turn her back on her family, and to be with him. The theme is expressed of suffering love that cannot be because of her families’s rejection of a title in a person’s name. Juliet realizes her love is stronger than a title that her parents falsely taught her defined a person.