Romeo and Juliet: Quotations

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Romeo speaks these lines in the so-called balcony scene, when, hiding in the Capulet orchard after the feast, he sees Juliet leaning out of a high window (2.1.44-64). Though it is late at night, Juliet’s surpassing beauty makes Romeo imagine that she is the sun, transforming the darkness into daylight.
O Romeo, Romeo,wherefore art thou Romeo?Deny thy father and refuse thy name,Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,And I’ll no longer be a Capulet. Juliet speaks these lines, perhaps the most famous in the play, in the balcony scene (2.1.74-78). Leaning out of her upstairs window, unaware that Romeo is below in the orchard, she asks why Romeo must be Romeo—why he must be a Montague, the son of her family’s greatest enemy (“wherefore” means “why,” not “where”; Juliet is not, as is often assumed, asking where Romeo is). Still unaware of Romeo’s presence, she asks him to deny his family for her love. She adds, however, that if he will not, she will deny her family in order to be with him if he merely tells her that he loves her.
O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you. . . . Mercutio’s famous Queen Mab speech is important for the stunning quality of its poetry and for what it reveals about Mercutio’s character, but it also has some interesting thematic implications (1.4.53-59). Mercutio is trying to convince Romeo to set aside his lovesick melancholy over Rosaline and come along to the Capulet feast. When Romeo says that he is depressed because of a dream, Mercutio launches on a lengthy, playful description of Queen Mab, the fairy who supposedly brings dreams to sleeping humans.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife. . . . O, I am fortune’s fool! . . . Then I defy you, stars. This trio of quotes advances the theme of fate as it plays out through the story: the first is spoken by the Chorus (Prologue.5-8), the second by Romeo after he kills Tybalt (3.1.131), and the third by Romeo upon learning of Juliet’s death (5.1.24). The Chorus’s remark that Romeo and Juliet are “star-crossed” and fated to “take their li[ves]” informs the audience that the lovers are destined to die tragically. Romeo’s remark “O, I am fortune’s fool!” illustrates the fact that Romeo sees himself as subject to the whims of fate. When he cries out “Then I defy you, stars,” after learning of Juliet’s death, he declares himself openly opposed to the destiny that so grieves him. Sadly, in “defying” fate he actually brings it about. Romeo’s suicide prompts Juliet to kill herself, thereby ironically fulfilling the lovers’ tragic destiny.
“Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?” Quote by Mercutio at the start of the play when the first fight occurs.
Line 123 page 11: First the reader hears of Romeo. ‘With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew…’ Montague is obviously concerned for Romeo and is looking for him. Also, it is the first we hear of Romeo.
‘Go ask his name- if he be married, my grave is likely to be my wedding band!’Page 45 line 134 Act 1 scene 5. This is at the end of Act one after Juliet has had her first encounter with Juliet. In truthfulness, it is the first time the reader can definitely tell that Juliet is interested in Romeo.
‘I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword, Or manage it to part these men with me.’ This is Benvolios first apperence in the play and is a first impression of what kind of character he is. He is pacifistic and wants to keep peace within the two houses.
‘What, drawn and talk of peace!I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.’ Tybalt is instantly portrayed as an angry, violent character and is unable to compromise with the Montagues.
‘Did my heart love till now? Foreswear it, sight! For I ne’r saw true beauty till this night’. Romeos first impression of Juliet, at the party. Although somewhat hard to believe, it is still relevant.
‘If love be rough with you, be rough with love’ Mercutio telling to Romeo to basically buckle up and be a bit grittier with love.
‘My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and know too late!’ Juliet after being told that Romeo is a Montague and she can not see him, although they are already tied together.
‘She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. Capulet: Line 9 page 19 Act 1 Scene 2.Paris has asked Capulet for permission to marry his daughter,but Capulet refuses, saying she is yet too young.
‘But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon’ Act 2 Scene 2. It is Romeo confessing his love for Juliet, very forward.
‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy; What’s Montague? It is nor hand nor foot, Nor arm nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man… ‘ This is Juliet being concerned about Romeos heritege, as he is a Montague. She believes there is no reason that they should not be allowed to see each other, despite their upbringings
Page 61 line 150’I do beseech thee’ Not an excatly vital quotation, but it is the regonsiable point at which the reader/audience can first understand that Juliet is driving the relationship (for the first time) This flips the roles of their relationship.
‘I was hurt under your arm’ This is mercutio alarming Romeo that he is the reason that he has been stabbed, cowardly by Tybalt.
‘I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword, Or manage it to part these men with me.’ This is Benvolios first apperence in the play and is a first impression of what kind of character he is. He is pacifistic and wants to keep peace within the two houses.
‘It is that villain, Romeo.’ Tybalt, even in the party of the capulets, is trying to start a fight with Romeo, showing his discontent with the Montagues.
‘sleep well, your breast be at peace’ After the balcony scene, Romeo is reluctant to go, and Romeo is ocnvinced and reassured of his love for Juliet.
Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast. The friar is warning Romeo and Juliet that thy should not be so hasty in their relationship. ‘They stumble
August 5, 2019