romeo and juliet

• ROMEO : "O brawling love, O loving hate"


  Whilst Romeo is aware of the hatred that surrounds him, the sentence structure here seems to focus more on love. Romeo believes that your family (particularly in a time when family, and family honour, were key parts of society) will defeat hate. The oxymoron of "brawling love" highlights the inevitable conflict and tension in the play, but also the violence that become increasingly more frequent as the play progresses.
• ROMEO : " "Henceforth I will never be Romeo."


  Here, Romeo is telling Juliet he will not be Romeo Montague if it displeases her. This shows how passionate he is, as he is prepared to break away from his family and Christian name in order to be with Juliet. As the Montague family are wealthy and reputable, this would have caused great dishonour and therefore illustrates how serious Romeo believes his love is.
• ROMEO : "I have forgot that name and that name's woe."


  This shows that Romeo is fickle, as he is openly stating he has 'forgotten' his past love, Rosaline. The fact that he isn't saying her name also indicates how his emotions have moved on, as he has almost forgotten that she is a real person, she is just a name to him now.
• JULIET : "He shall not make me there a joyful bride!"


  This shows how headstrong Juliet is, as she refuses her parents and declares she will not get married to Paris. The use of the exclamation mark heightens Juliet's emotions as she is shouting her refusal.
• JULIET : "Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford."


  This shows how calm Juliet is when she makes the decision to fake her own death, not knowing of her future. Juliet declares that Romeo's love gives her strength and this fuels her decisions and therefore her decisive nature.
• JULIET : "I gave thee mine before thou didst request it."


  Romeo requests that Juliet declares her love for him and Juliet simply replies that she has already done so. This shows how loving and passionate she is, as she has given her love and heart to Romeo.
• Lady Capulet : "Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word, Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee."


  This shows how Lady Capulet is selfish as she is unprepared to listen to Juliet as she cares more about her own safety and her relationship with her husband then she does for her own daughter. Shakespeare has made this speech very short to illustrate Lady Capulet's emotion and how she is not prepared to give Juliet any of her time.
• Lady Capulet : "Nurse, where's my daughter? Call her forth to me."


  The question Lady Capulet directs at the Nurse illustrates how Lady Capulet isn't aware of where her daughter is or how she spends her free time. The use of the word 'daughter' illustrates how their relationship is formal, as she is referring to her as what she is, rather than who she is. It also shows how Lady Capulet is possessive over Juliet, as if Juliet belongs to her.
• Lord Capulet : "I tell thee what: get thee to church a' Thursday or never after look me in the face."


  This shows how stubborn Capulet is, as he is telling Juliet that if she doesn't obey him, she will no longer be a part of his family. The use of the "I" illustrates how authoritative Capulet is, as it is only his opinion that matters.
• Lord Capulet : "Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone... It is my will."


  This shows that Capulet is powerful as he tells the fiery Tybalt to leave Romeo alone. Further on in his speech, Capulet gets angry when Tybalt questions him. This illustrates Capulet's power as he is in charge of a reputable household; he is the head of the family.
• Tybalt : "Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw."


  This shows Tybalt's anger towards Romeo. The fact that Tybalt is calling Romeo a 'boy' is an insult and illustrates how Tybalt is instigating the conflict, wanting Romeo to react to the insult. Tybalt is also being instructive in this quotation, telling Romeo that he must 'turn and draw.' This also illustrates how Tybalt is passionate and likes to be in control.
• Tybalt : "Why, uncle, 'tis a shame."


  This shows that Tybalt is listening to his Uncle and obeying his orders. The fact that Tybalt says it is a 'shame' illustrates that Tybalt doesn't agree with Lord Capulet, however, because he is loyal towards his family, he will obey.
• Lord Montague : "Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow?"


  Although we do not see Montague much throughout the play, we understand that he acts as a caring father to Romeo who wishes to try to learn what Romeo's problems are and how he could help.
• Lord Montague: "Thou villain Capulet - hold me not, let me go!"


  In Act 1 Scene 1, Montague is trying to involve himself within the fight between the families. This shows his distaste towards the Capulet family, and his passion to uphold his honour and reputation.
• Lady Montague : "Thou shall not stir foot to seek a foe."


  Likewise, Lady Montague makes very little appearance within the play, but just like her husband.has to defend her reputation by attempting to be the civil figure within this fight. This presents Lady Montague as a caring, yet self-centred character.
• Prince: "If ever you disturb our streets again,/ Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace"


  Here, the Prince is issuing an ultimatum to the feuding families - threatening their lives to keep the peace in Verona. The Prince acts as the political power in Verona, and this can be seen through the use of his direct address with 'You' and 'Your'.
• Prince: "Let Romeo hence in haste, else when he is found, that hour is his last."


  Once again demonstrating his high power, the prince threatens that Romeo will be executed if he ever returns to Verona. Ironically, Romeo dies on his return to Verona, but not as a result of the law or the Prince.
• Friar Lawrence: "Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast."


  Here, Friar Laurence is advising Romeo to think carefully and wisely about his decision to marry Juliet. This shows that Friar Laurence is wise because he is aware of what could happen. This is an example of dramatic irony, as the audience is aware that Romeo will 'stumble' and this will have tragic consequences, resulting in their deaths as the prologue to the play states.
• Friar Lawrence: "Till holy church incorporate two in one."


  This shows Friar Laurence's religious views and how he believes that through marriage the Montague and Capulet households will be united by God.
• Friar Lawrence: "These violents delights have violent ends."


  Even though Friar Laurence has agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet, he thinks it is necessary to give some advice first. The Friar explains that love begins wildly and passionately, but its initial vigor fades. He says this can be overcome and a strong relationship can be built by loving moderately and patiently. Laurence uses imagery such as fire, gun powder, and honey as ways to illustrate varying characterizations of love.
• Nurse: "Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed. An I might live to see thee married once, I have my wish."


  This shows that the nurse loves Juliet very much, as she is openly saying Juliet was the prettiest baby she had ever nursed and therefore looked after. This highlights the true connection that both the Nurse and Juliet have. The fact that it is the Nurse's wish to see Juliet married illustrates how motherly she is towards Juliet.
• Nurse: "I think you are happy in this second match, for it excels your first."


  This shows that the Nurse wants the best for Juliet - she really cares for her and wants her to be happy. Therefore, she tries to be optimistic. However, this is the first time within the play that we see the nurse turning against Juliet, leaving Juliet feeling lonely, without a motherly figure. For the first time in the play, she is truly alone.
• Mercutio: "Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears? Make haste."


  This shows Mercutio taking Romeo's place to fight Tybalt. He is taunting Tybalt suggesting he is slow to get his sword ready to fight. The fact that Mercutio is telling Tybalt to 'make haste' will only taunt Tybalt further, as he is suggesting Tybalt is a coward.
• Mercutio: "That dreamers often lie."


  This is Mercutio's response after Romeo tells him he dreamt of Rosaline. Mercutio understands that Romeo's love for Rosaline isn't true and ridicules him for it, saying openly that Romeo, being the dreamer, can often lie.
• Mercutio: "A plague on both of your houses!"


  Right before his death, Mercutio curses both the Montagues and the Capulets for their feud. Perhaps he finally saw the futility in their rancour, or is ashamed that he ever involved himself within it. As he's dying, he doesn't have much of a reputation to uphold anymore, so he could possibly have just revealed his true thoughts that he was hiding to defend his honour as a friend of the Montagues.
• Benvolio: "Brave Mercutio's dead: That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds"


  This shows his relationship and opinion of Mercutio as he views him as a "Gallant Spirit" and "brave" which means he thought of Mercutio as a heroic and courageous character and friend. This quote also suggests he is mature as his view on death seems peaceful and there is religious imagery here which suggests Benvolio may be religious.
• Benvolio: "these hot days is the mad blood stirring"


  This could suggest he can sense a fight will happen and Shakespeare uses pathetic fallacy to use the weather to reflect on the mood of this scene and foreshadow the events that will happen.
• Paris: "Thy face is mine, and thou hast slandered it."


  Even before their marriage, Paris claims that Juliet is his own possession through the use of possessive pronouns such as 'Mine'. Also, he goes on to say that Juliet shouldn't be crying because it doesn't look good - he isn't in love with Juliet, he's only concerned for her beauty.
• Paris: "Happily met, my lady and my wife!"


  Even before their marriage, Paris claims that Juliet is his own possession through the use of possessive pronouns such as 'My'. Paris is used in this play solely to satirise the tradition of courtly love in the upper classes in Elizabethan England, and his character is not meant to be taken seriously. The anaphora of possessive pronouns highlights his naivety to the whole situation with Juliet's love.
• Paris: "My lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow."


  Paris is desperate to marry Juliet - this is possibly due to the fact that Paris is physically attracted to Juliet and merely wishes to indulge in the physical and intimate aspects of marriage. Likewise, Paris looks up to and is loyal to Lord Capulet - he is trying to convince Capulet that he's in love with his daughter.
• Love: "Mercutio's soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or both, must go with him."


  This shows Romeo's determination for avenging Mercutio's death, as he is willing to die to see Mercutio's murder avenged. He tells Tybalt that either he or Tybalt 'must go with him'. This directly shows how passionate he feels about Mercutio, as someone will be joining Mercutio's soul in the journey to heaven.
• Love: "To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."


  Romeo suggests that he is 'rough' and not worthy of Juliet's touch. The fact Romeo describes the kiss as 'tender' illustrates Romeo's gentle and true emotions and feelings for Juliet. This shows that their first meeting was charged with love and desire for one another.
• Love: "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? / Deny thy father and refuse thy name"


  Juliet tends to remain more firmly grounded in the practical matters related to love, such as marriage and sex. This contrast between the lovers appears clearly in the famous balcony scene. Whereas Romeo speaks of Juliet poetically, using an extended metaphor that likens her to the sun, Juliet laments the social constraints that prevent their marriage.
• Conflict: "Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."


  Shakespeare opens his play with the first line, illustrating the "ancient" grudge that has been happening in Verona. Shakespeare does this to show that the conflict has been ongoing and isn't likely to stop. He describes it as "ancient"' to illustrate how ingrained the conflict is with the families - it is a part of their daily lives.
• Conflict: "That I must love a loathed enemy."


  Juliet uses 'must' which indicates that she has no other choice - she loves Romeo and cannot change the fact. This presents a conflict for Juliet, as she cannot change what she feels - despite knowing that she should.
• Conflict: "Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw."


  Tybalt believes Romeo to have greatly dishonoured his family when he gate-crashes the Capulet party. He decides that Romeo must pay and offers to duel with Romeo. This shows that Tybalt believes he has been injured with Romeo's actions. He commands Romeo to 'turn and draw', taking part in a fight.
• Family: "Two households, both alike in dignity."

  Shakespeare presents the similarities between the two families in the prologue, as he highlights to the audience how they are similar. This shows that the two families are similar. The use of the word "dignity" highlights how the families have similar principles and status in the city of Verona.
• Family: "By thee old Capulet, and Montague, have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets."


  In the opening scene, Shakespeare presents the families' servants fighting against each other, for their house's honour. The families themselves quickly get involved and it turns into a fight against each other. This shows the Prince's anger as Capulet and Montague have been involved in another fray on the streets of Verona, upsetting the peace. The families have "thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets" illustrating how the conflict is continuous and despite the Prince's warnings, they still continue to battle against each other.
• Inner turmoil : "It is an honour that I dream not of."


  Juliet's inner conflict is amplified by her thoughtfulness and desire to make the right decision despite outside pressures. Juliet's inner conflict arises in the scene where we meet her. By the end of the scene, the Nurse encourages her to consider it, and Juliet heads to the fateful party with this decision weighing on her.
• Inner turmoil: "...yet if thou swear'st,/ Thou mayst prove false,"


  Later, when Romeo confesses his love for her during the balcony scene, Juliet wars with herself over her desire to rush in and her determination to think things through. Finally, though, she finishes her speech by declaring in truth her love. She is struggling with wanting to be true and wanting to protect herself—or at least play by the "rules" of courtship in her society.