juliet quotes

• “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move.” (Act 1, Scene 3)

  Juliet speaks politely yet firmly when Lady Capulet suggests she consider marrying Paris. The repetition of “look” and “like” shows she is measured and cautious about love. Shakespeare uses this to present Juliet as obedient but independent, subtly showing her strong will. She won’t force feelings that aren’t genuine— foreshadowing her refusal to marry Paris later.
• “My grave is like to be my wedding bed.” (Act 1, Scene 5)

  This is dramatic irony, as Juliet says it before knowing Romeo’s identity. The quote foreshadows the tragic ending—her wedding and death will be closely linked. Shakespeare contrasts love and death, a recurring theme, and the imagery of the grave and wedding bed hints at the fatal consequences of their love.~
• “’Tis but thy name that is my enemy.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

  Juliet tries to rationalise her love for Romeo despite the feud. She separates Romeo the person from his family name, showing her maturity and logical thinking. Shakespeare explores the theme of identity—how names and labels can divide people. Her words reflect the futility of the feud, as names mean nothing compared to love.
• “I should kill thee with much cherishing.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

  Spoken playfully, Juliet’s words are full of dramatic irony. She jokes that loving Romeo too much might kill him—unaware of how tragically true this will become. Shakespeare uses oxymoronic ideas of love and death again, reinforcing the theme that their love, while deep and passionate, is also dangerously intense.
• “Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical!” (Act 3, Scene 2)

  Juliet reacts to the news of Romeo killing Tybalt with oxymorons, expressing her conflicted emotions. Romeo is both her lover and her cousin’s killer. The opposing images (e.g., “angelical” vs. “fiend”) show how love and hate are intertwined, and Juliet's internal struggle reflects how torn she is between family loyalty and marital love.
• “I have bought the mansion of love, but not yet possessed it.” (Act 3, Scene 2)

  Juliet uses a metaphor to describe her longing for Romeo. She compares their marriage to owning a mansion she cannot yet enter, showing both her sexual desire and emotional frustration. Shakespeare presents her as impatient yet devoted, showing a more mature side of love than the innocent passion earlier in the play.
• “O, think’st thou we shall ever meet again?” (Act 3, Scene 5)

  Juliet’s question is loaded with dramatic irony, as this is the last time she’ll see Romeo alive. The moment is tender and full of foreboding, capturing the theme of fate. Shakespeare heightens the tension by showing how deeply the lovers fear their separation, foreshadowing their eventual tragic reunion in death.
• “Thankful that you have, proud can I never be of what I hate.” (Act 3, Scene 5)

  Juliet stands up to her father after being told to marry Paris. The paradox in “thankful...proud...hate” shows her attempt to be respectful while asserting her own will. This moment marks a turning point—Juliet’s transformation from obedient daughter to independent woman. Shakespeare highlights her strength, even in the face of patriarchal pressure.
• “O happy dagger!” (Act 5, Scene 3)

  Juliet calls the dagger “happy” because it allows her to be reunited with Romeo in death. The oxymoron shows how love and death are inseparable in her mind. This final act of suicide is both tragic and romantic, reinforcing the idea that their love was so powerful it could only be fulfilled in death—a key theme in the play.