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Romeo and Juliet Quotes Guide

Ronald MacDonald <ronald@rmacd.com> Fri Oct 19 12:10:32 GMT 2007

“If I profane with my unworthiest hand, \ This Holy shrine, the gentle sin is this.”
  • First speech Romeo makes to Juliet
  • Example of romantic purity
“Here’s to my love!”
  • Romeo’s toast to Juliet as he drinks the poison.
  • Mirrors that of Juliet as she drinks the sleeping potion
“This by his voice should be a Montague”
  • Tybalt sees and hears Romeo at the Capulet’s party
  • Capulet stops Tybalt from doing anything to Romeo
  • Acts as turning point in the play, as Tybalt has an excuse to seek revenge.
“Ah dear Juliet, Why art thou yet so fair?”
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Romeo sees Juliet as she is sleeping, and thinks she’s dead.
“My will to her consent is but a part, \ But woo her gentle Paris, get her heart.”
  • Capulet addresses Paris
  • Capulet is, at this point, sensitive and thoughtful towards Juliet.
“There’s thy gold - worse poison to men’s souls”
  • Romeo pays apothecary for poison
  • One of the rare occasions Romeo is considerate towards others.
“I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins \ That almost freezes up the heat of life”
  • Moment of Juliet’s isolation before she takes the sleeping potion
“O Romeo! Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? \ Deny thy father and refuse thy name”
  • Juliet believes she is in isolation - Romeo is below the balcony.
  • She is mulling over the fact that Romeo is a Montague, son of the enemy.
  • Offended at the fact Romeo has heard what she says
  • Results in the play moving a lot faster
‘`I have no joy of this contract tonight \ It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; \ Too like the lightning which doth cease to be \ Ere one can say `it lightens’. ''
  • Juliet does not wish to marry Romeo too soon: they marry the next morning…
“A lightning before death”
  • Part of Romeo’s speech before he commits suicide
“O calm, dishonourable, vile submission”
  • Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt.
  • Mercutio sees this as dishonourable, so fight Tybalt himself.
“I think she will be ruled \ In all respects by me; nay more, I doubt it not.”
  • Capulet asserts his authority as father.
“There’s no trust, \ No faith, no honesty in men.”
  • Nurse addresses Juliet after Romeo’s exile, and Tybalt’s death.
  • Provokes Juliet into defending Romeo
“O sweet Juliet, \ Thy beauty hast made me effeminate.”
  • Mercutio has been killed
  • Romeo to Juliet, saying he’s been weak in not defending Mercutio.
“These violent delights have violent ends”
  • Friar, giving Romeo and Juliet advice.
  • Ironic as forewarning becomes true.
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose \ By any other word would smell as sweet.”
  • Juliet, speaking to herself: thinks she’s alone.
  • Romeo overhears her say this
  • Play moves much faster as a result.
“He shall be endured. \ Why, goddamn boy! I say he shall. Go to!”
  • Capulet, addressing Tybalt, at the party.
  • Tybalt has realised that Romeo is at the party.
“But soft what light through yonder window breaks? \ It is the east and Juliet is the sun.”
  • Romeo has climbed the wall, and sees Juliet on the balcony.
  • Powerful metaphor of light, applied to Juliet.
“Romeo! Romeo! Romeo! I drink to thee.”
  • Juliet toasts to Romeo as she drinks the sleeping potion.
  • Mirrors Romeo’s toast as he is committing suicide.
  • End of Juliet’s soliloquy.
“Methinks I see the now thou art so low \ As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.”
  • After the bedroom scene: Juliet looks down to Romeo, while he is leaving.
  • Premonition of death: next time she sees him, he’s dead.
“It is the lark that sings so out of tune”
  • Metaphor for the morning.
``Talk not to me for I’ll not speak a word. \ Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.
  • Lady Capulet, addressing Juliet.
  • Refuses to speak to Juliet for not obeying her parents.
“For there lies Juliet, and her beauty make \ This vault a feasting presence full of light.”
  • Romeo, in the Capulet tomb.
  • Romeo sees Juliet, probably under candlelight: strong metaphors for light.
“Let two more summers wither in their pride \ Ere we think her ripe to be a bride.”
  • Capulet addressing Paris
  • Protective and thoughtful as a father.
“Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch. \ Graze where you will, you shall not house with me.”
  • Capulet to Juliet.
  • Juliet does not obey Capulet as he tries to make her marry Paris.
“Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’er I nursed”
  • Nurse, to Juliet.
  • Reinforces the strong bond between Juliet and the Nurse.
“For my mind misgives \ Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, \ Shall bitterly begin his fearful state \ With this night’s revels.”
  • Romeo’s premonition of death before the party
“Come, I’ll dispose of thee \ Among a sisterhood of Holy nuns.”
  • Friar attempts to convince Juliet to keep her hopes up, after the death of Romeo.
  • Juliet is given an option to ensure her long term safely
  • Friar’s act of leaving her in the tomb leaves her vulnerable, so she commits suicide.
``Death that hath sucked the honey of thy breath \ Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty. \ Thou art not yet conquered.
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Romeo believes Juliet to be dead as she is sleeping in the tomb.
“I think it is best if you married with the County \ Oh he’s a lovely gentleman \ Romeo’s a dishclout to him”
  • Nurse gives unwanted advice to Juliet.
  • Juliet stops confiding in the nurse.
“O think’st thou we shall ever meet again”
  • Juliet to Romeo, at the balcony
  • The lovers don’t meet again.
“And in this borrowed likeness of shrunken death \ Thou shalt continue two and forty hours”
  • Friar describes the sleeping potion to Juliet
  • Juliet will sleep as if she is dead, for 42 hours.
“O churl! Drunk all, and left no friendly drop \ To help me after?”
  • Romeo is dead
  • Juliet kisses Romeo to poison herself
“My grave is like to be my wedding bed”
  • Premonition of death
  • Juliet fears Romeo may already be married

“Romeo: Thou chidst me oft for loving Rosaline”

“Friar: For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.”
  • Romeo confides in the friar
  • Only the friar knows everything about Romeo.
“O I am fortune’s fool!”
  • Romeo, having killed Tybalt.
  • Romeo’s immaturity means he doesn’t take any blame: Romeo blames fortune and destiny for his actions.
“Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?”
  • Juliet’s loyalty is to Romeo.
  • This is Juliet’s reply to nurse’s suggestion to marry Paris.