Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name,
Or if thy wiltnot,be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a capulet.
What is the meaning of this quote?
2006-10-26 16:13:48 · 11 answers · asked by Medbk911 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
There was a blood feud between the family of Romeo and the family of Juliet. A blood feud is like a war between families. Because of this feud, it was impossible for Romeo to openly date Juliet and to marry her.
Juliet is in love with Romeo, and she is asking:
"Wherefore art thou Romeo?"
The question "Wherefore" means something like "Why". So this question means, why are you Romeo? Being Romeo prevents you from meeting me. Why not pretend to be someone else so that you can love me openly.
"Deny thy father and refuse thy name" - means, forget about the feud, the hatred that your father has against my family. "Refuse thy name" - pretend you don't belong to the Montague family.
"Or if they wilt not, be but sworn my love" - means, if you won't give up your family, then just let me know that for sure you love me, and I will give up my own family.
"And I'll no longer be a capulet" - Capulet was Juliet's family name. She was Juliet Capulet. If Romeo won't give up his own family, then Juliet is willing to give up her family, the Capulets, so that she will be acceptable to Romeo's parents and they will permit Romeo to marry her.
2006-10-26 16:22:50 · answer #1 · answered by old c programmer 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Wherefore art thou Romeo?" - Basically, why are you named Romeo?
"Deny thy father and refuse thy name" - The families are feuding, remember. Here she is saying that he should revoke his rights as a Montague so he can be with her.
"Or if thy wilt not, but be sworn my love,/and I'll no longer be a Capulet" - Or, if you won't do that, promise you'll marry me/love me forever, and I'll turn my back on my family and stop being a Capulet.
2006-10-26 23:23:08 · answer #2 · answered by N 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Where are you Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name,
Ignore your father and family heritage
Or if thy wiltnot,be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a capulet.
But if you don't, swear that you love me (marry me)
I will marry you.
2006-10-26 23:22:57 · answer #3 · answered by nerdy_pearlita 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Modern translation: Oh why are you called Romeo? Deny your family and your family name so that we can be together: or if you won't do that, I will deny my family and the name of Capulet so I can be with you.
There was a deep and bitter feud between Romeo and Juliet's families - neither family would have agreed to a marriage, but they loved each other deeply. Juliet is in despair at their misfortune to be born into families that hate each other and is trying desperatly to think of ways round it.
2006-10-27 08:41:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A name is nothing. Juliet is, of course, rationalizing because their families have been generational enemies and she has fallen in lust after a very cute Montague. In the traditional days of Shakespeare's era, everything was in a name. A name's reputation was very important and all named things have meanings. Juliet was the jewel of her father's heart. Romeo was a romantic young man. Even a rose led to romance hence the beginning letters of the flower's name.
2006-10-26 23:17:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason Romeo and Juliet have trouble being together is because there is a feud between their two families (Montagues and Capulets). Juliet asks that Romeo forsake his family and his family name (Montague) so that he may then be with her, because if he no longer belongs to his family then her father cannot object to them being togther. Or, if he isn't willing to do this, then swear his love to her and she will forsake her family and her family name (Capulet).
2006-10-26 23:25:50 · answer #6 · answered by marklemoore 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm no Romeo and Juliet fan, except the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes (is it Claire Danes? Pardon me, but I only remembered Leonardo... :p).
I think, Juliet is more like asking herself why the person she fell in love with is Romeo, her family's enemy. If only Romeo will disown his family, so that they can be together. Or that he will tell her that he loves her, Juliet will then give up her family to be with him.
Sorry, but I find their love immature and silly.
2006-10-26 23:21:11 · answer #7 · answered by chyrellos 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Juliet wants romeo to love her.
2006-10-26 23:22:11 · answer #8 · answered by scottieknows95 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
she wants to marry tha fool
2006-10-26 23:15:47 · answer #9 · answered by aengel69 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Marry me.. im pretty sure..
2006-10-26 23:16:14 · answer #10 · answered by Chudogg 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋