2006-11-30 20:21:00 · 7 answers · asked by SmashJ 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
This is Juliet speaking in Act 3, scene ii of "Romeo and Juliet." Juliet has just received word of the fact that Romeo killed Tybalt in a duel. Bear in mind, Juliet wasn't there when it happened; she doesn't KNOW that Romeo was trying to keep the peace when Tybalt killed Mercutio, and that Romeo's fight with Tybalt was the result of Romeo's resulting rage.
When Juliet asks: "Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?" she is truly conflicted. She feels that she SHOULD be furious with him for murdering her kinsman, Tybalt...but, at the same time, that would-be rage is tempered by the fact that she is desperately in love with Romeo...whom she has secretly married.
2006-12-01 03:54:47 · answer #1 · answered by shkspr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wife is either personally weighing the consequences of incriminating her husband by letting his sins or faults be known or she is impressing upon the person questioning her that incriminating or exposing her husband's guilt or foolishness could ruin her life too! She might laugh sarcastically as saying this, but consider the consequences that may face her.
Although this is less common now, in the past, when this play is set, a wife was almost completely dependent upon her husband's good reputation and probably his income. Women had a lot to lose if their husband got himself into trouble, the wife faced losing her income, security, status in society, friends, possible shunning even from church, and her children would also carry this stigma.
Although the "stain" of guilt is easier to shake off today in our more modern societies, as you can move far away and change your name as long as you aren't famous, we still have a milder form of this stigma. In USA law a wife or husband can refuse to testify in court about their spouse's guilt, similar to the exception that you have the right to refuse to give evidence against yourself under the US consttution 5th amendment.
2006-12-01 01:29:52 · answer #2 · answered by JA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A wife contemplating if she should berate (bad mouth) her husband. Probably from a Shakespeare play.
2006-11-30 20:32:40 · answer #3 · answered by ccrstitch2003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, Don't speak ill of your Husband.
That's a bad jinx.
2006-11-30 20:24:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it justifiable that I ruin my husband's reputation?
or something like that
2006-11-30 20:23:43 · answer #5 · answered by sedatedeyes209 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you want me to say nasty things about my husband
2006-11-30 20:22:40 · answer #6 · answered by Bella 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Should I talk **** about my old man?
2006-11-30 20:23:21 · answer #7 · answered by d h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋