O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
What's the meaning of the phrase 'O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo'?
The literal meaning of 'O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?' would appear to be 'Where are you Romeo?'. In fact, using the meaning of wherefore that would have been commonplace in Shakespeare's day, the playright suggested the meaning of 'For what reason are you Romeo?'.
What's the origin of the phrase 'O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo'?
This is one of Shakespeare's best known lines - from, of course, Romeo and Juliet, 1592.
What Juliet is asking, in allusion to the feud between her Capulet family and Romeo's Montague clan, is 'Romeo, why are you a Montague?'. Their love is impossible because of their family names and she asks him to change his allegiance, or else she will change hers.
JULIET:
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet.
Quote Analysis
We hear these words at the beginning of the scene on the balcony in Act 2 Scene 2, when Romeo still didn’t reveal himself. Juliet laments the rivalry between their families and is ready to deny her family name and all the previous life if only Romeo does the same, so they can be together.
This soliloquy gives Romeo the courage to step out of the garden and talk to his beloved. He expresses his devotion in equally passionate words. He and Juliet persuade each other that they love not the name or the status, but each other as persons. The comparisons and metaphors used in their conversation are overly romantic and sweet - perfectly expressing the innocence and passion of the teenager love, even when they both are in danger because of the family feud.
This words of Juliet also foreshadow the future events in a way. Romeo indeed will have to flee Verona because of the accusations of Juliet’s family. He stays the same Romeo but has to conceal his identity. Juliet also ceases to be a Capulet by becoming Romeo’s wife and technically belonging to Montague family.
Juliet
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
Romeo
[Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Juliet
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose,
By any other word would smell as sweet.
So Romeo would — were he not Romeo called —
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name, which is no part of thee,
Romeo
[Aloud] I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Juliet
What man art thou that, thus bescreened in night,
So stumblest on my counsel?
Romeo
I know not how to tell thee who I am.
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee.
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
Juliet
My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
Of that tongue's uttering, yet I know the sound.
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
Romeo
Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.
Juliet
How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
Romeo
With love's light wings did I o'erperch these walls,
For stony limits cannot hold love out;
And what love can do, that dares love attempt.
Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.
Juliet
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
Romeo
Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords. Look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.
Juliet
I would not for the world they saw thee here.
Romeo
I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes,
And but thou love me, let them find me here.
My life were better ended by their hate,
Than death proroguèd, wanting of thy love.