Question

Juliet says,

“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.” (2.2.74-78)


The Old English word wherefore means “why”.
•Why does Juliet ask why Romeo is Romeo?
•What does that have to do with what she says about the rose?
•What does she say Romeo can take instead of his name?

Answer 1

•This phrase can be translated to "Why must Romeo, The Man I love, Be apart of the rivaling family?"

Juliet is upset because out of all people, the person who just happened to have caught her eye also just happens to be Montague.

•This relates to the rose as she implies with the quote "a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet" that if a rose weren't called a rose it would still smell like a rose. Whether Romeo is Montague or not he is still himself and she will still love him.

•Im not sure what this is asking, so it'd probably just be safe to quote "Trade in your name- which really has nothing to do with you- and take all of me in exchange."