Question

In the first encounter sonnet, does Juliet want Romeo to kiss her? In a well-constructed paragraph,(five sentences) argue whether she does or does not. Use evidence from the text in your response.

Romeo
If I profane with my unworthiest hand


This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,


My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand


To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

JULIET


Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,


Which mannerly devotion shows in this:


For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,


And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.

ROMEO


Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

JULIET


Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in pray’r.

ROMEO


O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do,


They pray—grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

JULIET


Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.

ROMEO


Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.

he kisses her

Answer 1

In the first encounter sonnet, Romeo expresses his desire to kiss Juliet, and she responds with reluctance, stating that he is showing too much devotion to her. She suggests that pilgrims' hands are meant to touch saints' hands and that palm to palm is a holy way of kissing. When Romeo asks whether saints also have lips, Juliet confirms that they do, but that they are meant for prayer. While Romeo urges Juliet to let her lips do what her hands do, Juliet hesitates, saying that saints do not move, even for the sake of prayers. The final line of the sonnet indicates that Romeo kisses Juliet. Based on this exchange, it could be argued that Juliet does not want Romeo to kiss her, as she repeatedly rebuffs his advances and emphasizes the holiness of their interaction. However, the fact that she does not pull away when Romeo kisses her suggests that she may have some level of attraction or interest in him, despite her reservations. Ultimately, the interpretation of whether Juliet wants Romeo to kiss her or not may depend on the reader's individual perspective.

Hope it helps! : )