Final answer:
Romeo and Juliet fall in love before knowing who the other is; they meet unaware of their families' feud and it's only later they discover their identities. Juliet's famous line expresses that her love goes beyond Romeo's family name.
Step-by-step explanation:
Romeo and Juliet, two young lovers from Shakespeare's famous play, do not initially know each other's family affiliations. They meet at a masked ball and are unaware of their families' enmity. The powerful notion of love at first sight propels them into a whirlwind romance regardless of their surnames. It is only after they fall for each other that they learn of their identities; both are members of feuding families in Verona, the Montagues and the Capulets. This revelation leads to the well-known line, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," spoken by Juliet, signifying that her love for Romeo transcends his family name and their associated rivalry.
Despite their eventual discovery of one another's identities, their commitment to each other does not waver. This love, pitted against a backdrop of hatred, sets the stage for the tragic events that unfold.
Every rendition of Romeo and Juliet, whether in the form of theatrical productions around the world or the 2017 Filipino adaptation with a cultural twist, explores this central theme of love overcoming societal barriers, albeit often with a tragic conclusion.