- My only love, sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me That I must love a loathed enemy. (I.5.139-142) Juliet after the Nurse tells her that Romeo is a Montague. She has already fallen in love with him. The information has come too late to save them from this difficult situation.
- But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief That thou her maid are far more fair than she. (II.2. 2-6) Romeo, seeing Juliet at her window. He compares her to the sun, light that brightens his dark world. He had previously compared Rosaline to the moon. His love for Juliet, the sun, has risen and killed the feelings he had for Rosaline.
- What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet. (II.2 .43-44)Juliet lamenting fact that her love is a member of the family that is a bitter enemy of her own. He is not defined by his name. They would be able to express their love freely if he were called anything else.
- See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. (V.3. 292-293) The Prince to Capulet and Montague. Since the families didn't have the sense to end their feud, heaven has provided a solution for them, at a price. They have all been punished for their actions.
- These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which, as they kiss, consume. (II.6.9-11) Friar Lawrence, warning Romeo to cool down his passion. Moderate love is less likely to lead to disaster than violent love. His warnings prove to be founded.
- No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve. Ask for me to-morrow and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o'both your houses! (III.1.94-98) These are Mercutio's dying words. He still maintains his sense of humor with his pun on the word grave but also blames the feuding families for his demise (ignoring the fact that he jumped into the fight of his own accord).
- The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb.What is her burying grave, that is her womb; And from her womb children of divers kind We sucking on her natural bosom find, Many for many virtues excellent, None but for some, and yet all different. (II.3.9-14) Friar Lawrence is in his cell philosophizing before Romeo bursts in with his request for marriage. He is talking about the duality of all things in nature, including humans. From death comes new life.
- O serpent heart, hid with a flow'ring face! Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical! Dove-feathered raven! wolvish-ravening lamb! Despised substance of divinest show! Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st- A damned saint, an honorable villain! O nature, what hadst thou to do in hellWhen thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend In mortal paradise of such sweet flesh? Was ever book containing such vile matter So fairly bound? O, that deceit should dwell In such a gorgeous place! (III.2.73-84) These are Juliet's words when the Nurse tells her that her new husband has killed her cousin Tybalt. She is speaking of the oppositions in Romeo's character, his duality (remember Friar Lawrence's philosophy). Romeo is both her friend and enemy, a lover and a murderer.
- O son, the night before thy wedding day Hath Death lain with thy wife. There she lies, Flower as she was, deflowered by him. Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir; My daughter he hath wedded. I will die And leave him all. Life, living, all is Death's. (IV.5.35-40) Capulet uses these words to inform Paris of Juliet's death. Juliet is Capulet's only living child and sole heir to his estate. With Juliet goes the continuation of his bloodline. He did not show this concern for his daughter when she was still alive however; he had very recently been willing to throw her out in the street for disobeying him. He only becomes a caring father when she is dead.
- I fear, too early; for my mind misgives Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night's revels and expire the term Of a despised life, closed in my breast, By some vile forfeit of untimely death. But he that hath the steerage of my course Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen! (I.4.106-113) Romeo is about to enter the Capulet's party and has a premonition that his life will change forever after that night. He feels fate has death in store for him but does not fear it. His life is moving in a direction that cannot be changed.
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