Romeo and Juliet Quotes
Romeo and Juliet QUOTES
Prologue - 'a pair of star-crossed lovers who take their life' - 'star-crossed' has
connotations to theme of fate + destiny, suggests their love was not meant to
be. Also celestial imagery repeated throughout play to remind audience of fate
conspiring against them.
'fearful passage of their death-mark'd love' - 'death-mark'd' provides
connotations of a love cursed by destiny and family feud, their relationship
trapped by family feud and events (fate)
1.1 - 'Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace' - Dramatic irony, as the families
continue the feud, leading to loss of life, in addition serves as a warning, problem
faced by Romeo later on
'quench the fire of your pernicious rage' - Animalistic behaviour of both families,
desiring to shed blood and kill each other. Authority of Prince also highlighted
through scolding tone
'O brawling love! O loving hate! - Antithesis used, contrast between love and
hate, juxtaposition to show his feelings and unrequited love for Rosaline,
Petrarchan lover
1.2 - 'woo her, gentle Paris' + 'her ripe to be a bride' - Suggests Capulet as
believing Juliet is not ready for marriage, use of adjective 'ripe', suggests Juliet as
gentle / sweet like fruit, contrasts Capulet's anger at Juliet in 3.4
1.3 - 'it is an honour I dream not of' / 'your consent gives strength to make it fly' -
Reflects Juliet's maturity and respect of marriage / parent's wishes, suggests she
is obedient + dependent on parents, dramatic irony as she eventually becomes
duplicitous and deceives parents to be with Romeo
'Can you love the gentleman?' - Subtle pressure by Lady Capulet, doesn't allow
Juliet to answer, suggesting the answer is obvious + CONTEXT ON MARRIAGE AT
TIME (SOCIAL CLASS)
Female oppression in marriage shown here, when Juliet meets Romeo, breaks all
social norms however
1.4 - Mercutio - 'If love be rough with you, be rough with love' - Suggesting
Romeo to indulge in lusts / sexual desires if love is not good, Mercutio is a foil to
Romeo, focuses on sexual / physical aspects of love unlike Romeo. Repetition to
emphasise sexual desire.
Romeo - 'some consequence yet hanging in the stars' - fate, dark premonition
from dream and sense of impending doom resulting from going to party, makes
audience anticipate tragedy occurring later in play
'He that hath the steerage of my course, direct my sail' - Romeo believing
in God controlling his future, not in his hands, hence goes to ball anyway.
DRAMATIC IRONY, audience know lovers kill themselves from Prologue,
emphasises extent of tragedy
1.5 - Romeo - 'like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear' - Contrast between dark skin
of African and beauty of jewel, referring to Juliet standing out in crowd.
Romeo and Juliet QUOTES
Prologue - 'a pair of star-crossed lovers who take their life' - 'star-crossed' has
connotations to theme of fate + destiny, suggests their love was not meant to
be. Also celestial imagery repeated throughout play to remind audience of fate
conspiring against them.
'fearful passage of their death-mark'd love' - 'death-mark'd' provides
connotations of a love cursed by destiny and family feud, their relationship
trapped by family feud and events (fate)
1.1 - 'Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace' - Dramatic irony, as the families
continue the feud, leading to loss of life, in addition serves as a warning, problem
faced by Romeo later on
'quench the fire of your pernicious rage' - Animalistic behaviour of both families,
desiring to shed blood and kill each other. Authority of Prince also highlighted
through scolding tone
'O brawling love! O loving hate! - Antithesis used, contrast between love and
hate, juxtaposition to show his feelings and unrequited love for Rosaline,
Petrarchan lover
1.2 - 'woo her, gentle Paris' + 'her ripe to be a bride' - Suggests Capulet as
believing Juliet is not ready for marriage, use of adjective 'ripe', suggests Juliet as
gentle / sweet like fruit, contrasts Capulet's anger at Juliet in 3.4
1.3 - 'it is an honour I dream not of' / 'your consent gives strength to make it fly' -
Reflects Juliet's maturity and respect of marriage / parent's wishes, suggests she
is obedient + dependent on parents, dramatic irony as she eventually becomes
duplicitous and deceives parents to be with Romeo
'Can you love the gentleman?' - Subtle pressure by Lady Capulet, doesn't allow
Juliet to answer, suggesting the answer is obvious + CONTEXT ON MARRIAGE AT
TIME (SOCIAL CLASS)
Female oppression in marriage shown here, when Juliet meets Romeo, breaks all
social norms however
1.4 - Mercutio - 'If love be rough with you, be rough with love' - Suggesting
Romeo to indulge in lusts / sexual desires if love is not good, Mercutio is a foil to
Romeo, focuses on sexual / physical aspects of love unlike Romeo. Repetition to
emphasise sexual desire.
Romeo - 'some consequence yet hanging in the stars' - fate, dark premonition
from dream and sense of impending doom resulting from going to party, makes
audience anticipate tragedy occurring later in play
'He that hath the steerage of my course, direct my sail' - Romeo believing
in God controlling his future, not in his hands, hence goes to ball anyway.
DRAMATIC IRONY, audience know lovers kill themselves from Prologue,
emphasises extent of tragedy
1.5 - Romeo - 'like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear' - Contrast between dark skin
of African and beauty of jewel, referring to Juliet standing out in crowd.
