Read & Response: Act 1
Act 1, Scene 1
Lines 208-209
O, she is rich in beauty; only poor
That, when she dies with beauty dies her store.
Lines 211-217
She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste;
For beauty, starved with her severity,
Cuts beauty off from all posterity.
She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair.
To merit bliss by making me despair.
She hath forsworn to love, and in that voc
Do I live dead that live to tell it now.
Response:
When Romeo stated, “O, she is rich in beauty; on poor; that, when she dies with beauty dies her store” in lines 208-209, I realized that he meant that the lady he’s deeply in-love with won’t go to the grave with all the money that she made or anything that she accomplished. She’ll only have her beautiful body that manifests no soul. Breaking down, lines 211-217, Romeo states that Rosaline will stay a virgin or a nun forever which then leads to Romeo thinking that her beauty has gone to waste. When Romeo states, “She is too fair, too wise, wisely too far”; he’s actually saying that she has a good point into how she thinks however; he would love to be with her. In the line 216, “She hath forsworn to love, and in that voc” means that she has rejected to love anyone the way Romeo loves her which then resulted into Romeo being depressed for he has confessed love to this special somebody which then had the outcome of having Romeo being locked up in his room being love-sick and talking to his cousin, Benvolio about it.
Lines 208-209
O, she is rich in beauty; only poor
That, when she dies with beauty dies her store.
Lines 211-217
She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste;
For beauty, starved with her severity,
Cuts beauty off from all posterity.
She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair.
To merit bliss by making me despair.
She hath forsworn to love, and in that voc
Do I live dead that live to tell it now.
Response:
When Romeo stated, “O, she is rich in beauty; on poor; that, when she dies with beauty dies her store” in lines 208-209, I realized that he meant that the lady he’s deeply in-love with won’t go to the grave with all the money that she made or anything that she accomplished. She’ll only have her beautiful body that manifests no soul. Breaking down, lines 211-217, Romeo states that Rosaline will stay a virgin or a nun forever which then leads to Romeo thinking that her beauty has gone to waste. When Romeo states, “She is too fair, too wise, wisely too far”; he’s actually saying that she has a good point into how she thinks however; he would love to be with her. In the line 216, “She hath forsworn to love, and in that voc” means that she has rejected to love anyone the way Romeo loves her which then resulted into Romeo being depressed for he has confessed love to this special somebody which then had the outcome of having Romeo being locked up in his room being love-sick and talking to his cousin, Benvolio about it.
Act 1, Scene 4
Lines: N/A
True, I talk of dreams,
Which are the children of an idle brain,
Begot of nothing but vain fantasy.
Response : My reaction to this quote is I agree with the whole theory of this quote. In this scene, Mercutio is acting very psychotic at the night of the Capulet party that Romeo and his friends crashed. Mercutio is talking about the dream he has and Romeo is begging him to calm down. When Mercutio states, “True, I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain,” made me come back to the knowledge that I have gained a few months ago. When I researched about dreams, professionals have come to the conclusion that dreams are what a person thinks about in the back of their mind. It doesn’t matter if you don’t think about what you dream about with awareness, you’re still thinking about it. Mercutio says that dreams are the children of an idle brain because dreams are something we can’t control and children can’t control why they do the things they do. Mercutio’s dream was something that he could not control. He didn’t have the power to make something good happen in his dream, and he will not have the power to create what he wants to dream about while he goes to bed. When he dreams, his brain takes the lead unconsciously. Mercutio furthermore explains that his dreams are meaningless and a cause of nonentity when he says, “Begot of nothing but vain fantasy.”
Lines: N/A
True, I talk of dreams,
Which are the children of an idle brain,
Begot of nothing but vain fantasy.
Response : My reaction to this quote is I agree with the whole theory of this quote. In this scene, Mercutio is acting very psychotic at the night of the Capulet party that Romeo and his friends crashed. Mercutio is talking about the dream he has and Romeo is begging him to calm down. When Mercutio states, “True, I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain,” made me come back to the knowledge that I have gained a few months ago. When I researched about dreams, professionals have come to the conclusion that dreams are what a person thinks about in the back of their mind. It doesn’t matter if you don’t think about what you dream about with awareness, you’re still thinking about it. Mercutio says that dreams are the children of an idle brain because dreams are something we can’t control and children can’t control why they do the things they do. Mercutio’s dream was something that he could not control. He didn’t have the power to make something good happen in his dream, and he will not have the power to create what he wants to dream about while he goes to bed. When he dreams, his brain takes the lead unconsciously. Mercutio furthermore explains that his dreams are meaningless and a cause of nonentity when he says, “Begot of nothing but vain fantasy.”
Read & Response: Act 2
Act 2, Scene 2
Lines 33-36
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name!
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sown my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
Lines 38-49
‘Tis but thy name is that is my enemy.
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
By any other name would smell as sweet.
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name’
And for that name, which is no part of thee,
Take all of myself.
Response:
In lines 33-36, Juliet is calling out for Romeo. She has fallen in love with Romeo Montague at the dance that just happened that night. However, Juliet cannot love Romeo because Romeo manifests the last name of Juliet Capulet’s rival. On lines 34-36 when Juliet states, “Or, if thou wilt not, be but sown my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” Juliet is explaining that if Romeo vows that he will love her forever, then she’ll put away the respect of her name to have Romeo have everything that she is. In lines 38-49, Juliet explains that Romeo is her ancient enemy only by name. She further explains in lines 40-43 that Montague is just a name. She questions that a name is nothing but if Romeo possessed a different name, then her life would be easier to love Romeo. Then in lines 44 she elucidates that if Romeo was not Romeo, he would keep the perfection which he then owes because without the title of Montague, being in-love with each other wouldn’t be a problem. The quarrel between their parents is between their ancestors, not each other. Then in lines 48-49, Juliet said that if Romeo will let go of his own name as well and forget the problem, then Romeo could take everything that Juliet is.
Lines 33-36
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name!
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sown my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
Lines 38-49
‘Tis but thy name is that is my enemy.
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
By any other name would smell as sweet.
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name’
And for that name, which is no part of thee,
Take all of myself.
Response:
In lines 33-36, Juliet is calling out for Romeo. She has fallen in love with Romeo Montague at the dance that just happened that night. However, Juliet cannot love Romeo because Romeo manifests the last name of Juliet Capulet’s rival. On lines 34-36 when Juliet states, “Or, if thou wilt not, be but sown my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” Juliet is explaining that if Romeo vows that he will love her forever, then she’ll put away the respect of her name to have Romeo have everything that she is. In lines 38-49, Juliet explains that Romeo is her ancient enemy only by name. She further explains in lines 40-43 that Montague is just a name. She questions that a name is nothing but if Romeo possessed a different name, then her life would be easier to love Romeo. Then in lines 44 she elucidates that if Romeo was not Romeo, he would keep the perfection which he then owes because without the title of Montague, being in-love with each other wouldn’t be a problem. The quarrel between their parents is between their ancestors, not each other. Then in lines 48-49, Juliet said that if Romeo will let go of his own name as well and forget the problem, then Romeo could take everything that Juliet is.
Act 2, Scene 2
Lines 50-51
I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized;
Henceforth I will never be Romeo
Lines 54-57
By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am.
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee.
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
Response:
Since Romeo and Juliet’s families manifest an ancient quarrel, Romeo and Juliet are not allowed to be in-love with each other. In lines 50-51, Romeo is replying to Juliet’s offer of “if you promise to love me, I will leave thy name.” Romeo promising that he will love her forever and he will also leave his name to love Juliet without any boundaries. Then in lines 54-55, Romeo then explains that if he didn’t have a name, then he wouldn’t know who he is or where he comes from since his name is like a tag that shows which family he belongs to. However, Romeo goes on and says that his name is an enemy to the person he loves and if he had the choice, he would disown thy name.
Lines 50-51
I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized;
Henceforth I will never be Romeo
Lines 54-57
By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am.
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee.
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
Response:
Since Romeo and Juliet’s families manifest an ancient quarrel, Romeo and Juliet are not allowed to be in-love with each other. In lines 50-51, Romeo is replying to Juliet’s offer of “if you promise to love me, I will leave thy name.” Romeo promising that he will love her forever and he will also leave his name to love Juliet without any boundaries. Then in lines 54-55, Romeo then explains that if he didn’t have a name, then he wouldn’t know who he is or where he comes from since his name is like a tag that shows which family he belongs to. However, Romeo goes on and says that his name is an enemy to the person he loves and if he had the choice, he would disown thy name.
Read & Response: Act 3
Act 3, Scene 1
Line: 99
A plague a both your houses.
Response : In Act 3, Scene 1, Tybalt meets Romeo in the streets of Verona three hours after Romeo and Juliet wed at the church. Tybalt was seeking revenge towards Romeo after Romeo and his friends crashed the Capulet party the night before. Tybalt came towards Romeo purposing a duel and Romeo kept on denying the proposal because just three hours ago Tybalt and Romeo became family. Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend that is easily tempted to appalling situations, gets into the fight. Mercutio and Tybalt then start to duel and Romeo then gets in the middle of them causing Tybalt to have a chance to stab Mercutio. While Mercutio dies from the stab that Tybalt made, Mercutio states to Romeo, “a plague a both your houses.” Mercutio blames Romeo for his death even though Mercutio was the one who provoked the fight between him and Tybalt even though Mercutio was not apart of the problem. Romeo then feels responsible for the death of his best friend and gets his revenge by killing Tybalt. The curse that Mercutio establishes foreshadows the death of the young lovers, Romeo, himself, and his beloved enemy and lover, Juliet.
Line: 99
A plague a both your houses.
Response : In Act 3, Scene 1, Tybalt meets Romeo in the streets of Verona three hours after Romeo and Juliet wed at the church. Tybalt was seeking revenge towards Romeo after Romeo and his friends crashed the Capulet party the night before. Tybalt came towards Romeo purposing a duel and Romeo kept on denying the proposal because just three hours ago Tybalt and Romeo became family. Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend that is easily tempted to appalling situations, gets into the fight. Mercutio and Tybalt then start to duel and Romeo then gets in the middle of them causing Tybalt to have a chance to stab Mercutio. While Mercutio dies from the stab that Tybalt made, Mercutio states to Romeo, “a plague a both your houses.” Mercutio blames Romeo for his death even though Mercutio was the one who provoked the fight between him and Tybalt even though Mercutio was not apart of the problem. Romeo then feels responsible for the death of his best friend and gets his revenge by killing Tybalt. The curse that Mercutio establishes foreshadows the death of the young lovers, Romeo, himself, and his beloved enemy and lover, Juliet.
Act 3, Scene 3
Line: 29-34
'Tis torture, and not mercy.
Heaven is here,
Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog
And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
Live here in heaven and may look on her;
But Romeo may not.
Response : In Act 3, Scene 3, Romeo finds about his punishment of killing Tybalt Capulet from Friar Laurence. The punishment of Romeo was that Romeo is to exile Verona, Italy forever. This means that he cannot see his newly wed wife, Juliet anymore. Romeo doesn’t take the new too maturely and becomes like a little boy. He cries and weeps while Friar Laurence gives him the news. He reacts with pure emotional instability instead of being mature and manning up in Juliet’s time of greatest needs. Romeo then explains that the banishment is living hell because every little thing that has no matter to Juliet can look at Juliet but the person who loves her mostly cannot even look at Juliet because of the banishment.
Line: 29-34
'Tis torture, and not mercy.
Heaven is here,
Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog
And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
Live here in heaven and may look on her;
But Romeo may not.
Response : In Act 3, Scene 3, Romeo finds about his punishment of killing Tybalt Capulet from Friar Laurence. The punishment of Romeo was that Romeo is to exile Verona, Italy forever. This means that he cannot see his newly wed wife, Juliet anymore. Romeo doesn’t take the new too maturely and becomes like a little boy. He cries and weeps while Friar Laurence gives him the news. He reacts with pure emotional instability instead of being mature and manning up in Juliet’s time of greatest needs. Romeo then explains that the banishment is living hell because every little thing that has no matter to Juliet can look at Juliet but the person who loves her mostly cannot even look at Juliet because of the banishment.
Read & Response: Act 4
Act 4, Scene 3
Lines: 35-38
"Shall I not then be stifled in the vault,
To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in,
And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?"
Response:
This is the line that Juliet says before she drinks the mixture to accomplish her fake death so she could go into the Capulet tomb where Romeo will meet her. The lines show how afraid she is and how she’s analyzing the negative consequences if she actually drinks the mixture. She asks herself, “Will I be closed up in a coffin without any fresh air to breathe and die of suffocation before Romeo finds me?” Although Juliet knows that might be the consequences of the drinking of this mixture, she does it anyways for Romeo’s love.
Lines: 35-38
"Shall I not then be stifled in the vault,
To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in,
And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?"
Response:
This is the line that Juliet says before she drinks the mixture to accomplish her fake death so she could go into the Capulet tomb where Romeo will meet her. The lines show how afraid she is and how she’s analyzing the negative consequences if she actually drinks the mixture. She asks herself, “Will I be closed up in a coffin without any fresh air to breathe and die of suffocation before Romeo finds me?” Although Juliet knows that might be the consequences of the drinking of this mixture, she does it anyways for Romeo’s love.
Act 4, Scene 5
Lines: 19-21
“O me, O me! My child, my only life,
Revive, look up, or I will die with thee!
Help, help! Call help.”
Response:
In the earlier scene, when Juliet refused to the marriage of Paris, Juliet’s parents threatened to disown her. Juliet’s mom even wished for Juliet to be dead because of her decision. However, when Juliet appeared “dead” on her bed the day of her wedding to Paris, Lady Capulet says, ““O me, O me! My child, my only life, /Revive, look up, or I will die with thee! /Help, help! Call help.” This questions the real love for Juliet from her parents. How could she say, “My child, my only life!” when she just said in the earlier scene, “Ay, sir; but she will none, she gives you thanks. /I would the fool were married to her grave!” (III.V. CXXXIX-CXL) This clearly shows how the mother’s love is verisimilitude when coming down to the “real” acts of death.
Act 4, Scene 5
Lines: 19-21
“O me, O me! My child, my only life,
Revive, look up, or I will die with thee!
Help, help! Call help.”
Response:
In the earlier scene, when Juliet refused to the marriage of Paris, Juliet’s parents threatened to disown her. Juliet’s mom even wished for Juliet to be dead because of her decision. However, when Juliet appeared “dead” on her bed the day of her wedding to Paris, Lady Capulet says, ““O me, O me! My child, my only life, /Revive, look up, or I will die with thee! /Help, help! Call help.” This questions the real love for Juliet from her parents. How could she say, “My child, my only life!” when she just said in the earlier scene, “Ay, sir; but she will none, she gives you thanks. /I would the fool were married to her grave!” (III.V. CXXXIX-CXL) This clearly shows how the mother’s love is verisimilitude when coming down to the “real” acts of death.
Read & Response: Act 5
Act 5, Scene 1
Lines: 24
“Then I defy you stars”
Response:
The day of Juliet’s wedding to Paris, Romeo, in a street in Mantua, is describing a dream that he had about Juliet finding him dying and she kissed him to breathe new life into his body. However, his servant Balthasar enters and Romeo’s alacrity makes Balthasar’s news to him seem difficult. Instead of getting messages from the Friar or Juliet, Romeo gets the news of Juliet being dead. Romeo’s devastation then leads to Romeo shouting, “Then I defy you stars!” (V.i.24). He thereby declares himself openly opposed to the destiny that so suffers him. Forlornly, in “defying” fate he actually brings it about to Romeo’s suicide prompt which results into Juliet to killing herself, thereby ironically fulfilling the lovers’ tragic destiny.
Lines: 24
“Then I defy you stars”
Response:
The day of Juliet’s wedding to Paris, Romeo, in a street in Mantua, is describing a dream that he had about Juliet finding him dying and she kissed him to breathe new life into his body. However, his servant Balthasar enters and Romeo’s alacrity makes Balthasar’s news to him seem difficult. Instead of getting messages from the Friar or Juliet, Romeo gets the news of Juliet being dead. Romeo’s devastation then leads to Romeo shouting, “Then I defy you stars!” (V.i.24). He thereby declares himself openly opposed to the destiny that so suffers him. Forlornly, in “defying” fate he actually brings it about to Romeo’s suicide prompt which results into Juliet to killing herself, thereby ironically fulfilling the lovers’ tragic destiny.
Act 5, Scene 3
Lines:162-165
“Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end:
O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after? I will kiss thy lips;”
Response:
My personal belief of these lines is when Juliet says when she finds Romeo drinking poison to die right beside her, shows the stupidity of the couple. Juliet kills herself because she beloved Romeo is dead. This also shows that she’s not independent enough to live her life without someone she “loves” If you really think about, they just met how many days ago and they’re already married & the couple kill themselves for the love of each other. However, was the love truly strong enough for the death of both of them? I mean all I understood from the play was vague attraction especially when Romeo confesses his love to her the first night they meet. It seems to me that love is something that fools will do anything to attain.
Lines:162-165
“Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end:
O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after? I will kiss thy lips;”
Response:
My personal belief of these lines is when Juliet says when she finds Romeo drinking poison to die right beside her, shows the stupidity of the couple. Juliet kills herself because she beloved Romeo is dead. This also shows that she’s not independent enough to live her life without someone she “loves” If you really think about, they just met how many days ago and they’re already married & the couple kill themselves for the love of each other. However, was the love truly strong enough for the death of both of them? I mean all I understood from the play was vague attraction especially when Romeo confesses his love to her the first night they meet. It seems to me that love is something that fools will do anything to attain.
