R+J quotes

"Two households both alike in dignity… A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life."

Chorus (Prologue) | Introduces the feud between the Montagues and Capulets and foreshadows Romeo and Juliet's deaths. Establishes the theme of fate.

"Many a morning hath he there been seen… And makes himself an artificial night."

Montague to Lady Montague and Benvolio | Describes Romeo's depression over Rosaline and reveals his emotional state.

"Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate…"

Romeo to Benvolio | Shows Romeo's confusion about love and reveals he is in love with the idea of love.

"She'll not be hit with Cupid's arrow."

Romeo to Benvolio | Discussing Rosaline's rejection of love. Uses allusions and highlights Romeo's frustration.

"This precious book of love, this unbound lover, to beautify him only lacks a cover."

Nurse to Juliet | Encourages Juliet to marry Paris. Extended metaphor comparing Paris to a book and Juliet to its cover.

"Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars…"

Romeo to himself | Before the Capulet feast. Foreshadows the tragic events to come.

"O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!"

Romeo to himself | First seeing Juliet. Shows love at first sight and Juliet's beauty.

"This, by his voice, should be a Montague."

Tybalt to Capulet | Recognizes Romeo at the feast. Begins Tybalt's desire for revenge.

"If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine…"

Romeo to Juliet | First conversation with Juliet. Compares Juliet to a sacred object.

"My only love sprung from my only hate!"

Juliet to Nurse | Learns Romeo is a Montague. Establishes the main conflict between love and family loyalty.

"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!"

Romeo to himself | Balcony scene. Uses metaphor and light imagery to show his love.

"O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?"

Juliet to herself | Balcony scene. Laments Romeo's family name.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet."

Juliet to herself | Shows that names and family identities should not matter in love.

"With love's light wings did I o'erperch these walls."

Romeo to Juliet | Balcony scene. Shows Romeo's willingness to risk danger for love.

"It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden."

Juliet to Romeo | Balcony scene. Reveals Juliet's caution and maturity.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow."

Juliet to Romeo | End of balcony scene. Shows their deep love despite separation.

"The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb."

Friar Lawrence to himself | Gathering plants. Highlights the connection between life and death.

"Young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes."

Friar Lawrence to Romeo | Criticizes Romeo's quick shift from Rosaline to Juliet.

"This alliance may so happy prove to turn your households' rancor to pure love."

Friar Lawrence to Romeo | Agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet to end the feud.

"More than Prince of Cats."

Mercutio to Benvolio | Describes Tybalt as a skilled and dangerous swordsman.

"A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk."

Romeo to Nurse | Refers to Mercutio. Foreshadows trouble caused by Mercutio's personality.

"If ye should lead her in a fool's paradise…"

Nurse to Romeo | Warns Romeo not to deceive Juliet.

"The clock struck nine when I did send her."

Juliet to herself | Waiting for the Nurse. Reveals her impatience and excitement.

"These violent delights have violent ends."

Friar Lawrence to Romeo | Warns Romeo about moving too quickly. Foreshadows tragedy.

"Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives."

Mercutio to Tybalt | Taunts Tybalt before their duel.

"Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man."

Mercutio to Romeo | Dying after being stabbed. Uses a pun and foreshadows death.

"A plague o' both your houses!"

Mercutio to Romeo and Benvolio | Blames both families for the violence and tragedy.

"O, I am fortune's fool!"

Romeo to himself | After killing Tybalt. Shows Romeo feels controlled by fate.

"There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, that slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio."

Benvolio to Prince Escalus | Explains the events of the fight.

"Romeo slew him; he slew Mercutio."

Prince Escalus to the crowd | Shows the difficulty of assigning blame.

"And for that offense immediately we do exile him hence."

Prince Escalus to the crowd | Announces Romeo's banishment, showing both mercy and punishment.

"Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical! … A damned saint, an honorable villain!"

Juliet to herself/Nurse | Expresses conflicting feelings about Romeo after Tybalt's death.

"O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness!"

Friar Lawrence to Romeo | Reminds Romeo that banishment is better than death.

"But look thou stay not till the watch be set…"

Friar Lawrence to Romeo | Explains the plan for Romeo to flee to Mantua.

"Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day."

Juliet to Romeo | Tries to keep Romeo with her after their wedding night.

"O, now be gone! More light and light it grows. More dark and dark our woes."

Romeo and Juliet | Uses light and dark imagery to show increasing sadness.

"O God, I have an ill-divining soul!"

Juliet to Romeo | Foreshadows Romeo's death when she imagines him in a tomb.

"O Fortune, Fortune! All men call thee fickle."

Juliet to herself | Complains about fate separating her from Romeo.

"Ay, sir, but she will none, she gives you thanks. I would the fool were married to her grave."

Lady Capulet to Lord Capulet | Ironically foreshadows Juliet's death.

"Go, counselor! Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain. … If all else fail, myself have power to die."

Juliet to herself | Rejects the Nurse's advice and foreshadows suicide.

"Death lies on her like an untimely frost upon the sweetest flower of all the field."

Lord Capulet to family and Paris | Mourns Juliet's apparent death using simile and metaphor.

"Then, I defy you, stars!"

Romeo to the stars | Learns of Juliet's death and rebels against fate.

"There is thy gold—worse poison to men's souls."

Romeo to the Apothecary | Suggests greed causes more harm than poison.

"Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death…"

Romeo to Juliet's tomb | Extended metaphor showing his determination to die with Juliet.

"This is that banished haughty Montague…"

Paris about Romeo | Reveals Paris's perspective and misunderstanding of Romeo's intentions.

"I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest of death…"

Friar Lawrence to Juliet | Emphasizes fate and reveals the Friar's failure.

"Alas, my liege, my wife is dead tonight!"

Montague to Prince Escalus | Reveals the cost of the feud on both families.

"Where be these enemies? Capulet, Montague, see what a scourge is laid upon your hate." Prince Escalus to the families | Shows the feud has caused the tragedy and finally ends it.

"A glooming peace this morning with it brings… For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

Prince Escalus to everyone | Concludes the play and emphasizes the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.