Romeo and Juliet Quotes Edexcel GCSE

Key Themes

1. Love:

• Romeo:

  • “But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

    • This metaphor illustrates Romeo's idealized view of Juliet, comparing her to the sun and elevating her beauty above all else.

• Juliet:

  • “O, I have bought the mansion of a love, But not possessed it, and though I am a maid, My honor is yet good in my eye.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

    • Juliet speaks of the love she feels for Romeo, but also the internal conflict she faces between her love and her social duties.

• Romeo:

  • “With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out, And what love can do that dares love attempt.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

    • This demonstrates Romeo’s belief in love’s power to overcome all obstacles, showing his devotion and youthful idealism.

• Juliet:

  • “My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late!” (Act 1, Scene 5)

    • Juliet expresses the tragic irony of falling in love with Romeo, a Montague, her family’s enemy.

• Friar Lawrence:

  • “These violent delights have violent ends.” (Act 2, Scene 6)

    • A warning about the dangers of rushing into love without considering the consequences.

• Romeo:

  • “Thus with a kiss, I die.” (Act 5, Scene 3)

    • Romeo’s final act of love toward Juliet before he takes his life, showing the intensity and tragic nature of their relationship.

2. Fate:

• Chorus:

  • “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.” (Prologue)

    • The chorus introduces the central theme of fate, indicating that Romeo and Juliet’s love and death are destined.

• Romeo:

  • “I am fortune’s fool!” (Act 3, Scene 1)

    • Romeo acknowledges that fate has played a cruel role in his life, especially after he kills Tybalt.

• Juliet:

  • “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

    • Juliet muses on the power of names and fate, pondering whether their love would be different if Romeo had a different name.

• Romeo:

  • “My life is my foe’s debt.” (Act 1, Scene 5)

    • Romeo is aware that his life is tied to the enmity between the Montagues and Capulets, and he is already a victim of fate before he even meets Juliet.

• Mercutio:

  • “A plague o’ both your houses!” (Act 3, Scene 1)

    • Mercutio curses both families as he dies, underlining how the feud has led to his death and showing the destructive influence of fate.

• Romeo:

  • “I dreamt a dream tonight.” (Act 1, Scene 4)

    • Romeo is forewarned of the tragic events to come, showing how fate and premonitions influence his actions.

3. Conflict:

• Tybalt:

  • “What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.” (Act 1, Scene 1)

    • Tybalt’s hatred for the Montagues drives the central conflict of the play, representing the violent feud between the two families.

• Romeo:

  • “O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away.” (Act 3, Scene 1)

    • Romeo reacts to Mercutio’s death by being conflicted between peace and revenge, reflecting how the family feud disrupts personal values.

• Mercutio:

  • “O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!” (Act 3, Scene 1)

    • Mercutio’s anger at Romeo for not fighting Tybalt emphasizes the irrational hatred in the conflict.

• Prince Escalus:

  • “Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbor-stained steel!” (Act 1, Scene 1)

    • The Prince speaks against the feud, calling both families enemies to peace and harmony.

• Romeo:

  • “I’ll be a grave man.” (Act 3, Scene 1)

    • Romeo uses wordplay to express the seriousness of his commitment to end the conflict, both figuratively and literally.

• Prince Escalus:

  • “See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.” (Act 5, Scene 3)

    • The Prince remarks on how the families' hatred has led to the death of their children, turning their love into a source of pain and death.

4. Death:

• Romeo:

  • “Thus with a kiss I die.” (Act 5, Scene 3)

    • Romeo’s final moment, choosing to die beside Juliet as an act of eternal love.

• Juliet:

  • “O happy dagger! This is thy sheath: there rust, and let me die.” (Act 5, Scene 3)

    • Juliet’s final act, showing her determination to die with Romeo rather than live without him.

• Mercutio:

  • “They have made worms’ meat of me.” (Act 3, Scene 1)

    • Mercutio’s fatalistic comment on his death, expressing how death is inevitable and beyond his control.

• Romeo:

  • “O, I am fortune’s fool!” (Act 3, Scene 1)

    • Romeo blames his fate for the death of Mercutio and the consequences that follow, recognizing the futility of trying to control his destiny.

• Friar Lawrence:

  • “The most violent, temp’ral love is but a madman’s rage.” (Act 2, Scene 6)

    • A reflection on how love, when it burns too strongly, can be self-destructive, leading to death.

• Juliet:

  • “Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.” (Act 5, Scene 3)

    • Juliet’s acknowledgment of Romeo’s death, noting how even death has not robbed him of his beauty.

Key Characters

1. Romeo:

• “But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

  • Romeo’s metaphorical praise of Juliet’s beauty.

• “I am fortune’s fool!” (Act 3, Scene 1)

  • Romeo’s acknowledgment of how fate has taken control of his life.

• “With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

  • Romeo expresses his belief in love’s ability to overcome obstacles.

• “Thus with a kiss I die.” (Act 5, Scene 3)

  • Romeo’s final words, cementing the tragic nature of his love for Juliet.

2. Juliet:

• “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

  • Juliet’s famous reflection on names and their significance, questioning why their love must be defined by the names Montague and Capulet.

• “O, I have bought the mansion of a love, But not possessed it, and though I am a maid, My honor is yet good in my eye.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

  • Juliet’s conflicted feelings about love and her own virtue.

• “My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late!” (Act 1, Scene 5)

  • Juliet realizes the irony of her love for Romeo, a Montague.

• “O happy dagger! This is thy sheath: there rust, and let me die.” (Act 5, Scene 3)

  • Juliet’s determination to join Romeo in death.