R & J Quotes EDEXCEL GCSE FINAL

1. Love:

Quote 1: Romeo
"But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." (Act 2, Scene 2)
Analysis:
This metaphor reveals Romeo’s idealization of Juliet. By comparing her to the sun, Romeo suggests that Juliet is the center of his world, bringing light and life. The use of celestial imagery emphasizes the purity and intensity of his feelings. It also hints at how Romeo sees their love as divine and transcendent, a theme central to the play.

Quote 2: 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)
Analysis:
Here, Juliet expresses her frustration about not fully experiencing or “possessing” her love with Romeo. The “mansion of a love” metaphor suggests that she has found her emotional home in Romeo, but cannot fully embrace it due to societal expectations of virginity and honor. This internal conflict portrays her as someone torn between love and duty, illustrating the tension between personal desires and social constraints.

Quote 3: 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)
Analysis:
Romeo speaks to the power of love, claiming that love can transcend physical barriers. His description of love as having “light wings” implies that it is both freeing and powerful, able to defy the restrictive forces of society and family. This idea of love overcoming obstacles is a recurring motif in the play, as Romeo and Juliet’s love is portrayed as boundless, yet tragically doomed by their families’ feud.

Quote 4: Juliet
"My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late!" (Act 1, Scene 5)
Analysis:
Juliet speaks these words when she realizes that Romeo is a Montague, her family’s sworn enemy. The paradox in this quote reveals the tension between love and hate in the play. Juliet’s lament highlights the tragic irony of their situation—she has fallen for someone who belongs to the family her own despises. This moment foreshadows the tragic events that will unfold because of the families’ enmity.

Quote 5: Friar Lawrence
"These violent delights have violent ends." (Act 2, Scene 6)
Analysis:
Friar Lawrence offers a forewarning here, cautioning Romeo and Juliet about the intensity of their passion. He recognizes the danger in their impetuous love, implying that it may lead to destructive consequences. This quote is ironic, as the love he speaks of will indeed lead to violent deaths, emphasizing the dual nature of passion—both beautiful and destructive.

Quote 6: Romeo
"Thus with a kiss, I die." (Act 5, Scene 3)
Analysis:
Romeo’s final words signify the ultimate sacrifice, as he chooses to die with Juliet. This act of dying for love shows his unwavering devotion, but also marks the culmination of the tragic nature of the play. His love for Juliet is so powerful that he believes death is the only way to remain united with her. The kiss here symbolizes both a romantic and final act, sealing the tragic fate of the lovers.

2. Fate:

Quote 1: Chorus
"A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life." (Prologue)
Analysis:
The opening lines of the play introduce the theme of fate. The term “star-crossed” suggests that the lovers are doomed by the stars, or fate itself. Shakespeare immediately sets up the idea that the tragic end of Romeo and Juliet is inevitable. The use of the word “life” rather than "lives" underscores the fatalistic nature of their relationship—it’s the ultimate sacrifice that fate has chosen for them.

Quote 2: Romeo
"I am fortune’s fool!" (Act 3, Scene 1)
Analysis:
Romeo expresses his frustration with fate after he kills Tybalt in a fit of rage. He recognizes that his actions have been influenced by forces beyond his control, referring to himself as a “fool” for falling victim to these circumstances. This line highlights the recurring theme of fate in the play, as Romeo feels powerless in the face of the forces that shape his life and destiny.

Quote 3: Juliet
"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." (Act 2, Scene 2)
Analysis:
Juliet’s reflection on names and identity challenges the importance of family names. She wishes that Romeo could be free from his Montague identity so that they could love without conflict. However, this also reflects the way in which fate forces them to be bound by their names, even though Juliet sees them as irrelevant. Her musings underscore the tragedy of their love, as they are shackled by forces beyond their control.

Quote 4: Romeo
"My life is my foe’s debt." (Act 1, Scene 5)
Analysis:
Romeo speaks this line after discovering that Juliet is a Capulet, and his life is now entwined with the feud that defines his family's conflict with hers. He implies that his existence is indebted to the hatred between their families. This quote reveals how the feud—and fate—has already determined his future, despite his desire to be with Juliet.

Quote 5: Mercutio
"A plague o' both your houses!" (Act 3, Scene 1)
Analysis:
Mercutio curses both the Montagues and Capulets as he dies from Tybalt’s wounds. His curse highlights the senselessness of the conflict between the two families, and he blames them for his death. This line is significant in illustrating how fate and the familial feud dictate the tragic course of events in the play.

Quote 6: Romeo
"I dreamt a dream tonight." (Act 1, Scene 4)
Analysis:
Romeo’s premonition of death illustrates the sense of foreboding that pervades the play. His dream suggests that something bad is going to happen, and this foreshadows the tragic events that unfold later. It emphasizes the idea that fate is guiding the characters toward their inevitable doom, even when they are unaware of it.

3. Conflict:

Quote 1: Tybalt
"What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee." (Act 1, Scene 1)
Analysis:
Tybalt’s hatred of peace and his immediate aggression toward Benvolio emphasize the deep-seated nature of the feud between the Montagues and Capulets. Tybalt’s anger and desire for violence set the tone for much of the conflict in the play and highlight how the families’ hatred permeates even the smallest interactions.

Quote 2: Romeo
"O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away." (Act 3, Scene 1)
Analysis:
After Mercutio’s death, Romeo is filled with guilt and anger. His reaction to the idea of submitting to Tybalt reflects his internal conflict. Romeo’s desire for peace and love is at odds with the violent world around him, and this moment highlights how the feud forces Romeo to choose violence over diplomacy, escalating the conflict further.

Quote 3: Mercutio
"O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!" (Act 3, Scene 1)
Analysis:
Mercutio condemns Romeo’s reluctance to fight Tybalt, which is a direct reaction to Romeo’s attempt to end the cycle of violence. Mercutio’s speech about “submission” reveals his own inability to understand Romeo’s shift in priorities, and it shows the difference between Mercutio’s hot-blooded nature and Romeo’s more peaceful stance. This moment leads to the tragic turning point where Mercutio is killed.

Quote 4: Prince Escalus
"Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbor-stained steel!" (Act 1, Scene 1)
Analysis:
The Prince’s condemnation of the fighting shows how the feud is poisoning Verona. He sees both families as enemies to peace and order, and this speech underlines how the ongoing conflict between the families disrupts the social and civil fabric of the city.

Quote 5: Romeo
"I’ll be a grave man." (Act 3, Scene 1)
Analysis:
Romeo makes a pun on the word “grave,” referring to both being serious (“a grave man”) and the literal grave he will soon occupy. This moment demonstrates the fatal consequences of the escalating conflict, as Romeo's actions result in the death of Mercutio and Tybalt, drawing him deeper into the cycle of violence.

Quote 6: 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)
Analysis:
The Prince’s speech at the end of the play condemns the feud as the ultimate cause of the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. He emphasizes that the hatred between the families has destroyed their happiness, turning their love into a curse. This final line reflects the destructive power of the conflict and how it ultimately leads to the play's tragic ending.

4. Death:

Quote 1: Romeo
"Thus with a kiss I die." (Act 5, Scene 3)
Analysis:
Romeo’s last words signify the culmination of the tragic love story. His death is the ultimate expression of his devotion to Juliet. The kiss, typically a symbol of love, becomes an ironic and painful final act, as Romeo believes he is joining his beloved in death, rather than living on without her.

Quote 2: Juliet
"O happy dagger! This is thy sheath: there rust, and let me die." (Act 5, Scene 3)
Analysis:
Juliet’s use of the "happy dagger" reveals her determination to die alongside Romeo. The word “happy” is heavily ironic, as Juliet views death as the only way to be reunited with her love. This final act highlights the theme of love and death being intertwined, and it emphasizes Juliet’s tragic fate in this moment of despair.

Quote 3: Mercutio
"They have made worms’ meat of me." (Act 3, Scene 1)
Analysis:
Mercutio’s fatalistic comment reflects his understanding of death as inevitable and beyond his control. The imagery of “worms’ meat” underscores the insignificance of his life in the face of the larger conflict between the families, and it emphasizes the senselessness of the violence in the play.

Quote 4: Romeo
"O, I am fortune’s fool!" (Act 3, Scene 1)
Analysis:
Romeo’s exclamation reflects his recognition that fate has led him to a point of no return. After killing Tybalt in retaliation for Mercutio’s death, Romeo feels like a victim of fate—helpless and doomed. This line exemplifies the theme of fate controlling the characters’ actions and leading them to tragedy.

Quote 5: Friar Lawrence
"The most violent, temp’ral love is but a madman’s rage." (Act 2, Scene 6)
Analysis:
Friar Lawrence’s words foreshadow the eventual downfall of Romeo and Juliet. He cautions them that love, when taken to extremes, can lead to destruction. The comparison to a "madman’s rage" highlights the impulsive nature of their relationship, which becomes fatal because of its intensity.

Quote 6: Juliet
"Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty." (Act 5, Scene 3)
Analysis:
Juliet speaks to the lifeless body of Romeo, emphasizing that even in death, he has retained his beauty. This quote underscores the theme of eternal love—despite death, Juliet sees Romeo as unchanged and perfect. Her reflection deepens the tragic irony of their deaths, as they are both beautiful and eternal in their love, but cut short by fate.