Honour Flashcards
I think it best you married with the County.
O, he’s a lovely gentleman!
The Nurse tries to persuade Juliet to marry Paris not only because of her love for the Capulet family but also because of the honour of the Capulet name. Thats why she uses the phrase ‘it’s best’, to kindly tell Juliet that it’s the honourable thing to do.
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
Mercutio sees Romeo’s unwillingness to fight as a ‘vile submission’. This shows how much honour means to Mercutio and how he’s in disbelief at Romeo’s peaceful response, likely thinking Romeo a coward. This is emphasised by the tricolon of adjectives which creates a lexicon of fragility
Oh, brother Montague, give me your hand.
This is the last scene where they all assemble at Romeo and Juliet’s death place. There’s still resentment between the Montagues and Capulet but this is the first step to peace. The families finally realise that their honour is not going to be bruised if they end the blood feud.
I will bite my thumb at them which is a disgrace to them if they bear it
The biting of the thumb was seen as a huge insult so to do so shows great hatred and dishonour to your opponent
Now by the stock and honour of my kin
To strike him dead I hold it not a sin
Tybalt believes if he were to kill Romeo it would not be a sin because Romeo invaded Capulet territory. The use of the rhyming couplet emphasises Tybalt’s conviction and its importance within the story. This quote shows how strongly Tybalt feels about honour especially when it comes to his family. The male characters are shown to care about honour much more than the female characters.
