Romeo Key Quotes Flashcards
“O brawling love! O loving hate!” “Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms!” - Romeo Act 1 scene 1
At the start of the play, when Romeo thinks that he is in love with Rosaline, he speaks in oxymorons.
He feels that his love for Rosaline is ‘brawling’ because it feels like an internal battle for him - he cannot stop loving her, so he feels physical pain because of how strong his love is.
He decribes the situation as ‘loving hate’ because he hates the situation he finds himself in, but he still loves Rosaline.
“Did my heart love till now… For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” - Romeo Act 1 scene 5
As soon as ge sees juliet at the party, stops feeling any love for Rosaline. He realised that what he felt for her wasn’t real love.
He feels that no one else can compare to Juliet. Romeo uses hyperbole to comment on Juliet’s beauty, her appearance, and says how he has fallen in love with her because of that. This could suggest he is still immature at this point.
“Good Capulet - which name I tender as dearly as my own - be satisfied.” - Romeo, Act 3
Although Romeo and Juliet are now married, Tybalt doesn’t know of this and that Romeo is now related to him.
Romeo tries to calm down Tybalt by saying he values the Capulet name as much as he values his own name. Giving this as the reason he refuses to fight Tybalt.
He begs Tybalt to “be satisfied” with his explanation and to stop trying to provoke him to fight.
This highlights Romeo has matured at this point.
‘Mercutio’s soul is a little way above our heads… either you, or I or both must go with him.” - Romeo Act 3
Immediately after Tybalt murders Mercutio, Romeo loses control of his emotions and attacks Tybalt to get revenge.
In this quote, he tells Tybalt that one, or both of them, must die and join Mercutio in Heaven.
This shows how Romeo’s personality dramatically changes in an instant.
He becomes obsessed for vengeance. He suddenly cares very little for himself or Juliet.
“Shake the yoke of inauspicious stars from this world-wearied flesh.” - Romeo, Act 5
Before he takes the poison that will end his life, Romeo quotes how fed up and tired he is of his life.
Romeo feels that he must kill himself to stop his unlucky fate from happening as if there is no other way out.
