In William Shakespeare’s famous play Romeo and Juliet, one of the most memorable lines uttered by Romeo is “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” This line comes when Romeo first spots Juliet at a party and asks her servant what her name is. Upon learning that she is a Capulet, the rival house to his own Montague family, Romeo laments that she had to be a Capulet, wishing she could shed her name or he could take it on. He then speaks the famous line about names being arbitrary and states that regardless of her family name, Juliet herself would remain just as perfect. This has led to much analysis over what exactly Romeo means when he claims names do not matter. Here are some key ways to interpret Romeo’s perspective on names based on this iconic line:
He is emphasizing Juliet’s inner qualities rather than her family affiliation
By saying her name does not define her, Romeo suggests he sees past Juliet’s exterior identity as a Capulet and cares more about who she is inside as an individual. The name Capulet signifies her membership in a feuding family, but Romeo argues this name means nothing compared to Juliet’s true self. His quick infatuation implies he perceives innate goodness or beauty in Juliet regardless of her name.
He believes their love can transcend family names and feuding identities
Romeo hopes that names like “Capulet” and “Montague” need not divide them. He thinks their blossoming love and attraction to each other can supersede the names of their warring families. Perhaps he even envisions a world where names and labels do not have the power to separate people inclined to care for each other, whether out of true love or basic human decency.
He sees arbitrary labels as far less meaningful than intrinsic human qualities
More broadly, Romeo suggests the labels and names people assign each other lack inherent meaning. He states a rose would smell just as sweet if people called it by another name. In the same way, he sees Juliet possessing innate worthwhile qualities that remain unchanged regardless of her name. Romeo thinks given names and family names are just artificial conventions without real power to reflect someone’s deeper self.
He means that Juliet moves him just as profoundly by any name
On a personal level, Romeo may simply be conveying that his feelings for Juliet arise from experiencing her essence, not from any associations linked to her family name. He means that she moves him deeply as an individual, independent of the name Capulet. To Romeo, she could go by any other name, and it would not alter the feelings she evokes in him.
He suggests outward labels cannot change inward qualities
In line with the rose comparison, Romeo argues that what matters is the inherent quality, not what people call it. A rose smells sweet under any name. Similarly, he sees Juliet’s core self as unchanged regardless of her name being Capulet or anything else. By extension, he sees names and labels as superficial compared to inner attributes.
Analysis of Broader Context
While Romeo’s quote about names may seem straightforward, some broader context is important for fully analyzing what he means and why Shakespeare included this line. Here are some key interpretive factors:
Romeo’s infatuation is quite sudden
Romeo’s attraction to Juliet forms extremely quickly. He sees her at a party and almost immediately becomes entranced by her beauty. This suggests his feelings are physical and emotional infatuation, not deep everlasting love. Therefore, his dismissal of names could stem from impulsive passion rather than reasoned thought.
Names represent major social barriers
In the play, family names like Capulet and Montague have immense social significance. They divide Verona along deep partisan lines. Romeo ignoring this weighty meaning of names reveals how suddenly smitten he is with Juliet. It emphasizes his longing to be freed from feuding identities.
Juliet also wrestles with the burden of names
After this scene, Juliet also contemplates how burdensome and limiting names can be when she states “Romeo, doff thy name.” She also wishes Romeo could abandon his family name so they could be together. This suggests Romeo is not alone in questioning names.
Their defiance of names ends in tragedy
Despite wishing names did not divide them, Romeo and Juliet cannot escape their implications. Juliet fakes her death to avoid marrying another man, causing sorrow that drives Romeo to suicide once he believes she is truly dead. Their defiance of names through love results in their destruction.
The play rails against long-held grudges
Broader themes of the play criticize societal institutions that pit people against each other instead of seeking reconciliation. The family feud of Capulets and Montagues leads to needless tragedy. Romeo’s criticism of names ties into this anti-feud perspective.
What Romeo Hoped to Accomplish
When analyzing what Romeo meant and intended by questioning names, it is also helpful to consider what he was trying to accomplish with these words:
Convince Juliet to overlook family divisions
In the moment, Romeo clearly wants to promote his and Juliet’s budding love. By downplaying her name, he tries convincing Juliet to look past their feuding families and reciprocate his feelings.
Display his infatuation and devotion
The speech exhibits Romeo’s impulsive passion for Juliet. By insisting names do not matter, Romeo displays his longing for Juliet and hopes to impress her with the depth of his spontaneous feelings.
Excuse his interest in a sworn enemy’s kin
As a Montague, courting a Capulet should be unthinkable for Romeo. His criticism of names helps justify and excuse his sudden infatuation with Juliet to himself and others.
Vent his frustration with prolonged feuding
Romeo’s speech reveals his frustration with the ceaseless feuding between Capulets and Montagues that limits social mobility. His bold questioning of names represents a rebellion against these constraints.
Foreshadow the lovers’ defiance of convention
Shakespeare likely included this famous line to establish Romeo’s willingness to rebel against societal norms in pursuit of love. It foreshadows actions like marrying Juliet in secret and choosing death over life without her.
Critical Perspectives on the Name Quote
Scholars have proposed various theories and analyses of Romeo’s perspective on names:
Feminist criticism of patriarchal naming practices
Feminist criticism sees Romeo’s rejection of names as implying female empowerment over their identity. Juliet is confined by her family name being Capulet, given to her by a patriarchal line of male heirs. Questioning this name suggests women should have sovereignty over their names.
Postcolonial criticism of imposed labels
Postcolonial perspectives relate Romeo’s quote to how colonial powers arbitrarily imposed names and identities on indigenous cultures. Romeo questioning names could represent resistance against external labeling by an oppressive authority.
Marxist view of class roles defined by names
Marxist criticism interprets names like Capulet and Montague as markers of class identities dictated by family background, wealth, and status. Romeo’s willingness to look past Juliet’s name reflects defiance of rigid class lines.
Psychoanalytic read of Romeo’s ego desires
Psychoanalytic theory sees Romeo’s denial of names as part of his ego desires. His id passion for Juliet runs up against the realities of family names signifying cultural law and norms. He rationalizes rejecting this societal structure.
Poststructuralist analysis of fluid nature of signs
Poststructuralist criticism sees Romeo deconstructing the arbitrary signifier of Juliet’s name. This anticipates later questioning of stable meaning in language. It captures the fluid, tenuous nature of signs and signification.
Examples from Literature and Popular Culture
Other creative works have also explored the implications of names and labeling:
The Scarlet Letter
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, Hester Prynne is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” for adultery, a label that defines her. This highlights how names can become arbitrary symbols imposed upon people.
Anne of Green Gables
In L.M. Montgomery’s book, plucky orphan Anne Shirley is upset to learn her adoptive parents expected a boy named after his father. She protests that names should suit the individual.
Rent
The lyrics of the song “What You Own” from the Broadway musical Rent include the lines “When you’re living in America / At the end of the millennium / You’re what you own.” This highlights names as signifiers of economic status.
Dead Poets Society
When teacher John Keating has students tear out textbook pages with rigid critical formulas, it represents questioning imposed labels and seeing ideas themselves as what matters.
Boy Named Sue
In Shel Silverstein’s comical song performed by Johnny Cash, a boy given the effeminate name “Sue” resents the bullying it provokes until it toughens him. The odd name ironically strengthens rather than defines him.
Conclusion
In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s famous line about names explores the tensions between labels and identity. While his quote has an obvious surface reading, deeper analysis within the play’s full context reveals the complex implications behind his perception that a name does not inherently impact a person’s qualities. Through this iconic line and the broader story of Romeo and Juliet attempting to defeat the divisions of names, Shakespeare meditated profoundly on the power dynamics and philosophical questions inherent in naming practices – an issue with resonance stretching from the Elizabethan era to the modern day.
