“ What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. ”
William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (1597). copy citation
| Author | William Shakespeare |
|---|---|
| Source | Romeo and Juliet |
| Topic | language naming meaning |
| Date | 1597 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Written between 1591 and 1595 |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1112/pg1112.html |
Context
“'Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name;
And for that name, which is no part of thee,” source
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name;
And for that name, which is no part of thee,” source
Meaning and analysis
