William Shakespeare – "What’s in a name?" – from Romeo and Juliet

 

’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 thy name, which is no part of thee,

Take all myself.

 

Comments

[Peter Kleinman]

On the other hand, when we name things, they gain familiarity, intimacy, history. Consider what it is that makes bird watchers so attached to the world of birds. When I can name a bird by recognizing it's looks or its song, I have a special relationship, look forward to my next meeting, take special pleasure in that recognition, and feel something akin to friendship.

[Proftimotei]

This sounds like such a desperate and impassioned speech by a girl who wants her love so much. It seems, on the face of it, romantic and even idealistic, but think about what she is saying. This of course leads to the events that happen with the lovers later in the play, but she is setting it up here.