Skip to main content

How does Romeo's quote "The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine" show Romeo is loyal to Juliet?

Let's first get a better understanding of where this quote occurs within the play's narrative. Romeo and Juliet have just met for the first time at the Capulet ball, and, although they did not have a long time to converse there due to the oppressive, ever-watching eye of Juliet's family, they were both equally struck by the force of love. 


In Act Two, Scene Two, Romeo sneaks into the Capulets' gardens to admire Juliet from...

Let's first get a better understanding of where this quote occurs within the play's narrative. Romeo and Juliet have just met for the first time at the Capulet ball, and, although they did not have a long time to converse there due to the oppressive, ever-watching eye of Juliet's family, they were both equally struck by the force of love. 


In Act Two, Scene Two, Romeo sneaks into the Capulets' gardens to admire Juliet from afar. He climbs up to her balcony to proclaim his love for her, swearing his affection by the "blessèd moon" above, but Juliet is dissatisfied by this vow due to the moon's ever-changing nature. Their conversation is short and sweet, and Juliet attempts to hurry off back to her bedroom, bidding her love good night and proclaiming that she hopes their love will have grown by the time they meet again.


It is now Romeo's turn to be dissatisfied, and he rather coyly asks of her, "O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?" When Juliet demands to know what satisfaction she can possibly give him that night, Romeo responds, "The exchange of thy love's faithful vow to mine." Romeo is essentially asking for a more permanent commitment than Juliet's rather ambiguous reference to their love as "when next we meet," which seems to translate to a non-comittal "well, see you soon!" in the eyes of a modern audience. Romeo wants Juliet to vow her love for him is true so he may do the same. 


This is a display of Romeo's loyalty to Juliet because he is the one pushing for a verbal commitment. Juliet is content to go to bed having merely seen and spoken to her beloved once more without the knowledge of when, where, or if she will see him again; Romeo, on the other hand, craves this knowledge. He wants confirmation that his feelings are reciprocated and that he may give his affection singularly to Juliet. Whether you call this behavior needy or romantic, one thing is sure: Romeo now only has eyes for Juliet.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more