This famous line from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is spoken by Romeo as he gazes at Juliet standing on her balcony. The phrase ‘But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?’ signifies Romeo’s awe and admiration upon seeing Juliet. He compares her to the sun, suggesting that her beauty outshines everything else, just as the sun outshines the stars.
When Romeo says, ‘It is the east, and Juliet is the sun,’ he is metaphorically stating that Juliet is the source of light and life for him. The east is where the sun rises, symbolizing new beginnings and hope. By likening Juliet to the sun, Romeo expresses that she is his guiding light and the center of his universe.
This line captures the intensity of Romeo’s love and the poetic nature of his feelings. It highlights the theme of light and darkness in the play, where Juliet is often associated with light, purity, and beauty, while the feud between their families represents darkness and conflict.