In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, Juliet expresses a wish for Romeo to have a different name due to the feud between their families. She famously states, ‘O, swete Romeo, i wish thou wert not so!’. This moment reveals her inner conflict about their love being overshadowed by the enmity between the Montagues and Capulets.
Juliet’s desire for Romeo to renounce his name signifies her wish to prioritize their love over familial loyalties. The name ‘Montague’ carries with it a legacy of hatred and conflict, so for Juliet, if Romeo were to have a different name, it would mean their love could exist free from the burden of their family ties. This idea of names and identity is central to the play, illustrating how societal expectations can interfere with personal relationships.
Furthermore, Juliet understands that their love, pure and genuine, cannot flourish in the shadow of such enmity. By wishing for a different name, she is also expressing her yearning for a world where their love is accepted, unencumbered by the names that divide them.