What does this quote mean O Romeo Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo?

Answer 1

It does not mean "Where are you, Romeo?" as most people assume. "Wherefore" means "why," so what Juliet was really asking was "Why are you Romeo?" because she doesn't like how she fell in love with Romeo, a Montague, someone she couldn't have.

Answer 2

It means "Why are you Romeo?" It is asked because of the feud between Romeo's and Juliet's families, and Juliet is asking Romeo why he couldn't have been someone else...from another family.

^^

I disagree with the popular answer of it meaning "why" in this usage. That meaning doesn't make much sense since it was his surname that was the subject of the passage. The word, "wherefore" can also mean "where". This does make sense as she didn't have to go to an open window to make her statement or soliloquy. Her calling out, "Wherefore art thou" meant that she didn't know he was present and it supports her statement "What man art thou, that, thus be-screen'd in night, So stumblest on my counsel?" as he was obscured in the darkness below.

Answer 3

Juliet said it on the balcony the night after the party, Translation is: Romeo Romeo, why are you Romeo? meaning she is wondering why Romeo has to be "Romeo the Montague" rather then anyone else

Answer 4

Most people think that "Wherefore art thou romeo?"means "Where are you, Romeo?" but it actually means "WHY ARE YOU, ROMEO?" sounds crazy i know but its a true fact that hardly no one knows!!!!!

((In case you want to know, she's asking herself that because she wishes Romeo didn't have to be born a Montague, someone she could never have))

Answer 5

"Wherefore" means "why" in the same way as "What are you called Romeo for?" means "Why are you called Romeo". "Wherefore are you called Romeo?" does not mean "Where are you, Romeo?" any more than "What are you called Romeo for?" means, "What are you called, Romeo?"

Juliet wants to know why this man she is so attracted to should have a name that her family has taught her to hate. ("My only love sprung from my only hate.") That is why the next line is "Deny thy father and refuse thy name."

Another Somewhat Unconventional Answer

"Wherefore art thou Romeo" simply means "Why are 'you' Romeo." Notice the word before Romeo! It's very important. Juliet is merely questioning Romeo's existence. His actual being. She wants him but can't have him under the rules as they applied at that time. The fact that he is a Montague and she a Capulet is merely incidental to her problem. Juliet deludes herself by thinking that her anguish is only because of a family feud etc. The true genesis of Juliet's anguish in the line "Wherefore art thou Romeo?" only exists because Romeo does[exist], and this is what she is questioning. She's thinking, why should he exist if she can't have him? She is acting just like a child who thinks that everything they see belongs to them, and is actually a part of them, until they become mature enough to understand otherwise. Juliet was still a very young and impressionable girl, and Romeo had indeed made a very big impression on her.

Remember this, the line actually reads as: "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?", not: "Why are you called Romeo?" We all know that he's called Romeo, that's on the surface, but Shakespeare was a lot deeper than that. Just the same as Rene Descarte said: "I think, therefore I am". Existence is all important. If something doesn't exist in reality or in our minds then we don't have a want for it. But Juliet knows that Romeo does exist, and she wants him, badly. This is why many people will pretend that something -- or more particularly, someone -- doesn't exist when they've had a falling out. It's easier for them to try to banish the other person's existence from their mind altogether, futilely thinking that, "If I can't have you, then nobody will, you'll cease to exist".

Answer 6

"Wherefore" means "why". So she is asking "Why do you have to be Romeo?" and what she means by that is "Why do you have to be a Montague?" She is struggling with the conflict between her family's traditional hate of Montagues and her love for Romeo.

Answer 7

In Juliet's soliloquy, she asks herself why does Romeo have to bear the name of Montague. Fore if she were to love him without the name, it would be allowed.

Answer 8

"Oh romeo oh Romeo, why do you have to be a Montague"?

Answer 9

Juliet is asking (to no one in particular, just talking to herself) why Romeo is Romeo (more specifically, a Montague)