Question

What point does Juliet make when she speaks these lines in Act II, Scene ii, of The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet?

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
A. She wishes that Romeo would change his name.
B. She loves Romeo even though he is a Montague.
C. She thinks that Romeo has a sweet-sounding name.
D. The growing love she feels for Romeo is like a blooming rose.

Answer 1

In these lines from Act II, Scene ii of *The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet*, Juliet is expressing the idea that a name itself does not affect the essence or the quality of a person or thing. Specifically, she is lamenting the fact that Romeo is a Montague, a name that represents a family feud with her own family, the Capulets. Therefore, the correct answer is:

**B. She loves Romeo even though he is a Montague.**

This highlights her feelings of love for him despite the conflict represented by their family names.