Question

What is most closely a theme of the passage below?

JULIET: ’Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name;
And for that name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.

A. It is important to change one’s name before marriage.

B. Names can drive people apart.

C. Names are a reflection of the actual person.

D. A name in itself lacks physical reality because it can be easily changed.

Answer 1

The most closely related theme of the passage is:

B. Names can drive people apart.

In this passage, Juliet expresses her belief that Romeo's name as a Montague is the source of conflict between them, suggesting that societal labels and names can create barriers to love and connection.