Question
Imagine another Capulet heard Juliet's arguments. What might he or she say to counter, or argue against, her claims?
Scroll down to see the excerpt. O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO
Aside.
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
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 word 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 thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.
ROMEO
I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptiz’d;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
JULIET
What man art thou that thus bescreen’d in night
So stumblest on my counsel?
ROMEO
By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am.
My name,
Scroll down to see the excerpt. O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO
Aside.
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
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 word 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 thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.
ROMEO
I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptiz’d;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
JULIET
What man art thou that thus bescreen’d in night
So stumblest on my counsel?
ROMEO
By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am.
My name,
Answers
GPT-4o mini
If another Capulet were to overhear Juliet's passionate pleas about the insignificance of names and love transcending family loyalty, they might counter her arguments with a strong defense of the Capulet family's honor and the importance of their name. Here's how such a counter-argument might unfold:
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**Capulet Relative:**
"Juliet, my dear, I understand your heart yearns for love, and perhaps the youth who stands before you captivates your spirit. However, have you considered the weight of our family name? Your arguments about names being mere labels dismiss the deep-rooted significance they carry.
The name ‘Capulet’ is not just a sound; it embodies our lineage, our honor, and our legacy. It represents countless generations of our family's pride and status in Verona. To cast aside our name is to call into question who we are and the sacrifices made by those before us to uphold our family’s reputation.
You speak of being a rose—beautiful and fragrant regardless of its name—but remember, it is the name that identifies the flower. If you are to abandon the Capulet name for this fleeting infatuation, what of the values and expectations that shape our family? We are bound by duty and honor, and our ties to one another should not be so easily dismissed.
Moreover, consider the consequences of your desire. To fall in love with a Montague, our sworn enemy, not only places you in peril but also risks igniting further conflict between our families. Love may be strong, Juliet, but it must be tempered by prudence and reason. Devotion does not exist in a vacuum; it must consider loyalty to family and the potential chaos that may ensue from abandoning those ties.
In matters of the heart, remember that love should be wise, not merely passionate. Before you reject the name that has defined you, weigh the costs of such a choice. True love may endure, but it should also respect the bonds that connect us to our family and our past."
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This response highlights the values of family loyalty and the weight of social identity, presenting a counterpoint to Juliet's youthful idealism.
---
**Capulet Relative:**
"Juliet, my dear, I understand your heart yearns for love, and perhaps the youth who stands before you captivates your spirit. However, have you considered the weight of our family name? Your arguments about names being mere labels dismiss the deep-rooted significance they carry.
The name ‘Capulet’ is not just a sound; it embodies our lineage, our honor, and our legacy. It represents countless generations of our family's pride and status in Verona. To cast aside our name is to call into question who we are and the sacrifices made by those before us to uphold our family’s reputation.
You speak of being a rose—beautiful and fragrant regardless of its name—but remember, it is the name that identifies the flower. If you are to abandon the Capulet name for this fleeting infatuation, what of the values and expectations that shape our family? We are bound by duty and honor, and our ties to one another should not be so easily dismissed.
Moreover, consider the consequences of your desire. To fall in love with a Montague, our sworn enemy, not only places you in peril but also risks igniting further conflict between our families. Love may be strong, Juliet, but it must be tempered by prudence and reason. Devotion does not exist in a vacuum; it must consider loyalty to family and the potential chaos that may ensue from abandoning those ties.
In matters of the heart, remember that love should be wise, not merely passionate. Before you reject the name that has defined you, weigh the costs of such a choice. True love may endure, but it should also respect the bonds that connect us to our family and our past."
---
This response highlights the values of family loyalty and the weight of social identity, presenting a counterpoint to Juliet's youthful idealism.