In Romeo and Juliet balcony scene where they decide to forsake their identities, give me an textual evidence agreeing with the statement of, Romeo and Juliet should forsake their identities.

1 answer

One example of textual evidence from Romeo and Juliet that supports the idea that Romeo and Juliet should forsake their identities is found in Juliet's soliloquy during the balcony scene:

"'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."

Here, Juliet is suggesting that it is only Romeo's name that keeps them apart, and that his true self is not defined by his family name. She argues that they should forsake their identities, or at least their family names, in order to be together. This is evidence that supports the idea that Romeo and Juliet should forsake their identities.