What is the significance of Juliet’s speech? What is she saying about names, language, and identity? What is her solution to the obstacle the Capulet and Montague names present?

JULIET O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? 35
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; 40
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 45
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 50
Take all myself.

Respuesta :

In this speech, Juliet acknowledges the difficulty in being with a Montague, as she is a Capulet. However, she argues that these names are just words. They are not intrinsic to the person. Romeo would be the same person, whether he was a Montague or not (just as a rose would have the same smell even if it was not called a rose). Therefore, she asks him to renounce his name, and no longer be a Montague. And if he feels he cannot do this, she will stop being a Capulet.