The balcony scene
Here is an extract from Juliet's speech on her balcony. She talks about her feelings for Romeo, but doesn't realise that he is listening.
Read this extract from the famous balcony scene, where Juliet is talking about her love for Romeo.
Shakespeare’s original version
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.
Modern translation
JULIET
Only your name is my enemy.
You’d be yourself even if you weren’t a Montague.
What is a Montague?
It isn’t a hand, foot, arm, face, or any other body part.
Oh, change your name!
What does a name mean?
A rose would smell as sweet
even if we called it by some other name.
Tell us more
- How easy is it to understand Shakespeare’s original version above?
- Is it easier / more difficult than you expected?
