What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
– William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2. In one of Shakespeare’s most frequently quoted passages, Juliet uses flower imagery to illustrate how absurd it is that two people in love are unable to be together because of their family names. Using the metaphor of a rose for Romeo, she says that if a rose was called another name it would still have the same sweet smell. She is suggesting that no matter what Romeo’s family name is she loves him for who he is. Before these words Juliet says: "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!" Juliet is saying that while Romeo may be Montague, his physical body and identity are his own. Her reference to a man’s body parts indicates that she is thinking of Romeo in a sexual way. We also see the theme of appearance vs reality in this passage.