That which we call a rose meaning

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is a popular adage from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, in which Juliet seems to argue that it does not matter that Romeo is from her family's rival house of Montague. The reference is used to state that the names of things do not affect what they really are. This formulation is, however, a paraphrase of Shakespeare's actual language. Juliet compares Romeo to a rose saying that if he were not named Romeo he would still be handsome and be Juliet's love. This states that if he were not Romeo, then he would not be a Montague and she would be able to marry him without hindrances.

Origin[edit]

In the famous speech of Act II, Scene II[1] of the play, the line is said by Juliet in reference to Romeo's house: Montague. The line implies that his name (and thus his family's feud with Juliet's family) means nothing and they should be together.

Juliet:

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 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.

Romeo:

I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.

Original texts[edit]

Although it is one of the most famous quotes from the work of Shakespeare, no printing in Shakespeare's lifetime presents the text in the form known to modern readers: it is a skillful amalgam assembled by Edmond Malone, an editor in the eighteenth century.

Romeo and Juliet was published twice, in two very different versions. The first version of 1597, named "Q1", is believed to have been an unauthorised pirate copy or bad quarto provided to the printer by actors off the books: a memorial reconstruction. It may also, separately, represent a version of the play improved and trimmed after rehearsals for more dramatic impact.[2]

It runs:

’Tis but thy name that is mine enemy:
What's Montague? It is not hand nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part.
What's in a name? That which we call a rose,
By any other name would smell as sweet.

Q2, a superior 1599 printing, is believed to be a more official version printed from Shakespeare's original manuscript although perhaps not with Shakespeare's personal input. This is believed since there are textual oddities such as "false starts" for speeches that were presumably not clearly crossed out enough for the printer to spot.

It uses the text:

’Tis but thy name that is my enemy:
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague,
What's Montague? It is not hand nor foot,
Nor arm nor face. O be some other name,
belonging to a man!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose,
By any other word would smell as sweet.

Malone reasoned that the awkward half-line of ‘belonging to a man’ could be reconnected into verse through correction with Q1. Modern editors have generally concurred.

See also[edit]

• Law of identity
• Rhetorical device
• The Importance of Being Earnest
• Rectification of names

References[edit]

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

1. ^ Romeo and Juliet on MIT's website
2. ^ Belsey, Catherine (2014). Romeo and Juliet Language and Writing. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781472539441.

Origin of A Rose by Any Other Name

The real origin of this phrase is unknown, but it is said that it was coined by William Shakespeare. In Act-II, Scene-II of Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, Juliet says this phrase in reference to family, and the family name of Romeo. She says, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By Any Other Name would smell as sweet.” This implies that his family name has nothing to do with their love, and they should be together. Since Capulets and Montagues hate each other, love is forbidden merely due to these names.

Meaning of A Rose by Any Other Name

The importance of a person or thing is the way it is; not because of what it is called. Simply, it means the names of things cannot affect what they actually are. This line is, in fact, very profound, suggesting that a name is just a label to distinguish one thing from another. It neither has any worth, nor gives true meaning. Only an individual or thing has a worth when it deserves it; for example, even if we call a rose by an entirely different name, it would smell the same as it does by its name “rose.” Likewise, Juliet links this with Romeo, that his name is just a label, and that he would stay the same for her.

Usage of A Rose by Any Other Name

This phrase is very common is poetry and everyday life. For instance, poets and lovers call their beloveds by different names, like rose, lily, and shining star. Usually people name their pets with human names and many other names. It is used in birthday or celebratory speeches to flatter the person that he is praiseworthy. It can be used in awards ceremonies to call legends and keynote speakers. However, it is best used with its conjoined sentence, “What is in a name.”

Literary Source of A Rose by Any Other Name

Juliet says this phrase in lines 43-44, Act-II, Scene-II of Romeo and Juliet. This phrase implies Shakespeare’s belief that a name means very little, but the individual’s worth counts.

JULIET:
“Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? …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 and Juliet, Act-II, Scene-II, Lines 38-49)

Juliet is trying to argue that, though Romeo is from a rival’s house and named Montague, it does not matter to her, as long as they both love each other.

Literary Analysis of A Rose by Any Other Name

The idea of this line is love, beauty, and family names. In this line, Juliet talks to herself, rehearsing that Romeo’s family is a meaningless and an artificial convention. She loves him as a person not due to his family name, Montague. Out of his love for Juliet, Romeo rejects the name of his family, and vows as Juliet’s lover, as she asks him to be “new baptized” and “deny (his) father.” In fact, this line encapsulates the tragedy and central struggle of the entire play. This is not only evocative but highly suggestive phrase when combined with the previous one.

Literary Devices

• Run on Line: The idea moves into next line, as there is a run on line.
• Metaphor: Smell is a metaphor for qualities or characteristics related to flowers.

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