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A note to the person running the O Romeo banner...

by christopher jon
1 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
While it's a very common misconception, wherefore does not mean where, it means why

wherefore

The correct interpretation of that line would be...

Oh, Romeo, Romeo, why do you have to be Romeo? Forget about your father and change your name.

The devil is in the details and something like this can hurt your sales.

#banner #note #person #romeo #running
  • Profile picture of the author Nicola Lane
    Christopher - In the literal sense you are right.

    The complete quote is:

    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.

    The 'wherefore' here means why rather than where. What Juliet is asking, in allusion to the feud between her Capulet family and Romeo's Montague clan, is 'Romeo, why are you a Montague?'. Their love is impossible because of their family names and she asks him to change his allegiance, or else she will change hers.

    (I stole this from: O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? because I am far too lazy to write this out myself!)

    However

    Most people don't know this! You will be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't have an English Literature degree who would realize this.

    I think it works - the banner made me smile - and take a look - and I did know what the quote really meant.

    But it is a good point and definitely something that the banner owner should think about.
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    I like to keep an open mind, but not so open that my brains fall out

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