Romeo and Juliet Group

Question:

tear-of-blood4
tear-of-blood4
Student
High School - 9th Grade

What does this quote from Romeo and Juliet mean? "Virtue itself turns vice, being misapllied,/A vice sometime by action dignified."

Act ii

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Posted by tear-of-blood4 on Thursday March 13, 2008 at 12:11 AM and tagged with act ii, quotes, romeo and juliet.

Answers:


  1. amethystrose Teacher
    High School - 9th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The Friar is saying that all things have the potential for both help and for harm (virtue and vice).  His soliloquy is while he is picking herbs for his potions, but the properties do not relate strictly to plants.  No matter what good qualities something (or someone) possesses, if they are misused for any reason, the result may be more harmful than helpful.  You've heard of "too much of a good thing...", right?  This idea will fit both Romeo and Juliet as the play progesses (foreshadowing) because, for them, too much love, no matter how wonderful it may be, once it is "misapplied" (becomes obsessive) will turn out to be disastrous.  For them, "virtue itself turns vice" and they both commit suicide for love.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo/act-ii-commentary
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo/act-ii-scenes-3-4-summary-ana...
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo/lawrence-character-analysis

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    Posted by amethystrose on Thursday March 13, 2008 at 4:11 AM