Student Question
How can one rephrase this excerpt from Romeo and Juliet?
For naught so vile that on the earth doth live.
But to the earth some special good doth give;
Nor aught so good but, strained from that fair use,
Revolts from true birth, stumbling abuse.
Quick answer:
In Act II, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence reflects on the dual nature of plants and herbs. He observes that even the most vile elements contribute positively to the earth, while good things can be corrupted and misused. This philosophy applies to both nature and human behavior, illustrating how virtues can be twisted into harm. His speech foreshadows the role he will play in Juliet's fake death using his knowledge of natural elements.
In the opening soliloquy/monologue (labeled such because the first part is spoken alone on stage and the second is addressed to Romeo) of Act II, Scene 3, the audience is introduced to Friar Lawrence. The speech provides three purposes. First, it sets the scene of early morning outside of the Friar's "cell." Shakespeare used very few props in the original staging of his plays so the setting was often described by a character.
Second, the Friar elaborates on his philosophy of life. He is gathering "weeds" and "flowers" to make both poisons and medicines. He believes that everything in the earth is useful and that things that are dangerous are also important and give the earth its special qualities. He says,
For naught so vile that on the earth doth live
But to the earth some special good doth give.
Nor aught so good but, strained...
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from that fair use
Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse.
He's also saying that sometimes things that are good or virtuous can be applied for evil and abused. This applies to medicines which can sometimes heal and sometimes cause further illness (see any modern pharmaceutical advertisement which is touting some drug, yet warning of debilitating side effects).
His philosophy of plants and herbs also applies to people. A person may have a great ability to be benevolent, but a streak of cruelty and hatred may also reside. This carries over to the plot of the play, as seemingly good people perform evil acts. Mercutio can't control his arrogance, Tybalt gives in to violent reaction, Lord Capulet flies into a rage when disobeyed by his daughter and Romeo commits murder to fulfill his death wish.
Finally, the Friar's speech provides foreshadowing. Because he is picking plants and herbs for medicines and poisons, we know that he is capable of mixing the potion which allows Juliet to fake her death in Act IV.
In these lines from act 2, scene 3, Friar Lawrence is commenting on the plants and herbs he is gathering. The friar is in awe of the properties that plants, herbs, and stones have. The friar's knowledge of such natural elements shows that natural elements have both good and bad properties. Even if the plant or herb has poisonous or "vile" qualities, it also provides the earth with good, beneficial elements ("But to the earth some special good doth give"). Even though it can be used for good, it's properties are sometimes twisted ("strained") from being used positively and misused ("Revolts from true truth, stumbling on abuse").