In the famous balcony scene, Romeo is so enamored of the lovely Juliet that he starts using flowery, extravagant language to express his passionate feelings. Carried away by his beating, love-filled heart, Romeo is ready to swear by “yonder blessed moon” that he loves Juliet, when Juliet cuts him short:
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
that he starts using flowery, extravagant language to express his passionate feelings. Carried away by his beating, love-filled heart, Romeo is ready to swear by “yonder blessed moon” that he loves Juliet, when Juliet cuts him short:
O, swear not by the moon, th'inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circle orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
(act 2, scene 2, lines 109–111)
As Juliet points out, the moon is always changing—that's what she means by “th'inconstant moon”—and so it doesn't seem appropriate to swear your undying love for someone by something that changes so often.
Romeo's love for Juliet is supposed to be permanent and enduring, but the moon, at least as it appears in the sky, is anything but. The last thing Juliet wants is for Romeo to be as inconstant as the moon; she doesn't want him to change his position every month.
Romeo then asks Juliet what he should swear by, if not the moon. Juliet replies by saying that he shouldn't swear at all, but if he really must, then he should swear by his “gracious self,” as that is the god that she worships like an idol. If Romeo does that, then Juliet will believe him.
Juliet is no less in love with Romeo than he is with her, but it's notable in this scene that her feet are planted more firmly on the ground than Romeo's. She wants to be sure that this is the real thing and not some infatuation.