myRomeo&Juliet An explanation of the word "idolatry" in Act 2, Scene 2 of myShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, Which is the god of my idolatry, Video Transcript: SARAH: Idol derives from the latin word īdōlum, meaning an image such as a reflection in the water, a statue, or a vision. This latin word in turn derives from the older Greek word, eidos, which means form or shape. RALPH: But in English, its usage was quickly restricted to refer to an image of a false god. Idolatry, then, is the sin of worshiping that false god. SARAH: In this line, when Juliet ironically refers to Romeo as the god of her
idolatry, it’s the first instance of anyone using idol or idolatry in a positive sense. RALPH: In English today, idolatry still means the worship of a false god. But we continue to use the word “idol” like Juliet does here. When we refer to our favorite writer, actor, or singer, for example, we might call him or her our “idol.”
An explanation of the significance of “contract” in Act 2, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, Which is the god of my idolatry, If my heart's dear love — Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight. It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night.
In Shakespeare's day, one entered a legal marriage contract simply by swearing love for the other person in front of a single witness. This could happen anywhere—even in a pub. There is no witness in this instance, so Juliet is referring to the implied contract one makes with God when swearing an oath.
Romeo and Juliet: Act 2, Scene 2 TranslationA side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
What does Juliet mean when she says which is the god of my idolatry?Idolatry, then, is the sin of worshiping that false god. SARAH: In this line, when Juliet ironically refers to Romeo as the god of her idolatry, it's the first instance of anyone using idol or idolatry in a positive sense. RALPH: In English today, idolatry still means the worship of a false god.
Which is the god of my idolatry?While speaking to Romeo, Juliet describes him as that “which is the god of my idolatry” (Line 121). In other words, she is saying that Romeo is the god of her adoration, of her worship.
Who says swear by thy gracious self?Shakespeare's own Sonnet 105 begins, 'Let not my love be called idolatry', answering the charge that love can become a form of blasphemy, a sin, if the beloved is treated as a god. Juliet's suggestion that Romeo swear by his gracious self has equal weight, though, and I like its concrete simplicity.
What does Juliet tell Romeo to swear by?O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable. Romeo asks what he should swear on, if he shouldn't swear by the moon.
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