Expert: Randy Sus - 2/19/2009

Question
Hi!
On Scene iii, act 2, there is a line by Juliet that says:
"I am not I if there be such an ay,
Or those eyes shut, that make thee answer ay"
Whose eyes does Juliet refer to?
Are they Romeo's eyes that are shut and make the nurse answer 'yes' to her question?  
Or is Juliet telling the nurse 'shut those eyes' (the nurse's), because they are answering for the nurse.
Thanks in advance!!!

Answer
Hi, Vanessa,

Thanks for calling upon "Allexperts" for an interpretation of lines from Romeo and Juliet.

I copied the exact lines below to make for a simpler explanation.


JULIET   What devil art thou, that dost torment me thus?
  This torture should be roar'd in dismal hell.
  Hath Romeo slain himself? say thou but 'I,'
  And that bare vowel 'I' shall poison more
  Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice:
  I am not I, if there be such an I;
  Or those eyes shut, that make thee answer 'I.'
  If he be slain, say 'I'; or if not, no:
  Brief sounds determine of my weal or woe.

It's a long, sad, hellish day for Juliet.  In this scene, it appears that the news is ALL bad.  Romeo, out of remorse, killed himself because, seeking vengeance, he killed Tybalt because he killed Mercutio,----and the news just keeps getting worse.

Shakespeare enjoys word play here with the word "I" when he considers two other variations on the vowel.  "Aye" and "Eye"
When one says "aye" he is affirming something. Saying yes!
One's "eye" can be closed or blinded--closed in death or closed in denial.
We usually try to "close our eyes" to sad truths to deny them.


If all this dreadful news the nurse transmits is true, requiring an "AYE" affirmation from the nurse, she, Juliet will also say "I" (she, herself) is dead, since she has little then for which to live.

The lines ARE a bit tricky and can be discussed in depth, but they are most simply relaying Juliet's grief at receiving sad news.

I hope that my comments are of some help.
Best wishes as you continue your Shakespearean studies.

Happy trails,

Randy