Act II Scene I Blog Questions

1. What does Mercutio say about “blind love”?

Mercutio says “If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.” The meaning of this quote is that if you only love someone for their physical appearance, you can never truly love that person. This is the situation between Romeo and Rosaline. Mercutio says, “By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh.” Romeo only loves Rosaline for her beautiful looks as described by Mercutio. If Romeo truly loved Rosaline, he would accept her choice to become a nun. But because of his childish and selfish love, he will not accept her choice and keeps chasing something he’s never going to get rather than looking for someone else.

2. Why does Mercutio chide Romeo?

1. Mercutio chides Romeo hoping that one day he will finally understand what true loves. Mercutio goes into a lengthy speech about how pretty Rosaline is and chides Romeo for only looking on the outside and not Rosaline’s true self. Romeo probably does not know a single thing about Rosaline’s personality. Mercutio says, “’I conjure only but to raise up him.” Mercutio is only trying to get Romeo to come back to them, but he is also chiding him in the process. Mercutio is trying to get Romeo to understand how messed up his love for Rosaline is.