Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Play ·335 of 348
""Wherefore art thou Romeo?" — popularly read as "where are you, Romeo?""
They never said that.
What people say
""Wherefore art thou Romeo?" — popularly read as "where are you, Romeo?""
What was actually said
"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?" Juliet — Romeo and Juliet (II.ii.33)
Why it stuck
"Wherefore" means "why" in early modern English, not "where." Juliet is asking why Romeo has to be a Montague — the whole speech is about names, not location.
Her next line makes the meaning explicit: "Deny thy father and refuse thy name."
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.