[Romeo and Juliet come from feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets. But they fall in love at a ball, and Romeo, sneaking into her garden, overhears Juliet talking to herself on her balcony]
Juliet. Oh, Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father, and refuse thy name;
or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
and I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
Romeo. [Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Juliet.‘Tis but thy name that is mine enemy;
thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What is Montague? It is nor hand nor foot,
nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
by any other name would smell as sweet;
so Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
retain that dear perfection which he owes
without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
and for that name which is no part of thee
take all myself.
—William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Romeo and Juliet (ca 1595), Act II, Scene 2.