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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 1Scene 1
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Cultural Reference
Cultural Reference
Act 1,
Scene 1
Lines 212-219

A reference made to young women in Shakespeare's day dedicating themselves to God and becoming a nun in myShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 1.

Benvolio

Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste?

Romeo

She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste,
For beauty starved with her severity
Cuts beauty off from all posterity.
She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair,
To merit bliss by making me despair.
She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow
Do I live dead that live to tell it now.                            

It was not uncommon in Shakespeare’s day for a young woman to dedicate her life to God and become a nun. This appears to be the path chosen by the woman with whom Romeo has fallen in love, which means that her beauty will not be passed down to future generations.