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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 1Scene 1
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"Love is a smoke"
Metaphor
Act 1,
Scene 1
Lines 185-187

Romeo's metaphor describes a lover's sighs as producing smoke in myShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 1.

Romeo

Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs —
Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes;
Being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers' tears.

In Romeo’s metaphor a lover’s sighs produce smoke. If all goes well, and the love is returned, then the smoke goes away leaving a sparkle in both lovers’ eyes. But if the love is not returned, then tears stream forth as if the lovers’ eyes were being irritated by the smoke.