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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 1Scene 2
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"bound more than a madman"
Metaphor
Act 1,
Scene 2
Lines 54-57a

Romeo compares his suffering to that of a madman in myShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 2

Benvolio

Why, Romeo, art thou mad?

Romeo

Not mad, but bound more than a madman is:
Shut up in prison, kept without my food,
Whipped and tormented and —
[Romeo and Benvolio notice the servant who has approached them]

Servant

Romeo

Servant

Romeo

Servant

Romeo

[Romeo reads]

Servant

Romeo

Servant

Romeo

Servant

Romeo

Servant

[Exit servant]

Benvolio

Romeo

Benvolio

Romeo

[Exit]

When Benvolio asks Romeo if he’s mad, Romeo responds that no, he’s not mad, but he’s suffering as much as a madman. In Shakespeare’s day, the mentally insane were generally locked away in prisons where they were abused.