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Diana
Mythological Reference
Act 2,
Scene 2
Lines 4-10
A mythological reference is made to Diana, the goddess of chastity and virgins in myShakespeare'sRomeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2.
Romeo
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.
Be not her maid since she is envious.
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off.
[Juliet appears at the window]
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
Romeo imagines Juliet as a worshipper of Diana, the goddess of chastity and virgins, whose symbol is the moon. In his description, Diana is envious because Juliet is more beautiful than she. This has made Dianapale with grief, which explains why the moon's light is sickly and pale compared to that of the sun. Romeo calls on Julietto rise and kill the jealous moon (which the real sun will seem to do once it rises above the horizon and the moon becomes barely visible).
