In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet,
the quote given is spoken by Mercutio. The conversation occurs between Romeo and
Mercutio before they attend the Capulet's masquerade party, and
before Romeo first meets Juliet. At this point, he is still
lamenting his unrequited (unreturned) love by Rosalind, who has promised herself to a
convent.
Romeo has asked Mercutio how to handle love when
it hurts. He asks if love is tender: if so, it seems too rough and aggressive, sharp
like a thorn.
Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,
Too rude, too boist'rous, and it pricks like thorn.
(I.iv.25-26)
Mercutio, ever
to the point, responds that if love is rough with you, be rough right back. If it pricks
you like a thorn—causing you pain— stick it back; if you do this, eventually love will
falter or collapse under your aggressive response.
If love be rough with you, be rough with love.
Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.
(I.iv.27-28)
Although this
may seem to Mercutio like good advice, it is obvious that Romeo is not such a strong
person with love—at least not at this point in his life. He has
spent a great deal of time romanticizing and sighing over his love of Rosalind, acting
like a victim. It is not until he meets and falls in love with Juliet that the immature
Romeo "turns a corner," maturing to the point that he will aggressively do all that he
can, not to beat love down, but to win Juliet's love for
himself.
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