What does 'wherefore art thou' mean?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the meaning of the phrase 'wherefore art thou,' which is commonly known from Shakespeare's play 'Romeo and Juliet.' This phrase is often misunderstood; it actually means 'why are you,' rather than asking about a location as many believe.
Answer
It means 'why are you'.
The final answer is that 'wherefore art thou' means 'why are you'
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is that 'wherefore art thou' means 'why are you'
More Information
'Wherefore art thou Romeo?' translates to 'Why are you Romeo?' It expresses Juliet's lament that Romeo belongs to the rival Montague family.
Sources
- Wherefore art thou meaning? - Merriam-Webster - merriam-webster.com
- Shakespeare: Wherefore art thou meaning? - Pursuit - pursuit.unimelb.edu.au
- Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? - Dictionary.com - dictionary.com