Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow Examples

The line "parting is such sweet sorrow" is from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. In the play, Romeo and Juliet meet at a masked ball and immediately fall into infatuation. Only later do they learn that they are from warring families-the Montagues and Capulets. They are "star-crossed" lovers destined for demise. In spite of their families' hatred, the two plot to marry in secret. Through several twists of fate, Juliet fakes her death, Romeo kills himself (thinking she is dead), and Juliet then kills herself because Romeo is gone.

The line "parting is such sweet sorrow" is spoken by Juliet in Act II, Scene II, which is referred to as the famous "Balcony Scene." It is after the party where the two initially met, and Romeo wanders into the Capulet's orchard and sees Juliet on the balcony. He listens to her talk about him and meeting him, until he finally speaks up and they share a tender scene where they lament their names and their families' feud. Near the end of the scene, after Juliet's nurse has called to her repeatedly, Juliet and Romeo say their goodbyes-after agreeing to meet the next day. Juliet says,

"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,

That I shall say good night till it be morrow."

The line means what it says-that Juliet is sorry to have to part with Romeo. Instead of saying good-bye, she says "good night," knowing that they have agreed to meet the next day. Parting with Romeo hurts her, so she says that she will just say "good night" until the morning.

This line, "parting is such sweet sorrow" is often used today in advertisements and in everyday language when people must say good-bye to each other. Like many lines from Shakespeare, it has lasted through time as a creative way to express an everyday emotion.