At the Capulet's ball, Romeo asks the nurse about Juliet's
identity and he is distraught at hearing that she is a Capulet, sworn enemy to the
Montagues, Romeo's family. There exists an age-old feud between the two
houses.
Romeo uses an accounting metaphor: by mentioning a
"dear account" he suggests that there is a high price to pay for being in love with
one's enemy.
"My life is my foe's debt" implies that
Romeo's life is now in his enemy's hands. Whatever account there is to settle will
be paid for with his life - this foreshadows his tragic death later. Furthermore, it
also suggests that his life will be controlled by his enemy. He will forever be at
Juliet's command for he loves her. She will be master of his fate and the paradox is
that she is, at once, also his enemy being the daughter of his family's sworn
opposition. Furthermore, his enemy, in this sense, Juliet, owes him his life - she gives
him a reason to live for he is overwhelmed by his love for
her.
The nurse later tells Juliet who Romeo is and she
too, overwhelmed by the information, comments about her 'only love' which has found its
source in her 'only hate'. This means that the one person whom she truly loves is also a
member of the one family that she has been taught to hate. She loves no other and she
hates no one else. This once again presents a paradox: how does one love and hate the
same person at the same time?
Juliet expresses her dismay
by observing that she had seen (or fallen in love with Romeo) "too early", i.e. before
she knew who he really was and she only discovered his true identity when it was "too
late". Her love for him could not be undone despite the fact that he was supposed to be
a member of her family's sworn enemy.
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