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Analysis. A thorough “Romeo and Juliet” character analysis is needed for a clear
understanding of the play and the motivations of each character. Each “Romeo and
Juliet” analysis below focuses on major characters in the play, their physical traits,
their personalities and their role in the plot.
Today Romeo is synonymous with love. He is one of the protagonists in the
play and in this classic play Romeo‘s passion drives him to kill himself when he
believes his love, Juliet, is dead. It is the overwhelming power of Romeo‘s love
that clouds his character, making him far more complex than his peers. His
intensity of emotion is reflected in his extreme actions throughout the play.Romeo
is a lover of women and a lover of poetry. His love is by no means a simple or
straightforward matter. At the beginning of the play, Romeo pines for Rosaline,
“Out of favor where I am in love”.(Act 1:1:159) He proclaims her beauty “O, she
is rich in beauty…”. (Act 1:1:206). However, Romeo‘s love for Rosaline
disappears the instant he sees Juliet. Romeo‘s passion for poetry is reflected in his
language in Act 1:1. Yet his manner of speech here could suggest his emotion is
somewhat put on or artificial. When considering Shakespeare’s use of metaphor
and immerge this language donates Romeo‘s all encompassing emotion. Romeo‘s
sense of foreboding as he makes his way to the Capulet feast anticipates in his first
meeting with Juliet:
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“My mind misgives
Some consequences yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date”(1.4.106-107).
When Romeo receives the news of Juliet’s death, he exhibits maturity and
composure as he resolves to die. His only desire is to be with Juliet: “Well Juliet, I
will lie with thee tonight” (V.1.36) Romeo‘s final speech recalls the Prologue in
which the “star-cross’s” lives of the lovers are sacrificed to end the feud:
O here
Will I set up my everlasting rest
And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world wearied flesh ( V.3.109-112).
Juliet Capulet appears to be a shy and innocent girl at the beginning of the play,
but the depth of her character shows as she meets Romeo, defines her father,
marries Romeo and ultimately commits suicide. While appearing quiet and
obedient, Juliet displays inner strength, intelligence, bravery, wit and
independence. It is, in fact, Juliet who asks Romeo to marry her. She also shows
her inner strength and independent nature in her decision to die rather than marry
Raris: “If all else fail, myself have power to die”. By so doing, she takes control of
her own destiny instead of allowing her life to be controlled by others, as so many
young women in her circumstances at that time would.
Juliet’s own words demonstrate her strength of character, growing maturity,
especially regarding love. Here some examples:
Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract tonight.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say “It lightens”. Sweet, good night”
( ACT 2, Scene 2, Lines 123-127).
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Moreover, she declares her own love in one of Shakespeare’s most profound
images of selfless love:
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My Love as deep, the more I give to thee.
The more I have, for both are infinite”.
One of the reasons that “Romeo and Juliet” has been so successful over the past
four centuries is that it has Juliet Capulet as one of its protagonists. Her striking
intelligence, steely determination, sharp self-awareness and remarkable courage
place her at the very top of the league of powerful Shakespearean women.
A Franciscan monk, friend to both Romeo and Juliet. Kind, civic-minded,
proponent of moderation and always ready with a plan, Friar Laurence secretly
marries the impassioned lovers in hopes that the union might eventually bring
peace to Verona. Though a catholic monk, Friar Laurence also, oddly, an expert in
the use of seemingly mystical potions and herbs.
The “Romeo and Juliet” quotes below are all either spoken by Friar Laurence
or refer to him. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes
related to it:
ACT 2, SCENE 3 Quotes
For naught so vile that on the earth doth live, both to the earth
some special good doth give;
Nor aught so good but, strain’d from that fair use, revolts from true
birth, stumbling on the abuse:
Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied;
And vice sometimes by action dignified.
In addition, though Friar Laurence’s plans all seem well conceived and well
mentioned, they serve as the main mechanisms through which the fated tragedy of
the play occurs. Readers should recognize that the Friar is not only subject to the
fate that dominates the play, in many ways he brings that fate about.
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“Loyal”, “Devoted”, “Funny”, and “Witty” are just a few of the words that
describe Romeo‘s best friend, Mercutio. However Mercutio is murdered in Act 3,
Scene 1 in a fight with Tybalt. It is reported that audiences love Mercuito so much
that some performances go south after his character dies. Meanwhile, Mercutio is a
skeptic, a man who mock love. When he finds that Romeo is in love with Juliet,
his reaction is to make fun of his best friend:
Romeo, Humors! Madman! Passion! Lover!
Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh,
Speak but one rhyme and I am satisfied.
Moreover, his “Queen Mab” speech in Act 1, Scene 4 remains one of the most
debated monologues in Shakespearean literature; there are almost as many
interpretations of that speech as there have been performances of “Romeo and
Juliet” and his wise-cracking personality amuses both the audience, his friends and
even Juliet’s nurse.
Tybalt, who is Juliet’s cousin is considered as antagonist of the play. He is
extremely feisty and enjoys the conflict between the Montagues and his family. He
is strong-willed, argumentative, passionate and loyal. All of these characteristics
are demonstrated when he finds out that Romeo has gate-crashed Capulet party,
knowing that the Montagues are not welcome.
Tybalt is argumentative when he speaks to any of the Montague family. He
fuels the conflict between the two families: “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
that thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw”. This shows Tybalt’s anger
towards Romeo. The fact that Tybalt is calling Romeo a “boy” is an insult and
illustrates how Tybalt is instigating the conflict, wanting Romeo to react to the
insult. He is also being instructive in this quotation, telling Romeo he must “turn
and draw”. This also illustrates how Tybalt is passionate and likes to be in control.
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