KEY CHARACTERS
ROMEO AND
JULIET
,Romeo – Character Traits
• Romeo is a young, passionate and naïve character.
• He acts quickly based on emotion and without properly thinking things through. This drives the speed of the play, moving from
first meeting Juliet to marriage to death in no time at all.
• Shakespeare presents Romeo’s understanding of love as quite immature. Romeo is initially madly in love with Rosaline – and
terribly upset that she doesn’t feel the same – but then quickly changes his affections to Juliet in Act 2 as soon as he meets he
at Capulet’s party.
• He seems to mature briefly following his marriage to Juliet. Romeo attempts to heal some of the divides between Montague an
Capulet by declaring his affection for Tybalt.
• This is, however, only short-lived. Romeo’s passionate side takes hold following the death of Mercutio and he kills Tybalt in
revenge. He even declares that Juliet must have made him effeminate for not initially challenging Tybalt. The audience sees
Romeo’s wish to fit into the violent and honour-based society in which he lives.
• Tybalt’s murder is another example of Romeo acting based on emotion. As a result, he’s banished from Verona and separated
from Juliet – driving the main tragedy of the play.
• Finally, we see another example of Romeo acting quickly in the final Act 5 Scene 3. On hearing that Juliet is dead Romeo rush
to her tomb, he’s set on killing himself to be with her and nothing will stand in his way. The unfortunate Paris finds this out as
Romeo looks to enter the tomb. Here is more death and confusion driven by a misunderstanding and Romeo’s passions.
• Of course this creates great tension and drama for the audience given the dramatic irony with Juliet’s plan. It’s more evidence,
however, of Romeo’s obsessive love, naivety and passion.
, Romeo – Key Quotes
• Chorus: ‘A pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives’ (Prologue)
• ‘Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love. Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!’
• ‘Is she a Capulet? O, dear account! My life is my foe’s debt’
• ‘But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun…It is my lady, O it is my love! O, that
she knew she were!’
• ‘My life were better ended by their hate, than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.’
• ‘Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting: villain am I none;
therefore farewell; I see thou know’st me not.’
• ‘Good Capulet,- which name I tender as dearly as my own,- be satisfied.’
• ‘My reputation stain’d with Tybalt’s slander,- Tybalt that an hour hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet, thy beauty hath made
me effeminate and in my temper soften’d valour’s steel!’
• ‘O, I am fortune’s fool!’
• ‘Ha, banishment! Be merciful, say “death”, for exile hath more terror in his look’
• ‘Is it even so? Then I defy you, stars!’
• ‘O true apothecary, they drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.’
ROMEO AND
JULIET
,Romeo – Character Traits
• Romeo is a young, passionate and naïve character.
• He acts quickly based on emotion and without properly thinking things through. This drives the speed of the play, moving from
first meeting Juliet to marriage to death in no time at all.
• Shakespeare presents Romeo’s understanding of love as quite immature. Romeo is initially madly in love with Rosaline – and
terribly upset that she doesn’t feel the same – but then quickly changes his affections to Juliet in Act 2 as soon as he meets he
at Capulet’s party.
• He seems to mature briefly following his marriage to Juliet. Romeo attempts to heal some of the divides between Montague an
Capulet by declaring his affection for Tybalt.
• This is, however, only short-lived. Romeo’s passionate side takes hold following the death of Mercutio and he kills Tybalt in
revenge. He even declares that Juliet must have made him effeminate for not initially challenging Tybalt. The audience sees
Romeo’s wish to fit into the violent and honour-based society in which he lives.
• Tybalt’s murder is another example of Romeo acting based on emotion. As a result, he’s banished from Verona and separated
from Juliet – driving the main tragedy of the play.
• Finally, we see another example of Romeo acting quickly in the final Act 5 Scene 3. On hearing that Juliet is dead Romeo rush
to her tomb, he’s set on killing himself to be with her and nothing will stand in his way. The unfortunate Paris finds this out as
Romeo looks to enter the tomb. Here is more death and confusion driven by a misunderstanding and Romeo’s passions.
• Of course this creates great tension and drama for the audience given the dramatic irony with Juliet’s plan. It’s more evidence,
however, of Romeo’s obsessive love, naivety and passion.
, Romeo – Key Quotes
• Chorus: ‘A pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives’ (Prologue)
• ‘Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love. Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!’
• ‘Is she a Capulet? O, dear account! My life is my foe’s debt’
• ‘But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun…It is my lady, O it is my love! O, that
she knew she were!’
• ‘My life were better ended by their hate, than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.’
• ‘Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting: villain am I none;
therefore farewell; I see thou know’st me not.’
• ‘Good Capulet,- which name I tender as dearly as my own,- be satisfied.’
• ‘My reputation stain’d with Tybalt’s slander,- Tybalt that an hour hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet, thy beauty hath made
me effeminate and in my temper soften’d valour’s steel!’
• ‘O, I am fortune’s fool!’
• ‘Ha, banishment! Be merciful, say “death”, for exile hath more terror in his look’
• ‘Is it even so? Then I defy you, stars!’
• ‘O true apothecary, they drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.’
