ROMEO AND JULIET
author: William Shakespeare- is an english playwright,actor and poet,born in Stratford-
upon-Avon. During his life, he lived in London where he performed in Globe-theatre and
wrote plays and soon became favourite playwright of queen Elizabeth I.,who often visited
this theatre. Through his life, he wrote many plays, Romeo and
Juliet,Macbeth,Othello,Merchant of Venice,King Lear and wrote over 100 sonnets. He died in
his hometown at the age of 52.
Genre: drama,tragedy
Setting:Verona, Italy,14th century
Composition: play is divided to 5 acts
Characters: Romeo- male protagonist of the play, his name means love, which also
represents his character in the play, Romeo is a young man from a Montague family, at the
beginning he does not seem as deeply loving but throughout the play he falls even harder
for Juliet and his feelings develop over the play and in the end, he is ready to risk his life for
her and he commits suicide when he thinks that she is dead
Juliet-female protagonist of the play, young and beautiful woman from Capulet
family, who is only 13 years old and is set to marry Paris, she tries to find love and him, but it
is hard for her to express, because she does not have any friends her age and doesn’t feel
comfortable talking about sex and marriage duties, after meeting Romeo she falls far him
and eventually is willing to follow him even if it is against her family’s will and in the end she
pretends death, but when she finds out that Romeo is dead, she loyally follows him by killing
herself too
Friar Lawrence- he is a kindhearted Franciscan friar who helps Romeo and Juliet
throughout the play who marries them and gives them advice, but he also seems to be
mischievous as he reunites them, he creates the tension between the Capulet and
Montague house. He also plans to reunite Romeo and Juliet through the sleep potion, which
in the end causes confusion between the two lovers and eventually they both commit
suicide. His intentions through the play seem good and smartly played,but he is the one who
causes the main tragedy through the play.
Mercutio- he is one of the most positive and memorable characters through the
play thanks to his jokes, intelligence and his positivity, he is related to Prince Escalus and
Paris. He engages into business between Tybalt and Romeo and he gets accidentally killed
in the fight, unlike other characters, Mercutio clearly blames people for the actions that
happen through the play, while other characters hardly blame people for their tragedies
Tybalt- cousin of Juliet,short-tempered and Romeo’s main rival, he is always willing
to protect honor of his family and he sees himself as the main protector of the Capulet
family, during the fight he accidentally stabs Mercutio who dies and Romeo is raged and
duels Tybalt and kills him, he is later grieved by his family
The Nurse- personal servant and guardian of Juliet and is considered as second
mother to Juliet, she has deep affection to her and takes care of her and she is one of the
few people who wish her happiness and alongside friar Lawrence,she also supports her
relationship with Romeo
Benvolio- Romeo’s cousin and best friend, he is portrayed as a man of reason and
peacemaker between Capulet and Montague families and when he tells the Prince about the
fight between Mercutio,Tybalt and Romeo,he speaks facts and doesn’t join anyone’s side
and he is showing his reason and maturity during the play.
author: William Shakespeare- is an english playwright,actor and poet,born in Stratford-
upon-Avon. During his life, he lived in London where he performed in Globe-theatre and
wrote plays and soon became favourite playwright of queen Elizabeth I.,who often visited
this theatre. Through his life, he wrote many plays, Romeo and
Juliet,Macbeth,Othello,Merchant of Venice,King Lear and wrote over 100 sonnets. He died in
his hometown at the age of 52.
Genre: drama,tragedy
Setting:Verona, Italy,14th century
Composition: play is divided to 5 acts
Characters: Romeo- male protagonist of the play, his name means love, which also
represents his character in the play, Romeo is a young man from a Montague family, at the
beginning he does not seem as deeply loving but throughout the play he falls even harder
for Juliet and his feelings develop over the play and in the end, he is ready to risk his life for
her and he commits suicide when he thinks that she is dead
Juliet-female protagonist of the play, young and beautiful woman from Capulet
family, who is only 13 years old and is set to marry Paris, she tries to find love and him, but it
is hard for her to express, because she does not have any friends her age and doesn’t feel
comfortable talking about sex and marriage duties, after meeting Romeo she falls far him
and eventually is willing to follow him even if it is against her family’s will and in the end she
pretends death, but when she finds out that Romeo is dead, she loyally follows him by killing
herself too
Friar Lawrence- he is a kindhearted Franciscan friar who helps Romeo and Juliet
throughout the play who marries them and gives them advice, but he also seems to be
mischievous as he reunites them, he creates the tension between the Capulet and
Montague house. He also plans to reunite Romeo and Juliet through the sleep potion, which
in the end causes confusion between the two lovers and eventually they both commit
suicide. His intentions through the play seem good and smartly played,but he is the one who
causes the main tragedy through the play.
Mercutio- he is one of the most positive and memorable characters through the
play thanks to his jokes, intelligence and his positivity, he is related to Prince Escalus and
Paris. He engages into business between Tybalt and Romeo and he gets accidentally killed
in the fight, unlike other characters, Mercutio clearly blames people for the actions that
happen through the play, while other characters hardly blame people for their tragedies
Tybalt- cousin of Juliet,short-tempered and Romeo’s main rival, he is always willing
to protect honor of his family and he sees himself as the main protector of the Capulet
family, during the fight he accidentally stabs Mercutio who dies and Romeo is raged and
duels Tybalt and kills him, he is later grieved by his family
The Nurse- personal servant and guardian of Juliet and is considered as second
mother to Juliet, she has deep affection to her and takes care of her and she is one of the
few people who wish her happiness and alongside friar Lawrence,she also supports her
relationship with Romeo
Benvolio- Romeo’s cousin and best friend, he is portrayed as a man of reason and
peacemaker between Capulet and Montague families and when he tells the Prince about the
fight between Mercutio,Tybalt and Romeo,he speaks facts and doesn’t join anyone’s side
and he is showing his reason and maturity during the play.
