ROMEO

Character Traits

Evidence

Immature/Juvenile/Childish

Romeos Rosaline-induced histrionics

seem rather juvenile. (Immaturity as a
lover)

(in contrast to Juliet)

Impulsive/Reckless/Hasty/Lacks
restraint

Selfish/Self-absorbed/Selfindulgent

Passionate/Romantic Nature

Displeased by family feud, dislikes

fighting, Peaceable

Good/Loyal friend
Matures throughout the story

Romeo's immaturity is again manifest

later when he learns of his banishment.
He lies on the floor of the Friar's cell,
wailing and crying over his fate.
When the Nurse arrives, he clumsily
attempts suicide. The Friar reminds him
to consider Juliet and chides him for not
thinking through the consequences of his
actions for his wife.
Love compels him to sneak into the
garden of his enemys daughter, risking
death simply to catch a glimpse of her.
Anger compels him to kill his wifes
cousin in a reckless duel to avenge the
death of his friend. Despair compels him
to suicide upon hearing of Juliets death.
Such extreme behavior dominates
Romeos character throughout the play
and contributes to the ultimate tragedy
that befalls the lovers.
His parents and friends are concerned
about him yet he still behaves in his lovesick manner and keeps everything to
himself.
His Petrarchan pose show that he enjoys
being in love with the concept of love.
(Self-indulgent)
Refer to table on Romeos infatuation
with Rosaline and his love for Juliet.
A1S1 O me, what fray was here? Yet tell
me not, for I have heard it all Romeo
does not care about the fighting.
A3S1- Romeo is reluctant refuses to fight
Tybalt even after Tybalt insults him as
they are now related through his
marriage to Juliet. Only draws his sword
after Tybalt kills Mercutio.
Avenges Mercutio by killing Tybalt
During the course of the play, Romeo
matures from adolescence to adulthood
as a result of his love for Juliet, cruel
circumstances and his unfortunate
involvement in the feud, marking his
development from a comic character to a

tragic figure.
Romeos love matures over the course of
the play from the shallow desire to be in
love to a profound and intense passion.
Defiance of fate.
Later, when Romeo receives the news of
Juliet's death, he exhibits maturity and
composure as he resolves to die

Romeo with Rosaline

Romeo with Juliet

Infatuation
Simply a Petrarchan pose.

Deep, true love

Genuine Passion
Authentic
(contrasts with infatuation with Rosaline)
Speaks in blank verse and rhyme.
Language sounds less artificial and
more like everyday language.

Exaggerated Language
His speech smacks of artificiality.
Displays over-the-top, exaggerated,
put-on love-sick behaviour.
Petrarchan Pose!

When Romeo sees Juliet, he realizes the

artificiality of his love for Rosaline: "Did my
heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! / For
I ne'er saw true beauty till this night"
(I.5.52-53).

Immature/Self-dramatising

Impulsive/Impatient/Hasty/Reckless
Heedless of consequences (refer to
Romeos character traits table)

Not himself
Deluded by Love

Exalted by love
Love empowers Romeo greatly
despite the suffering he has made
to endure. Juliets love satisfies and
fulfills him, as there is a neverending abundance of her affection,
giving him the power to rise above
his circumstance of exile.
Matures
Becomes a resilient individual
More determined, resolute.
Uses religious and light imagery

Uses violent imagery (A1S1 Alas that

love, so gentle in his view, Should be so
tyrannous and rough in proof!)

Uses loads of contradictory

oxymorons (reflects his confused
state of mind)

A1S5 O she doth teach the torches to

burn brightmake blessed my rude
hand.
If I profane with my unworthiest
hand.my prayers effect I take
A2S2 pg 111Or if thou wilt, swear by thy
gracious self, which is the god of my

idolatry
Pg 103-104 Juliet is the sun. Two of the
fairest stars in heavenas daylight doth a
lamp bright angel

JULIET
Character Traits

Evidence

Young and Innocent

Not yet 14 years old O_O

Intelligent/perceptive/In control

When Juliet finds out about Romeos

banishment, she is able to stay clearminded and rational (in contrast to
Romeo.

Submissive/obedient/humble

When Juliet visits the Friar for a solution,

she is able to present a composed and
dignified front while Paris is around.
However, this is in contrast to how
hysterical she will become when she
talks to Friar.
Juliet is presented as quiet and
obedient; however, she possesses an
inner strength that enables her to have
maturity beyond her years. When her
mother suggests that she marry Paris
because Paris is rich and good looking,
Juliet responds: "I'll look to like, if
looking liking move" (I.3.97).

Determined, steadfast,resolute
When she meets and falls in love with
Romeo, she is prepared to defy her
parents and marry Romeo in secret. In
Act III, Scene 5, Capulet demands his
right as her father to marry her to Paris,
threatening her with disinheritance and
public shame.
Juliet, however, is resolute in her

decision to die rather than enter into a

false marriage: "If all else fail, myself
have power to die"(III.5.244).

Displays maturity beyond her

years
(refer to other traits-they also show
Juliets maturity)

Courageous/Brave

In the balcony scene of Act II, Scene 2, Juliet

is aware of the foolhardiness of their love:
"It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden."
This sense of rushing headlong accurately
characterizes their love, yet despite her
premonition, Juliet is the one who suggests
later in the scene that they marry.
Juliet's love for Romeo gives her the
strength and courage to defy her parents
and face death twice.
Willing to kill herself rather than to be
disloyal to Romeo (A4S1)
Pg232 O bid me leap, rather than marry
Paris.to live an unstained wife to my
sweet love.
Brave enough to take the potion even
though she is scared that sth might go
wrong. (A4S3) pg 242-243
Shows the immense courage that Juliet
takes the potion and how she overcomes
her fear in order to remain a stainless bride
for Romeo.
Juliet's decision in Act IV to take the Friar's
potion rather than enter into a bigamous
marriage with Paris increases Juliet's stature
as a tragic heroine. She reflects on the plan
but prepares to face the dangers involved
bravely: "My dismal scene I needs must act
alone."

Passionate/loving/loyal
The news of Tybalt's death initially produces

Displays Selflessness

conflicting feelings for Juliet because she's

torn between her love for her husband and
the loyalty she feels for Tybalt, her slain
cousin: "Shall I speak ill of him that is my
husband?" (III.2.98). Juliet's love for Romeo
soon resolves the conflict:
My husband lives, that Tybalt would have
slain,
And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my

husband.
All this is comfort.
(III.2.105-107)

A3S2 pg 184O find him, give this ring to

my true knight And bid him come to take his
last farewell
Juliet gives Romeo her ring to assure Romeo
that she forgives and still loves him. This
shows her selflessness as she thinks of
Romeo more that she thinks of herself.

Isolated from her family

She cannot trust the Nurse anymore as

the Nurse betrayed Juliets by advising
her to forget Romeo and comply with
her father's wishes.

Mercutio Kinsman to the prince and friend of Romeo. His name comes from the
word mercury, the element which indicates his quick temper. Mercutio is bawdy,
talkative, and tries to tease Romeo out of his melancholy frame of mind. He accepts
Tybalt's challenge to defend Romeo's honor and is killed, thus precipitating Romeo's
enraged reaction during which Romeo kills Tybalt.
Tybalt Lady Capulet's nephew and Juliet's cousin. Tybalt is violent and hot-tempered,
with a strong sense of honor. He challenges Romeo to a duel in response to Romeo's
attending a Capulet party. His challenge to Romeo is taken up by Mercutio, whom Tybalt
kills. Romeo then kills Tybalt.
The Nurse Juliet's nursemaid, who acts as confidante and messenger for Romeo and
Juliet. Like Mercutio, the Nurse loves to talk and reminisce, and her attitude toward love
is bawdy. The Nurse is loving and affectionate toward Juliet, but compromises her
position of trust when she advises Juliet to forget Romeo and comply with her parents'
wishes and marry Paris.
Friar Laurence A brother of the Franciscan order and Romeo's confessor, who advises
both Romeo and Juliet. The Friar agrees to marry the couple in secret in the hope that
marriage will restore peace between their families. His plans to reunite Juliet with Romeo
are thwarted by the influence of fate. The Friar concocts the potion plot through which
Juliet appears dead for 42 hours in order to avoid marrying Paris. At the end of the play,
the Prince recognizes the Friar's good intentions.

Capulet Juliet's father is quick-tempered and impetuous but is initially reluctant to

consent to Juliet's marriage with Paris because Juliet is so young. Later, he changes his
mind and angrily demands that Juliet obey his wishes. The deaths of Romeo and Juliet
reconcile Capulet and Montague.
Paris A noble young kinsman to the Prince. Paris is well-mannered and attractive and
hopes to marry Juliet. Romeo fights and kills Paris at the Capulet tomb when Paris thinks
that Romeo has come to desecrate the bodes of Tybalt and Juliet.
Benvolio Montague's nephew and friend of Romeo and Mercutio. Benvolio is the
peacemaker who attempts to keep peace between Tybalt and Mercutio. After the deaths
of Mercutio and Tybalt, Benvolio acts as a Chorus, explaining how events took place.
Lady Capulet Lady Capulet is vengeful and she demands Romeo's death for killing
Tybalt. In her relationship with Juliet, she is cold and distant, expecting Juliet to obey her
father and marry Paris.
Montague Romeo's father, who is concerned by his son's melancholy behavior.
Lady Montague In contrast with Lady Capulet, Lady Montague is peace-loving and
dislikes the violence of the feud. Like her husband, she is concerned by her son's
withdrawn and secretive behavior. The news of Romeo's banishment breaks her heart,
and she dies of grief.