Romeo and Juliet: Characters Flashcards

Study Notes

Characters in "Romeo and Juliet"

Romeo Montague: Heir of the Montague family; falls in love with Juliet; kills Tybalt, contributing to the tragic outcome.
Juliet Capulet: Daughter of the Capulet family; deeply in love with Romeo; her choices drive the narrative towards tragedy.
Friar Laurence: A well-meaning priest who marries Romeo and Juliet in secrecy, believing their union may end the feud between their families.
Nurse: Juliet's confidant and messenger; plays a crucial role in facilitating the romance between Juliet and Romeo.
Mercutio: Romeo's friend; known for his wit and eloquence; killed by Tybalt, which intensifies the conflict between the families.
Tybalt: Impulsive and aggressive cousin of Juliet; his hatred for Montagues escalates the animosity and violence in Verona.
Lord Montague: Patriarch of the Montague family; represents the family's opposition to the Capulets.
Lady Montague: Romeo's mother; dies from grief after Romeo's exile, highlighting the personal costs of the feud.
Lord Capulet: Head of the Capulet family; has a strained relationship with Juliet; pushes her towards marriage with Paris.
Lady Capulet: Juliet's mother; eager for her daughter to marry Paris, emphasizing parental pressures in the story.
Benvolio: Romeo's cousin; attempts to keep peace and avoid conflict; serves as a voice of reason amid the chaos.
Friar John: Sent to convey important messages about Juliet to Romeo; his failure to deliver the message contributes to the tragic conclusion.
Balthasar: Loyal servant to Romeo; mistakenly informs Romeo of Juliet's death, igniting the series of tragic events.
The Apothecary: Pharmacist in Mantua; sells poison to Romeo, symbolizing the desperation and themes of mortality in the play.
Paris: A nobleman favored by Lord Capulet to marry Juliet; represents societal expectations of marriage during the era.
Prince Escalus: Ruler of Verona; seeks to maintain order and peace; related to Mercutio and Paris, further intertwining the conflicts.
Peter: Capulet servant who invites guests to the ball; represents the lower social class and adds comic relief.
Sampson and Gregory: Capulet servants; embody the feud's animosity, instigating conflict with the Montagues from the beginning.
Abraham: Montague's servant; involved in the initial brawl; represents the lower-tier conflict between the families.
The Chorus: Traditional character in plays that comments on the story; provides foreshadowing and thematic insights.
Rosaline: The woman Romeo loves before Juliet; her choice to remain chaste emphasizes the theme of unrequited love and desire.

Description

Explore the key characters from Shakespeare's iconic play 'Romeo and Juliet' through flashcards. Each card features limited descriptions to help you remember the essential details of characters like Romeo, Juliet, and Friar Laurence. Perfect for students and literature enthusiasts alike!