Romeo and Juliet: Main Characters

• Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written between 1591 and 1595.
• The play tells the story of two young star-crossed lovers from feuding families who eventually die by suicide.

Main Characters

• Romeo Montague: The son and heir of Lord and Lady Montague.
• Romeo is handsome, intelligent, and sensitive.
• Initially he is lovesick over Rosaline, but his love quickly turns to Juliet.
• He is impulsive and immature.
• Juliet Capulet: The daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet.
• Juliet begins as a naive child who has thought little about love and marriage, but she grows up quickly upon falling in love with Romeo.
• She shows amazing courage and devotion.
• Friar Lawrence: A Franciscan friar, and Romeo’s confidant.
• He is a friend to both Romeo and Juliet.
• He secretly marries them in hopes that the union will bring peace to Verona.
• He is a Catholic holy man, and well-respected.
• The Nurse: Juliet’s nurse, and a major character in the play.
• She is Juliet’s confidante and source of comic relief.
• She provides a contrast to Juliet’s serious and passionate nature.
• Mercutio: A kinsman to the Prince and Romeo’s close friend.
• He is witty, imaginative, and hot-headed.
• He finds Romeo’s romanticized views of love tiresome.
• Tybalt: Juliet’s cousin on her mother’s side.
• He is vain, fashionable, supremely aware of courtesy and is known as “the prince of cats”.
• He hates Montagues.
• Lord Capulet: The patriarch of the Capulet family, father of Juliet, husband to Lady Capulet.
• He commands respect and propriety.
• Lady Capulet: Juliet’s mother, wife to Lord Capulet.
• She is eager to see her daughter marry Paris.
• Lord Montague: The patriarch of the Montague family, father of Romeo, husband to Lady Montague.
• Lady Montague: Romeo’s mother, wife to Lord Montague.
• Paris: A kinsman of the Prince and suitor of Juliet.
• He is handsome, wealthy, and wants to marry Juliet.
• Benvolio: Romeo’s cousin and thoughtful friend.
• Prince Escalus: The Prince of Verona.
• He is concerned about maintaining the public peace.

Tragedy Elements

• Romeo and Juliet exemplifies the genre of tragedy through several key elements.
• The play’s exploration of fate, love, and death leads to a devastating conclusion.
• Hamartia or Tragic flaw is evident in Romeo and Juliet’s impulsive nature and rash decisions, contributing to their downfall.
• Romeo’s quickness to fall in love leads to his and Juliet's secret marriage.
• Juliet’s obedience to her father's demands for marriage to Paris leads to the desperate plan involving the potion.
• Hubris, or excessive pride, is seen in the characters' unwavering loyalty to their families, perpetuating the feud.
• The Capulets and Montagues emphasize family honor over individual happiness, leading to tragic consequences.
• Peripeteia, or reversal of fortune, occurs when Romeo is exiled from Verona after killing Tybalt.
• This event marks a turning point in the play, setting in motion a series of unfortunate events.
• Anagnorisis, or recognition, is evident when the Montagues and Capulets realize the consequences of their hatred after Romeo and Juliet's deaths.
• They acknowledge the tragic outcome of their long-standing feud.
• The play evokes pity and fear in the audience as they witness the tragic events unfold.
• The deaths of Romeo and Juliet elicit strong emotional responses.
• Catharsis, or purification, occurs as the audience experiences a sense of emotional release and understanding.
• The play's tragic conclusion serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive consequences of hatred, prejudice, and irrationality.
• Fate vs Free Will: The characters often attribute events to fate.
• The prologue calls Romeo and Juliet “star-cross’d lovers”.
• Fate is a powerful force that influences the tragic events of the play.
• The characters also make choices that contribute to the tragic outcome.
• Romeo decides to gatecrash the Capulet party.
• Juliet decides to send the Nurse to Romeo.

Historical Context

• Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona, Italy, during the Renaissance period.
• The Renaissance was a time of great cultural and artistic flourishing.
• It was also a time of political and social upheaval.
• Shakespeare drew inspiration from the social and political climate of his time when writing Romeo and Juliet.
• The theme of family feuds reflects the reality of Italian city-states during the Renaissance.
• The conflict between the Montagues and Capulets mirrors the rivalries between powerful families in Italian society.
• The play also reflects the patriarchal nature of Renaissance society, where women had limited autonomy.
• Juliet's arranged marriage to Paris is indicative of the societal expectations placed on women.
• Shakespeare’s exploration of love and passion challenged traditional notions of courtly love.
• The play celebrates the intensity and transformative power of romantic love.
• Shakespeare’s use of language reflects the conventions of Elizabethan drama.
• He uses blank verse, iambic pentameter, and rhetorical devices to create dramatic and poetic effects.