Characterization
This character is very emotionally driven and is guided by a skewed idea of what "love" is. He also has the capacity to act impulsively, if not aggressively, when provoked.
Who is Romeo?
"Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo?"
Who is the Juliet?
This person has claimed not one, but TWO lives by the end of the play!
Who is Romeo?
"Do you quarrel, sir?"
"Do you fight, sir?"
What is Act 5?
This character, while affectionate, at times makes inappropriate sexual jokes, and is a bit too involved and reckless with the affairs of Romeo and Juliet.
Who is the Nurse?
"All are punished!"
Who is the Prince?
This person instigates a fight with Mercutio is Act 3.
Who is Tybalt?
"Wherefore art thou Romeo?"
"Why are you Romeo?"
(Why do you have to be a Montague?)
This act contains the famous balcony scene where Romeo and Juliet profess their love for each other.
What is act 2?
This character is quick-witted and good at puns; however, his humor can be a bit inappropriate or insensitive at times. He is also impartial to the families feud.
Who is Mercutio?
"A plague on both your houses!"
Who is Mercutio?
This person helps Romeo and Juliet communicate for most of the first half of the play, even going so far as to bring a rope ladder to Juliets bedroom!
Who is the Nurse?
"Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes."
"Then young men love with their eyes, not with their hearts."
(Then men only fall in love with appearances!)
This act begins with a huge brawl (fight) between both houses that the Prince himself must break up by threatening them with death.
What is Act 1?
This character while wise in some regards, is also a reckless opportunist in that he leaps at the opportunity to potentially end the Capulet and Montague feud, at the expense of Romeo and Juliet.
Who is the Friar?
"What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word,
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee."
Who is Tybalt?
This person is intent on marrying Juliet, despite her being a bit too young. He also has a bit of a condescending conversation with her when they run into each other at Friar Lawrence's chambers.
Who is Paris?
"These violent delights have violent ends."
"These sudden joys have sudden endings."
(If you go too fast things may crash and burn.)
This Act ultimately ends with Juliet drinking the potion and faking her death, and being found by her family.
What is Act 4?
This character, while seeming reasonable and level-headed at first, actually has quite a temper on him, especially when his sense of authority is threatened.
Who is Capulet (Juliet's father)?
"Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes."
Who is the Friar?
After Romeo expresses sympathy for his poverty, this person reluctantly sells him illegal poison because he needs the money.
Who is the apothecary?
"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet."
"The thing we call a rose would smell just as sweet if we called it by any other name."
(Why do names even matter? People are what they are regardless of what you call them.)
In this act, Mercutio is killed by Tybalt, and Tybalt is killed by Romeo as revenge. Romeo also gets banished from Verona.
What is Act 3?