3.1.2
Character Development
Romeo's Transition - Peaceful to Aggressive
Romeo's Transition - Peaceful to Aggressive
The audience sees a dramatic change in Romeo - who is presented as being peaceful at the start of the play - after Tybalt kills Mercutio (Romeo’s best friend) in Act 3.
Start - peaceful
Start - peaceful
- From the start, Romeo is shown as quite a peaceful, loving character. This is very different to characters such as Tybalt, the Capulet and Montague servants, and Lord Capulet and Montague themselves.
- Romeo is a much more romantic character (in Elizabethan England, it was much more common for men to fight to defend themselves and their family names) because he is obsessed with being in love instead.
- Even in Act 3, when Tybalt is trying to provoke (encourage) Romeo to fight by insulting him, Romeo continues to refuse to fight.
- He says to Tybalt, 'good Capulet - which name I tender as dearly as my own - be satisfied'.
Act 3 - changes to aggressive
Act 3 - changes to aggressive
- In Act 3, Romeo becomes very aggressive and threatens Tybalt: 'Mercutio’s soul is a little way above our heads… either you, or I, or both must go with him.'
- In an instant, Romeo changes from being obsessed with love and celebrating his marriage to Juliet, to threatening to murder her cousin.
- He loses all sense of self-control and tells Tybalt that either Tybalt will die, Romeo will die, or they will both die.
Audience's response - sympathy
Audience's response - sympathy
- This change may cause the audience to feel sympathy for Romeo. He becomes a tragic character whose anger overtakes him.
- Romeo had tried to avoid the fight by talking Tybalt out of it, but Tybalt had refused to back down. Tybalt had instead murdered Romeo’s best friend.
- Romeo reacts out of grief and makes a very tragic mistake. This mistake will have terrible consequences.
Audience's response - anger
Audience's response - anger
- But audiences may also feel anger towards Romeo.
- He put his need for revenge above his love for his wife and their future.
- He did this when he knew that their families hated each other and that their future was always going to be difficult.
Romeo's Maturation
Romeo's Maturation
When Romeo is in exile, he deals with his emotions about being banished and Juliet immaturely. His maturity increases when he thinks Juliet has died. He becomes the tragic hero again when he honours Paris' dying wish.
Immaturity - response to being banished
Immaturity - response to being banished
- After being exiled to Mantua, Romeo hides in Friar Laurence’s cell while they make a plan.
- Romeo shows signs of immaturity again here.
- He howls and cries about his fate. Friar Laurence tries to calm him. He tells him that he should be grateful that he is only banished (sent away from his native land) and not sentenced to death.
- Romeo says that he would rather be dead than banished, as he will not be able to see Juliet again.
Immaturity - doesn't think about Juliet
Immaturity - doesn't think about Juliet
- When the Nurse arrives and tells Romeo that Juliet is upset, Romeo’s first thought is to kill himself.
- Friar Laurence has to tell him to stop and think of Juliet’s feelings. Again, Romeo failed to think about his wife. This highlights his immaturity.
- Romeo’s thoughtless and immature actions here may increase the audience’s dislike for him.
- But audiences may feel sympathy for him. They may see him as a very upset young man who cannot find a way out of a bad situation.
Maturity - response to Juliet's death
Maturity - response to Juliet's death
- As we enter Act 5, and Romeo thinks that Juliet is dead, the audience sees his level of maturity increase again. He becomes the tragic hero again.
- He says that the only thing he wants is to be with Juliet. He decides to commit suicide so he can be with her.
Maturity - honours Paris' request
Maturity - honours Paris' request
- Although he is aggressive when he fights (and kills) Paris, Romeo shows his compassionate, mature side when he agrees to lay Paris’ body next to Juliet (Paris’ dying request).
- Romeo feels sympathy for Paris because he had loved a woman (Juliet) who did not return his love. Romeo used to love Rosaline, who did not love him back.
- Shakespeare presents Romeo as a tragic hero here. He is compassionate and understanding. He makes a mature decision to honour his enemy’s last request.
1Context
2Plot Summary
2.1Prologue
2.2Act 1
2.5Act 4
3Key Characters
3.1Romeo
3.2Juliet
3.3Mercutio
3.4The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt
3.5Friar Laurence
3.6Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Key Themes & Concepts
4.1Power & Danger of Love
5Writing Techniques
Jump to other topics
1Context
2Plot Summary
2.1Prologue
2.2Act 1
2.5Act 4
3Key Characters
3.1Romeo
3.2Juliet
3.3Mercutio
3.4The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt
3.5Friar Laurence
3.6Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Key Themes & Concepts
4.1Power & Danger of Love
5Writing Techniques
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