Friendship & Family

Friendship as a Form of Love

There are a number of friendly characters in the play who feel this form of love: Mercutio, the Nurse and Friar Laurence.

Mercutio

Although he is not a Montague, Mercutio feels an overpowering sense of love for Romeo and the Montagues.
He feels it to the point where he risks his life when Tybalt is insulting his best friend’s honour.
Mercutio’s loyalty to Romeo causes his own death.

The Nurse - trustworthy and protective

Although the Nurse is a servant of the Capulet family, she also acts as Juliet’s friend and confidant.
In fact, only she and Friar Laurence know about Romeo and Juliet’s relationship before they die.
When the Nurse goes to meet Romeo to talk about the wedding, she is protective of Juliet. She warns Romeo not to 'lead her into a fool’s paradise' or take advantage of her.
After Romeo and Juliet are married, the Nurse arranges for Romeo to climb a ladder to get into Juliet’s bedchamber. She does this so the pair can consummate their marriage (complete a marriage by having sex).

The Nurse - absence of friendship

When the Nurse tells Juliet to give in to her parents and marry Paris, we see the effect of this friendship breaking down.
Juliet then feels completely alone and has no option but to go to Friar Laurence. They then plan for her to fake her own death.

Friar Laurence - Romeo and Juliet

As well as being a parental figure to both protagonists (main characters), Friar Laurence also acts as a friend and a confidant to Romeo and Juliet.
Friar Laurence agrees to marry the pair. He supports them throughout their short marriage.
He also helps to hide Romeo after he has been banished (sent away from his native country). He plans Juliet’s escape from Paris and her parents (by helping to fake her death). He tries to tell Romeo the plan. He tries to help Juliet to escape the tomb.

Friar Laurence - families

Friar Laurence feels a strong sense of friendship towards both families. He wants to turn their 'rancour to pure love' and save them from themselves.

Familial Love

Family love and loyalties are a key part of the play.

Focus of the feud

The feud (argument) itself focuses on love and hatred.
The Montagues hate the Capulets purely because they are Capulets, and each family defends their kinsmen (relatives) against physical or verbal attacks from the other family.

Distance from parents

That Romeo and Juliet aren’t close to their parents causes problems in the play.
Neither Romeo nor Juliet feels like they can discuss their feelings for one another with their parents partly because of how strong the 'ancient grudge' is.

Arranged marriage - act of love?

Some people could argue that Lord and Lady Capulet do display parental love for Juliet by trying to force her to marry Paris.
- Parents in this era would arrange marriages for their children.
- Parents would want to arrange prosperous (bringing lots of money) matches to make sure that their children could have happy lives.
- Juliet’s parents try to do what they think is best for Juliet’s future. They do not know how she feels about Romeo.

Parental concerns

Lord and Lady Montague talk about their worries for Romeo in Act 1 because he is not himself (he is lovesick because of Rosaline).
They even ask Benvolio to find out what is wrong with their son and encourage him to cheer Romeo up.

Significance of family relationships (Elizabethan era)

After Romeo marries Juliet, he becomes part of her family (as she does his).
Even if personal relationships were not always very close or loving, family relationships were strong during this era. This means that people loved and supported their family members.
But Romeo’s new-found family love for Tybalt causes Mercutio’s, Tybalt’s, Paris’, Juliet’s and Romeo’s deaths.
When Tybalt tries to provoke (encourage) him into fighting, Romeo refuses and says 'I have to love thee'.

1Context

1.1Context

1.1.1Tragedy & Setting

1.1.2Relationships

1.1.3Religion & Fate

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context

2Plot Summary

3Key Characters

3.1Romeo

3.1.1First Impressions & Juliet's Effect

3.1.2Character Development

3.1.3Reactions & Key Quotes

3.2Juliet

3.2.1First Impressions & Character Development

3.2.2Tragic Character

3.2.3Key Quotes

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Romeo & Juliet

3.3Mercutio

3.3.1Characterisation

3.3.2Key Quotes

3.4The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt

3.4.1The Nurse

3.4.2Benvolio

3.4.3Tybalt

3.5Friar Laurence

3.5.1Characterisation

3.5.2Key Quotes

3.5.3End of Topic Test- Mercutio, Nurse & Benvolio

3.5.4End of Topic Test - Tybalt & Friar Laurence

3.6Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.2Grade 9 - Key Characters: Extract Analysis

4Key Themes & Concepts

4.1Power & Danger of Love

4.1.1Romeo's Loves

4.1.2Friendship & Family

4.1.3Violent Love

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Love

4.2Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.1Violence, Conflict & Suicide

4.2.2Exam-Style Questions - Violence & Death

4.2.3Fate & Destiny

4.2.4Gender

4.2.5End of Topic Test - Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.6Grade 9 - Key Themes

5Writing Techniques

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Language, Rhythm & Rhyme

5.1.2Symbolism & Imagery

5.1.3Dramatic Irony & Soliloquys

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

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