Key points
Romeo is one of the main characters from Romeo and Juliet, a A type of play that contains lots of suffering and usually ends badly for the main character. by William Shakespeare.
Romeo meets Juliet and they fall in love at first sight.
Romeo is from the Montague family and Juliet is a Capulet. Their families are enemies.
The couple marry in secret and their love ends in tragedy.
Did you know?
Although it has become traditional in performances for Juliet to stand on a balcony during the scene in which the couple decide to marry, there is no mention of a balcony in the play. Despite this, many tourists visit a balcony in A city in the north of modern-day Italy. that has become known as the Romeo and Juliet balcony.
Plot summary
A plot summary of Romeo and Juliet:
Romeo’s key moments
Click through the slideshow to see Romeo’s key moments
Image caption, At the start of the play Romeo is in love with Rosaline, Lord Capulet’s niece, but she does not return his feelings. Then he meets Juliet at a Capulet party and they fall in love at first sight. Romeo visits Juliet in secret and they agree to marry the next day.
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Character traits
Impulsive
Romeo falls immediately in love with Juliet and forgets Rosaline. He decides to marry Juliet within hours of meeting her.
Devoted friend
Romeo has several close male friendships, and he shows loyalty to his friends. When Mercutio is killed by Tybalt, Romeo kills Tybalt to avenge his friend.
Passionate
Romeo’s language and actions show the intensity of his passion. He feels things deeply and this can often lead to reckless behaviour, for example, when he kills Tybalt after Tybalt has killed his friend Mercutio.
Video - How would you present Romeo?
Watch the following video to learn how a director might present the role of Romeo.
Presenter: How do you solve a problem like Romeo? He’s a lover, not a fighter, and yet he fights for his love. Pretty boy or pretty buff? He overflows with passion, but how should he play it in each scene? In tears or in laughter? In a whisper or a shout? I guess however he’s cast, we all know how it turns out. This is ‘Casting Romeo’.
It’s the balcony scene and Romeo’s taking a big risk, professing his love for Juliet on Capulet turf. There are loads of different ways to play this scene, let’s see what this guy goes for.
First actor playing Romeo: I have night’s cloak to hide me from their sight, but thou love me, let them find me here. My life were better ended by their hate than death prorogued, wanting of thy love!
Presenter: Glad he’s got that off his chest.
Director: Loving the demonstration of passion there, just think maybe Romeo would rein it in just a touch, you know, in case the Capulets hear him.
First actor playing Romeo: I don’t care, I love her so much! Whoa!
Director: Next!
Presenter: Okay, now this guy’s playing cautious, maybe even afraid of his feelings.
Second actor playing Romeo: Her eye discourses. I will answer it. I am too bold, tis not to me she speaks…
Director: Nice hiding. It definitely gets the fear across. I’d just like to see a bit more of you.
Second actor playing Romeo: Erm… okay.
Director: No! No! That’s not what I meant.
Third actor playing Romeo: With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls, for stony limits…
Director: Er…
Third actor playing Romeo: …cannot hold…
Director: I know that Romeo was, was a bit older than Juliet and it has been done with older actors, but, for me really this is a play about young love, I think you’re just a little too old.
Third actor playing Romeo: I’m 21 you cheeky… monkey!
Director: Really?
Presenter: What?
Fourth actor playing Romeo: It is my lady. Oh it is my love. Oh that she knew she were.
Presenter: Turn it off!
Relationships
Juliet
Romeo falls in love with Juliet immediately. They have a passionate, intense relationship. Romeo is willing to take risks to be with Juliet.
Benvolio
Benvolio is Romeo’s cousin. He is a peacemaker and tries to stop the fighting at the start of the play. He also encourages Romeo to forget Rosaline.
Mercutio
Mercutio is Romeo’s best friend. Mercutio teases Romeo about his romantic feelings, which is perhaps why Romeo never shares his secret love for Juliet with his friend. Despite this, they have a loyal and close relationship. Mercutio is a contrast to Romeo – he is witty, entertaining and quick to fight.
Friar Lawrence
The Friar advises and supports Romeo. He marries Romeo and Juliet, hoping that their marriage will bring the two families together. The Nurse also helps the couple and delivers messages between them.
Tybalt
Tybalt is a Capulet and Juliet’s cousin. He is a fiery and violent character who enjoys An argument or disagreement.. The audience see that Tybalt is very angry when he spots Romeo at the Capulet party. Later, after marrying Juliet in secret, Tybalt tries to fight Romeo but Romeo refuses out of loyalty to Juliet. However, when Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo is filled with rage and kills Tybalt in revenge.
Changes in character
When Rosaline does not return Romeo’s feelings at the start of the play, Romeo is presented as a sad, immature young man.
After meeting Juliet, Romeo forgets all about Rosaline and claims he has never experienced true love until this moment.
At first Romeo is not directly involved in any of the violence between the Capulets and the Montagues. However, this changes when Tybalt kills his friend Mercutio. Romeo is so upset that he kills Tybalt.
What do these key quotations mean?
Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.
Romeo
Act 1, scene 5
When Romeo sees Juliet for the first time, the strength of his feelings makes him forget Rosaline. He falls in love with Juliet at first sight.
With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls,
For stony limits cannot hold love out.
Romeo
Act 2, scene 2
Romeo delivers these lines after he has climbed into the Capulet’s garden to see Juliet. He uses a metaphor to describe his love by saying that the emotion of love has wings to fly.
O true apothecary,
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.
Romeo
Act 5, scene 3
These are Romeo’s final words. He has bought poison so that he can kill himself and join Juliet. The audience is painfully aware that Juliet is only sleeping and could wake at any moment.
How does Romeo use language to express his love for Juliet?
Romeo uses poetic language to express his love. For example, he uses a metaphor, an image that compares two things directly, and compares Juliet to the sun: “It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” The image of the sun is linked to warmth, light and life. This choice of image shows the intensity of Romeo’s love. Romeo often compares Juliet to the light, the sun and stars.
Listen to a scene
Listen to this audio clip from Act 2, scene 2 and then answer the question below. Romeo has crept into the Capulet garden and is looking up at Juliet as she appears at her window. She cannot hear what he is saying.
Romeo: But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O it is my love:
O that she knew she were!
She speaks, yet she says nothing; what of that?
Her eye discourses, I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!
What does Romeo compare Juliet to?
Romeo compares Juliet to the Sun and the stars.
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