Romeo and Juliet Group

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jiijiile
jiijiile
Student

Describe Romeo's characteristics with reference to the scenes using points, quotations and explanations.

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Posted by jiijiile on Wednesday November 28, 2007 at 2:27 PM and tagged with character, quotes, romeo and juliet, scenes.

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  1. malibrarian Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Romeo has various characteristics that can be illustrated with quotes. In Act I, scene i, we see him as the spurned wooer of Rosaline, smarting over her rejection. His friend, Benvolio, asks him in Act I, scene i, "What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?" Romeo responds by saying, "Not having that which, having, makes them short." He is sighing away at the length of a day that doesn't include the love of Rosaline.

    But after meeting Juliet at the Capulets' ball, it's like Rosaline never existed. He is now madly in love with Juliet, and this time, it's true love - "It is my lady, oh, it is my love. Oh, that she knew she were!" (II, ii)

    Later he goes to see Friar Laurence, who knows him and his easy ways of falling in love. Friar Laurence assumes he's been with Rosaline, to which Romeo responds, "With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No. I have forgot that name, and that name's woe." (II, iii)

    He continues along this vein, loving Juliet through the most painful events of their young lives, until finally, upon his belief that she has killed herself, he determines to follow her in death:

    "Eyes, look your last!
    Arms, take your last embrace! And lips, O you
    The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
    A dateless bargain to engrossing death!" (V, iii)

    Romeo is a decent guy, and had they been allowed to love freely, he might have been good to Juliet. But his hastiness in loving and his rash behavior may have boded ill for her.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo/romeo-character-analysis

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    Posted by malibrarian on Friday November 30, 2007 at 4:40 PM