Romeo and Juliet Group

Question:


canuhelpme
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In "Romeo and Juliet," how does Benvolio try to remedy Romeo's love?

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Posted by canuhelpme on Sunday October 26, 2008 at 5:41 PM and tagged with act 1 scene 1, benvolio, characters, plot, romeo and juliet.

Answers:


  1. jamie-wheeler Teacher
    College - Sophomore

    eNotes Editor

    Benvolio, probably very understandably, encourages his friend to give "liberty to thine eyes.  / Examine other beauties"  (1.1.220-21).

    Benvolio feels that Romeo's infatuation with Rosaline is just that:  infatuation.  If his friend will simply look around, he will realize that there are many, many other women to be had.  And even though Romeo protests, ("Thou canst not teach me to forget," he proclaims (1.1.230)), in fact, Benvolio is correct.  

    Coerced into attending the Capulet ball, Romeo will soon come into contact with the fair Juilet.  All thoughts of Rosaline are quickly forgotten.  He has "examined other beauties" and has fallen immediately in love.   

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo/act-commentary
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo/act-scenes-1-2-summary-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo/benvolio-character-analysis

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    Posted by jamie-wheeler on Sunday October 26, 2008 at 7:06 PM