Question

The development of Romeo's character throughout Romeo & Juliet changes between lovesick callowness to determined passion. Explain.

Accepted Answer

Of course, there is no exact answer to this -- Shakespeare doesn't say "here's why."  But my explanation is that he changes because of Juliet's love or because of his love for Juliet.
If you think about it, this whole play happens in just a few days.  Romeo does not really have time to mature just as a result of growing older.  So what has changed?  The only real change is that he has met Juliet.  That implies that loving her is what has changed him.
I think you could argue that this is part of what makes the play tragic -- he is improving as a person but does not have the chance to continue that process.

Answer

We might first ask what on earth "lovesick callowness" is—a term we don't normally interject into every day conversation. Callowness is immaturity and inexperience. Lovesickness, in this context, is moping from unrequited love: it is being attracted almost obsessively to someone and that person not caring.
From the beginning of the play, Romeo's father expresses worry about Romeo's strange drooping about, questioning Benvolio about it. Benvolio explains that Romeo is suffering from love for Rosaline: he can't stop thinking about her, but she doesn't return his affection.
We realize that Romeo's lovesick pining for Rosaline is immature or callow when he immediately, on seeing Juliet, falls in love with her and forgets all about Rosaline. This happens so fast our head might be spinning. What happened to the girl who was so wonderful Romeo couldn't imagine possibly meeting anyone else who could rival her?
We might think at first that the main or only difference between Rosaline and Juliet (except that Juliet appears to be prettier) is that Juliet responds to Romeo's affection and loves him back. Romeo is in love with love—and now he has met a beautiful young woman who loves him! Naturally, he jumps right into the idea of marriage. But is it real love or merely another expression of an immature infatuation that will soon enough burn out? The friar worries about that and lectures Romeo about it.
However, several things indicate that this is a determined passion. First, he is willing to transcend family politics to be with this young woman from a feuding family. Second, Romeo is absolutely determined not to quarrel with Tybalt, as much as Tybalt is spoiling for a fight after recognizing Romeo flirting with his cousin Juliet at the masquerade ball. Not only won't Romeo fight him, he interferes and tries to stop the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt, leading to Mercutio's death. Only that, being responsible for his dearest friend's demise, could lead Romeo to kill a Capulet, now that he is in love with Juliet. Third, his grief on finding Juliet, as he thinks, dead in the crypt leads to an outpouring of intense grief and anguish that is heartfelt.
We have to suspend some disbelief—the plot unfolds very rapidly—but it seems that having his love returned with sincerity and heart by a beautiful young woman has deepened Romeo. It matters that someone cares about him enough to overlook the deep enmity between their families. He feels seen and loved, has someone to care for that he loves more than himself, and values the sacrifice Juliet has made in secretly marrying him. All of this, we could argue, matures him.

Answer

When we first meet Romeo, it's not Juliet he's pining over—it's Rosaline. They haven't shared a meaningful relationship; instead, she has sworn to live her entire life as a virgin rather than become involved with Romeo. Because of this declaration, Romeo laments to his friends:

Why, such is love’s transgression.Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,Which thou wilt propagate, to have it pressedWith more of thine. (I.i.187-190)

Romeo goes on and on about the pains of love, but clearly this isn't love that he's experiencing. Lacking any real emotional connection, Romeo is feeling the pains of rejection from a girl he's simply infatuated with. He continues to the Capulet party, convinced that he cannot recover from his feelings for Rosaline. All of these early scenes of angst show the callowness of Romeo in the beginning of the play.
Yet he does change. Upon meeting Juliet, he transforms into a man who would do anything to be with her. He knows that their families would never agree to the union, so he has the friar marry them in a private ceremony. He knows that he can't fight Tybalt because he is Juliet's family, and he desperately tries to avoid the conflict. When he faces banishment, he risks meeting Juliet in a passionate encounter before he has to leave. And when he believes that Juliet has left his world, he only longs to join her in death. This is not the brooding and superficial Romeo from the beginning of the play. Instead, this is a man moved to speedy action when he believes he has forever lost the love of his life.

Answer

It's important to remember that Romeo is just 17, an adolescent in terms of his development, but an adult for his day and society.  Romeo falls in love with Juliet, and backs it up with marriage, a very adult thing to do.  As a married pair, they pass one night together, and consummate their union. So this is not a summer thing. Romeo evolves because of his marriage vow, and the personal risk he must pass through;  before, during and after his marriage to Juliet, in order to be with her.  Living his commitment, his attitude changes accordingly.

Answer

In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare we see Romeo's mode of loving change from infatuation to a much more profound love. First he is in love with a girl called Rosaline and is miserably love-sick. Then he meets Juliet and his emotional life is transformed by excitement and affection. The thing that has changed is that with the second girl his love is reciprocated and this sems to release him from a paralysing spell of depression. he is released to fly high with Juliet - but not for long as their stars are crossed. Juliet's love for Romeo empowers him, gives him courage and determination to press ahead with his suit. Sadly, we never find out how well they will be matched, or how long the love will last.

Romeo and Juliet

The development of Romeo's character throughout Romeo & Juliet changes between lovesick callowness to determined passion. Explain.

Expert Answers

Unlock This Answer Now

Related Questions

How do the characters of Romeo and Juliet develop throughout the play?

How does the relationship between Juliet and her nurse change throughout Romeo and Juliet?

Does Romeo mature throughout the play Romeo and Juliet?

What are similarities and differences between Paris's and Romeo's passion for Juliet in Romeo and Juliet?

In Romeo and Juliet, what are the differences and similarities between the characters of Romeo and Juliet?