Romeo and Juliet Essay
“Within the infant rind of this weak flower
Poison hath residence, and medicine power:
For this, being smelt, with the part cheers each part;
Being tasted, stay all senses with the heart,” (Friar Lawrence, 2.3, 19-23)
An Analysis of Foil Characters within Romeo and Juliet
A foil character is a character whose function is to be compared or contrasted with the main protagonist. Moreover, a foil character is used to heighten and illuminate drastic differences or extreme similarities in the main character. Furthermore, this form of juxtaposition when contrasted inevitably underscores or enhances the distinctive characteristics or flaws of the protagonist. Consequently, within many movies, plays, and books there are always characters that influence the main character’s personality traits and qualities. These concepts of foil characters are prevalent within Romeo and Juliet, wherein they emphasize the protagonist’s hubris and persona and give a better understanding of the protagonist. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, a tragic play of two star-crossed lovers who kill themselves for each others love, Romeo’s hubris, his idealism and his personality are emphasized and distinguished by the foil characters: Friar Lawrence, Mercutio, and Tybalt.
To begin, Friar Lawrence is a foil character as he emphasizes on Romeo’s impulsiveness and hastiness. Friar Lawrence is a very significant character since his actions and words have a big impact on Romeo’s character. For example Romeo gets over Rosaline, whom he was infatuated with and heartbroken over, and suddenly he is now in love with Juliet and wants to get married to her. The Friar is amazed at the prompt revival of Romeo’s last heartbreak and is bit suspicious of Romeo’s hastiness. This is exemplified when Friar Lawrence says, “Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast” (Shakespeare, 2.3, 90). The quote reveals that Friar Lawrence is pointing out impulsiveness leads to downfall and throughout the play
Poison hath residence, and medicine power:
For this, being smelt, with the part cheers each part;
Being tasted, stay all senses with the heart,” (Friar Lawrence, 2.3, 19-23)
An Analysis of Foil Characters within Romeo and Juliet
A foil character is a character whose function is to be compared or contrasted with the main protagonist. Moreover, a foil character is used to heighten and illuminate drastic differences or extreme similarities in the main character. Furthermore, this form of juxtaposition when contrasted inevitably underscores or enhances the distinctive characteristics or flaws of the protagonist. Consequently, within many movies, plays, and books there are always characters that influence the main character’s personality traits and qualities. These concepts of foil characters are prevalent within Romeo and Juliet, wherein they emphasize the protagonist’s hubris and persona and give a better understanding of the protagonist. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, a tragic play of two star-crossed lovers who kill themselves for each others love, Romeo’s hubris, his idealism and his personality are emphasized and distinguished by the foil characters: Friar Lawrence, Mercutio, and Tybalt.
To begin, Friar Lawrence is a foil character as he emphasizes on Romeo’s impulsiveness and hastiness. Friar Lawrence is a very significant character since his actions and words have a big impact on Romeo’s character. For example Romeo gets over Rosaline, whom he was infatuated with and heartbroken over, and suddenly he is now in love with Juliet and wants to get married to her. The Friar is amazed at the prompt revival of Romeo’s last heartbreak and is bit suspicious of Romeo’s hastiness. This is exemplified when Friar Lawrence says, “Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast” (Shakespeare, 2.3, 90). The quote reveals that Friar Lawrence is pointing out impulsiveness leads to downfall and throughout the play