Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
Table of Contents
Cast of Characters
Romeo Montague – Romeo Montague is the son of Montague and Lady Montague, and is the heir to the Montague estate. Romeo is a young man; though his age is never specified in the play, he appears to be somewhere around 16 years old. He is a charming and sensitive young man who does not seem to want to perpetuate the feud with the Capulets, though he has grown up impacted by this feud. He is generally considered handsome and likeable by the other characters. Romeo is defined by love throughout the play. When first introduced, he is in love with Rosaline. However, when he sees Juliet, he falls in love with her instead. The two marry in secret, but Romeo is provoked into killing Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, and forced to flee Verona. When Romeo believes that Juliet is dead, he cannot imagine life without her, and drinks poison to kill himself.
Juliet Capulet – Juliet Capulet is the thirteen-year-old daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet. A very beautiful young woman, Juliet is introduced as a child who has not yet contemplated marriage. When Paris, a very suitable suitor, asks for her hand in marriage, her father declines his offer, asking him to wait because of Juliet’s age, but her mother wants her to see if she thinks she could grow to love Paris. This is the night of the masquerade, which marks Juliet’s transition from child to woman. At the masquerade, she falls in love with Romeo and agrees to marry him. Romeo is then involved in a duel with her cousin, Tybalt, whom he kills. This results in Romeo being banished and in Capulet deciding that Paris can marry Juliet. When her nurse, who is supportive of the young couple, counsels her to pretend that Romeo is dead and to marry Paris, Juliet turns to Friar Lawrence for advice. The two concoct a scheme whereby Juliet will fake her death, allowing her to run away with Romeo. However, the scheme backfires and Romeo, finding his Juliet dead, truly does kill himself. Juliet then stabs herself in the chest, ending her own life.
Friar Lawrence –...
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