Character Analysis of Romeo

Character Analysis of Romeo

Romeo and Juliet is a tale of two star-crossed lovers who in their

love for each other were willing to sacrifice their lives.

Romeo is a very temperamental person; his character develops

considerably throughout the play in various ways. In this essay I

shall be looking closely at Romeo’s character, his intentions &

abilities and his relationship with other characters in the play.

In the conversation between Benvolio and Montague in act 1 scene 1, we

learn that Romeo is behaving strangely and avoiding his friends,

“Towards him I made, but he was ware of me and stole into the covert

of the woods.” In this sentence Benvolio is explaining to Lady

Montague that when he walked towards Romeo, Romeo was aware of him and

hid in the woods. We know now that he was consumed by his grief about

being rejected by Rosaline, he would not confide in his friends or

family, as we learn from his father’s words “But he, his own

affections councilors, is to himself”. His father also mentions that

Romeo stays in his room all day with the curtains drawn grieving alone

in his darkened room “Away from light steals my heavy son, and private

in his chamber pens himself, shut up his windows, locks fair daylight

out, and makes himself an artificial night”. These two sentences given

by his father offer a physical and mental portrait of Romeo penning

himself away because he did not get what he wanted.

Benvolio tries again to talk to Romeo. He succeeds and asks Romeo why

he looked distressed. At first Romeo shied away from giving a straight

answer and talks in riddles and double meaning but then with more

promptings he unburdens ...

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...es not think of the consequences of his actions. But at other

times Romeo is thoughtful, responsible and mature. For every immature

deeds he does, there always seem to be a cause, which makes us doubt

if the deed was really immature.

Romeo seems to have become responsible after his marriage to Juliet;

he seems to feel that that he should take care of Juliet and be civil

to her kinsmen. This is arguable however, because he committed

suicide, which in my opinion is an easy way out but did he really have

anything left to live for? Juliet was ‘dead’, he was banished and his

mother was dead (he did not know that). So it must have seemed like

his only option. Romeo’s character is very puzzling, was he a selfish

and spoilt boy or a man who was too consumed with grief over losing

his wife? I’ll leave you to figure that out.