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Character compare and contrast essay
Character compare and contrast essay
Character compare and contrast essay
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In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Benvolio and Tybalt are both from different families, and are two characters that contrast each other. To begin, Benvolio is a peaceful man, who tries to avoid or stop conflicts as much as possible. When Tybalt enters the scene of a brawl between the Montagues and the Capulets, Benvolio says “I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,/Or manage it to part these men with me.” (I.i 62-63) Benvolio wants to avoid conflict as much as possible, and since the two families always seem to fight so often, this is a seemingly impossible task. However, he’s not a passive man, and will stop the fights by force if necessary. He is not afraid of Tybalt, and comments that Tybalt should use his sword to …show more content…
Furthermore, Benvolio is calm and calculating, but persistent in achieving his goals. Benvolio recounts on how he approaches Romeo, stating “Being one too many by my weary self,/Pursu’d my humour, not pursuing his,/And gladly shunn’d who gladly fled from me.” (I.i 122-123) Benvolio is a logical man, and will approach things with caution. However, he is relentless in trying to help his friend Romeo, despite Romeo’s attitude. This proves that Benvolio wants to make everyone happy, and will do anything to help solve everyone’s problems. However, Tybalt is a passionate and stubborn man, and will strike anyone who opposes his beliefs. When Benvolio tries to dissipate the tension, Tybalt then refutes that “What, drawn and talk of …show more content…
Moreover, Tybalt is determined and fierce, and will not hesitate to do anything to protect the name of his family. Benvolio describes how ”The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepar’d/Which, as he breath’d defiance to my ears,/He swung about his head and cut the winds,/Who, nothing hurt withal, hiss’d him in scorn;” (I.i 101-105) Tybalt isn’t much of a rational or logical man, he instead rushes into things, and is very impulsive. He does not stop to listen to explanations, and rather makes assumptions and bases his actions on those assumptions instead. He is headstrong, and rather persistent in achieving what he desires. Benvolio and Tybalt contrast each other with how they approach certain situations, such as how Benvolio would approach a situation with caution and rationality, Tybalt would approach the same situation with fierce determination, and impulsive tendencies. However, they are both determined in achieving their goals, and are loyal to their respective family names, showing they both know the value of their families, and how dedicated they both can
In comparison to Benvolio, they are highly divergent characters. Benvolio’s personality is one of peace and wellbeing, and his character is in juxtaposition to that of Tybalt’s. It is evident from the moment Tybalt first spoke in act 1 scene 1 that he is violent and enjoys fighting. His first line being ‘What, art though drawn amongst these heartless hinds?’ referring to Benvolio’s involvement in a fight between the servants, further implicates that Tybalt is regularly focused on violence and fighting. The line that further implicates his passion for conflict is at the moment when he discusses the topic of ‘peace’. Tybalt, on the subject of this word, says ‘I hate the word, as I hate hell’, suggesting that he has a passionate dislike for
Tybalt is related to Juliet, and is naturally a character foil to a relative of Romeo named Benvolio. Tybalt contains a quick temper, and makes a multitude of rash decisions. Tybalt also responds to disrespect with violence, and without much consideration. Benvolio’s name rings true to word that sounds similar:
Tybalt says that Romeo is a villain, a trouble maker. He states that he will not stand for
When asked by Benvolio to make peace in the streets, Tybalt bluntly responds,” talk of peace, I hate the word. As I hate hell all Montagues.” This is the attitude of Tybalt throughout the play. He believes he is doing all for the best and uses violence as his tool. He gets angry at the ball with Romeo being there, “villain as a guest,” and believes it best to defend his family’s honor by later taking revenge. When Tybalt finds Romeo, he thinks it best to fight him and when he ends up killing Mercutio he believes he has done his duty by causing Romeo the same hurt he has brought Tybalt, “the injuries that thou hast done me.”
Tybalt’s loyalty towards the family dispute intoxicates him with a quarrelsome nature. After recognizing Romeo at the Capulet Ball, Tybalt persistently rejects his uncle’s remonstrance to stay serene. Even after being restrained by his Uncle Capulet, he vows vengeance on Romeo in the future as he says, “Patience perforce with willful choler meeting Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. I will withdraw; but this intrusion shall Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall” (1.5.88-90). Tybalt tends to take each and every “insult” towards his family and himself to heart, without even contemplating their true meaning. Furthermore, Tybalt’s aggravating behavior develops into a clear factor leading to his downfall. When Mercutio is found dead as a result of Tybalt, Romeo confronts him directly with a duel to the death. Rather than trying to discuss and come to a harmonious solution, Tybalt further inflamed the already belligerent environment. He does this by saying, “Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence” (3.1.128-129). Tybalt’s relentless threatening behavior never fails to make an already hostile environment even worse. His cruel character is perpetual no matter what the
The friar wanted to unite the two families and he sees this marriage as a way to end the "ancient grudge". "For this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households' rancour to pure love. " The audience are also aware that Tybalt had issued a challenge to Romeo, unknown to Romeo, because he hadn't returned home after the ball. Tybalt, a Capulet, had seen Romeo at the feast and vowed to take revenge at this insult to his family pride. Mercutio and Benvolio fear for Romeo's life because he is no match for Tybalt, an experienced swordsman.
Romeo, enraged at the killing of one of his dearest friends, challenges Tybalt to a fight for revenge, saying:
Also in the beginning of the play a fight breaks out between the Montague and Capulet families and the Prince intervenes and after telling them to drop their weapons he says “If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.” Although this rule was given Tybalt challenged Romeo to a duel. Romeo kept refusing to fight Tybalt which caused Mercutio to be outraged and draw his own sword. During the duel between Tybalt and Mercutio, Romeo intervenes and tries to stop them both but Tybalt puts his sword under Romeo’s arm and kills Mercutio. Romeo then fights with Tybalt and murders him and is banished from Verona. If Tybalt hadn’t been so aggressive with the whole situation Romeo wouldn’t have been banished, and Juliet wouldn’t have needed to come up with a plan that resulted in both of their deaths.
Tybalt uses gentle expressions such as ‘love’ only to sharply accuse Romeo if a villain. Although somewhat insignificant, this sentence structure adds to the cruelty that Tybalt portrays. Romeo does not want to fight and explains reasons as to why, however Tybalt will not accept that he is not fighting someone and Mercutio gives Tybalt the perfect reason and opportunity to start a fight. Shakespeare seems to want the audience to sees Tybalt’s urge to pick fights as a big reason for the tragedy.
Shakespeare cunningly gives the audience an early indication of Benvolio’s personality through his name. Benvolio translated literally means “good-will” or “well wisher” a role he consistently fills, although sometimes unsuccessfully throughout the play, striving to keep himself and others around him out of any conflict. In the very first scene of the play, Benvolio quickly establishes himself as the peacemaker as he tries to stop the fight between the Montague and Capulet servants by saying, “Part fools! Put up your swords, you know not what you do.”(I.i.64-65) Wanting peace he warns them to stop arguing before things evolve into a grave situation. In that statement, Shakespeare references the Gospel of Luke “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34), using his skillful use of the written language to allude that Benvolio was taking on a Christ like peacemaker role in the play. Benvolio’s moral convictions do not change over the course of the play. His stance on peace is evident in all three scenes. In Act III, as Mercutio and Tybalt begin to fight, Benvolio once again attempts to be the voice of reason, “We talk here in the public haunt of mean: eithe...
Put up your swords; you know not what. you do” and at saying this he beats down their swords which shows us. that Benvolio doesn’t want to start a brawl between the two houses. Then Tybalt comes in and starts to provoke Benvolio and the servants. and when Benvolio starts talking about putting away their swords and parting Tybalt replies “what!
Tybalt is a Capulet and very passionate about hating the Montagues. In Act 1 Scene 5 when Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio sneak into Capulet’s party, Tybalt recognizes Romeo and begs Lord Capulet to kick him out. “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, / A villain that is hither come in spite / To scorn at our solemnity this night” (1. v. 69-71). Later, Tybalt sees Romeo on the street and tries to fight him, convinced that Romeo has done something to him. Romeo doesn’t want to fight, and Mercutio steps in. Benvolio and Romeo try to stop them, but Mercutio gets fatally wounded. Tybalt’s devotion to his family ended up killing Mercutio, and Tybalt himself later ends up dead because of
In Romeo and Juliet it stays true that the noble character Benvolio knows the diversity between what to do and what not to do. Benvolio is the character to help others out of situations that can be heated,and offering guidance when needed.Although in Act 3,of the play during the fight between the Capulet and Montague it drove how Benvolio was a deceiver to his friends. Benvolio's character reflects on many people today,showing that there is good and bad in the world;and as people we need to learn how to help each other when situations go
This aggression is shown when Tybalt insults Romeo (3.1.55-69), calling him “thou art a villain” (3.1.56), and “boy” (3.1.61). In the context of this scene, boy is an insult. Once Romeo shows that he will not fight back (3.1.57-60), Tybalt’s ego takes control. This incident embodies cockiness as Tybalt continually berates Romeo and his friends with insults. He has no real reason to escalate this conflict as he knows that the Prince hates fighting. Despite this, Tybalt shows how cocky and abrasive he is, and perpetrates the tragedy by killing Mercutio and getting killed, himself. Since Tybalt literally beckons Romeo to draw (3.1.62), he further exemplifies cockiness. This results in a tragedy as Tybalt slays Mercutio and is slain by Romeo in turn. Furthermore, Tybalt shows aggression in his aside with Lord Capulet at the party. Tybalt says many threatening things about Romeo, calling him: “a slave” (1.5.52), his “foe” (1.5.59), and a “villain” (1.5.63). In this part of the story, Tybalt shows aggression, by wanting to kill Romeo. This is made evident by him asking his servant to grab his sword (1.5.52-4). Once again, Tybalt shows unnecessary aggression by insulting and threatening Romeo. This moves the plot towards tragedy by establishing a rivalry between Romeo and Tybalt. Later on, this rivalry results in the death of Tybalt and Mercutio. In summation, Tybalt’s aggression and cockiness results in the deaths of himself and Mercutio, making this story a
She is uninterested in Romeo and his adoration. Benvolio is called a peacemaker (even his name is from the root of 'benevolent' or kind), and tries many times to soothe frayed tempers and hurt feelings. Benvolio is also asked by Romeo's parents to keep an eye on Romeo, and he is the one the Prince approaches to get to the bottom of the street fight between Romeo's friends and Capulet's supporters. Tybalt is the opposite in character, being unfriendly and self-serving.