Shakespeare’s classic play, Romeo and Juliet, tells of a tragic love story between two lovers of feuding families, Romeo, a member of the Montague family and Juliet, who is part of the Capulet family. This feud is so powerful that it negatively affects all of the community of Verona, a public place, as a whole by causing untamable havoc among the streets and the citizens. Despite the chaos that the Montagues and Capulets cause, not all members of the families act in this malevolent way. An example of an exception to the stereotypical characteristic of hatred is Benvolio, the nephew of Mr. Montague and Romeo’s cousin. His name translates to “good will” due to his kind actions and words, not only towards his own family, but to his community as …show more content…
For example, Benvolio is so empathetic that after Romeo confesses to Benvolio about the sorrows of his troubles with love, Benvolio is distressed and cries for Romeo’s sake. After hearing in detail of the whole story behind Romeo’s tale of his love interest’s devotion to chastity rather than returning his feelings, Benvolio gives Romeo advice to, “forget to think about her” and “examine other beauties” (1.1.225, 228). Unfortunately, Romeo is quick to reject this guidance. Following Romeo’s rejection of Benvolio’s advice, he takes the responsibility of getting Romeo to forget about his love, Rosaline and moving on onto himself, and even goes so far as to swear, “I’ll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt” (1.1.238). To add, at the masquerade ball, Benvolio keeps to his word and encourages Romeo to move on to other women by advising him and by introducing him to other potential love interests. By doing this, he is sacrificing his time at a party for the sake of Romeo’s feelings. Finally, Benvolio constantly has Romeo’s best interests at heart. Therefore, after seeing Romeo kill Tybalt in a duel, an offense that was decreed by the Prince to be punishable by death, he warns, “Romeo, away, be gone! …The Prince will doom thee death if thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away” (3.1.131, 33, …show more content…
First, as an introduction to the character of Benvolio, he breaks up a sword fight between Abraham and Samson, servants of the Montague and Capulet households, respectively. He warns, “ You know not what you do” (1.1.65). To add, when he confronts an angered Tybalt, a devote Capulet who despises all Montagues, Benvolio sets the family feud aside, turns down a duel, and claims to attempt to keep the peace while asking, “ Put up thy sword, or manage it to part these men with me” (1.1.68-69). Also, when Romeo’s distressed parents notice something wrong with their son but are unable to receive and answer from him, Mr. Montague has faith in Benvolio that Romeo may tell Benvolio of his woes exclusively and to bring peace among the Montague family. Moreover, as Mercutio and Benvolio encounter Tybalt and other members of the Capulet family, in an instinctive manner, Benvolio tries to prevent a duel from occurring and gaining negative public attention, especially from that of the upset prince. Unfortunately, this is in vain as Tybalt and Mercutio agree to fight each other anyway. As they fight, Romeo tries to stop the fight, but Tybalt stabs Mercutio and he dies. To avenge his friend’s death, Romeo decides to have a sword fight with Tybalt and
In the Shakespearean play, Romeo & Juliet, aggression is represented in different ways by the different characters in the play. Tybalt, Romeo, Benvolio, and the others all have their own way of dealing with hate and anger. Some do nothing but hate while others can’t stand to see even the smallest of quarrels take place.
In William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, Benvolio and Tybalt are portrayed as characters with distinctly opposing personalities that is apparent in many different instances throughout the play. Romeo's best friend, Benvolio is depicted as the classic nice guy, incorporating all the personalities necessary to be one. He is calm, patient, an advocate of peace between the two rival families, and always viewing the cup as half full instead of half empty. During the first quarrel between the Montagues and the Capulets in the play, Benvolio tries to bring peace by saying " I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword, / Or manage it to part these men with me " ( , , 62-63). It is apparent that Benvolio has good intentions and that he favours peace over mutiny. In addition, his control over himself allows him to carefully analyze the situation. Shakespeare intended for him to be the typical protagonist that tries to save everyone from a crisis, where in this case the crisis is a civil battle between two noble households. Furthermore, Benvolio has the ability to empathize with people and understand their feelings. Proof of this is shown when Lady Montague questions Romeo's missing to which he responds with "So early walking did I see your son;/ Towards him I made, but he was 'ware of me/ And stole into the covert of the wood; / I, measuring his affections by my own,/ Which then most sought where most might not be found,/ Being one too many by my weary self,/ Pursued my humor not pursuing his, /And gladly shunned who gladly fled from me. ( , , 117-124). Benvolio was able to figure out that something was wrong with Romeo, and that he wanted to be alone, and so Benvolio responded with just leaving him alone. He shows all the ch...
But not for the positive aspects, no, the negative ones. For instance, not only does Benvolio look good being a peaceful character, yet when it comes to the quote “Away to Heaven, respective lenity,/and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now,”” (3.1). It is apparent how strong Romeo’s reaction is. Yet Benvolio did not have the same. And instead shows how angry or quick to one Romeo is. He also does this in the city scene, where the Montagues run into the Capulets. Benvolio is quick to mention no fighting in public, yet Romeo doesn’t seem to care or pay any notice to him. (3.1). Benvolio obeyed the headings of the prince, Romeo however ignores
The characters in Romeo and Juliet are fully aware of the power of hate and act on the knowledge. They recognize that hatred and anger are much more powerful motivators than love and kindness. For example, when trying to motivate R...
Ever heard that too much hate is a bad thing? Well in Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare shows how the hate we have can lead to unintentional consequences. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare illustrates how hate affects the way someone says or does something. From the very beginning of the story, Shakespeare tells us how much hate the two families have for each other. In the opening scene in Verona, the two servants of different families, the Montagues and Capulets, start a fight between each other.
Themes of Love and Hate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet is a play about two young lovers, whose love was destined for destruction from the beginning because of hatred. between the two families, Montagues and Capulets. Therefore, Themes of love and hate are very important in the play as the plot is driven by these two themes. Shakespeare brings out the love between the two rivals through Romeo and Juliet and their relationships with the Friar and the Nurse.
“There’s a fine line between love and hate. Love frees a soul and in the same breath can sometimes suffocate it.” These words, spoken by Cecelia Ahern, are well known today, although most have never looked in depth of what they truly mean. Paradox’s are everywhere. Although two opposites may seem so different, we find it impossible to know what one is without the other. You can’t have a day without a night, or a joyful mood without knowing your poor moods, or a sunny day without going through a storm. One of the most well known paradoxes is love and hate. Love and hate surrounds people daily, and make up everything they are, see, and do. Although many do not recognize the power both love and hate have over them, love and hate affects every
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...
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
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.
Throughout Romeo and Juliet, love and hate are combined. However, even though they are combined, love still remains the principal theme in the play. Although in the play, the theme of hatred can be just as important and sometimes it intensifies the theme of love. For example, Romeo and Juliet’s love wouldn’t have been so extreme and powerful unless there was the hatred between the Montague’s and Capulet’s. We observe this from the very beginning of the prologue.
For a love story, Romeo and Juliet has more violence and bloodshed than most TV mini-series. The play begins with a riot, ends with a double suicide, and in between has three murders. And all this takes place in the span of four short days. Of course, when you're dealing with love and passion, you're operating on an elemental level. The funny thing is that they have their roots in the same soil. It is common for love to turn to hate - in the blink of an eye.
Ultimately`, William Shakespeare shows in many different ways throughout the play, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, that love is the more powerful force than hate. The readers see how the characters continuously forgive one another, even when the conditions are tough. The friendships between specific characters display a loving bond that cannot be broken with hate. Shakespeare demonstrates that Romeo and Juliet’s love can overpower the hate of many events in the play. He shows that their love can even overpower the death of one of their own family members. Romeo and Juliet’s love brings friendship between their feuding families. This story is a true example of how love can conquer all.
Mercutio and Benvolio are different because Mercutio is a wild person that likes to pick fights even though they aren't "his" battles. When Tybalt is looking for Romeo, Mercutio steps up and declares "... Here is my fiddlestick, here's that shall make you dance." (Scene Five), thus making Tybalt even angrier and causing a fight. You can see Benvolio is a peace-keeping person especially when he states "I do but keep the peace: put up thy sword..." (Scene One). He says this mainly because he doesn't want anyone to get hurt or get in trouble with the law.
'Romeo and Juliet' is a play written by William Shakespeare. The play is about Romeo, a member of the Montague household, falls in love with Juliet, a member of the Capulet household. As the two houses are involved in a feud, they were not allowed to be together, but their deaths finally bring their family’s quarrel to an end. The personal weaknesses of the central characters are somewhat responsible for the tragic outcome of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. These are weaknesses shown by the main characters of Romeo and Juliet, mainly their emotions and love towards each other, which contributes to the tragic outcome. However, the personal weaknesses of Capulet and Montague are more responsible for the tragic outcome, because they have hated each other deeply for centuries, and would never have allowed Romeo and Juliet to marry no matter what. In this essay, the personal weaknesses of the central characters who are somewhat responsible for the tragic outcome: Romeo, Juliet, and Mercutio, will be explored.