The Change of Romeo’s Language and Behavior Throughout William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

The Change of Romeo’s Language and Behavior Throughout William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Montague and Benvolio’s description of Romeo’s behavior tells the

audience about his character. Benvolio, talking to Lady Montague,

tells her that while he was out walking before dawn with a troubled

mind, he sees Romeo out walking too. Upon seeing Benvolio, Romeo

flees into the woods, and Benvolio goes his separate way:

“Towards him I made, but he was ware of me,

And stole into the cover of the wood.”

This implies that Romeo has deliberately avoided Benvolio and suggests

that he wishes to be alone and does not want to talk. Montague

further adds that it is not the first time Romeo has been seen out

walking in the early morning with tears in his eyes:

“Many a morning hath he been seen,

With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew.”

Romeo appears to be a very unhappy and emotional young man, who cannot

sleep at night and seeks isolation during the day. Montague

continues;

“Away from light steals home my heavy son,

And private in his chamber pens himself.”

This gives a strong image of a cage, like a prison. Romeo locks

himself away;

“Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out,

And makes himself an artificial night.”

Romeo seems to follow a routine of night time walking, and daytime

isolation when he shuts his windows and locks out the light, feeling

sorry for himself and wallowing in his self pity, almost turning a

blind eye to the world. He appears not to care for light or life.

Montague fears that if his son does not speak to someone soon then he

will not escape his black and ill-omened mood....

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... Romeo realizes that Mercutio is dead he is shocked and angry

because he knows that it should have been him. This was nothing to do

with Mercutio and Romeo is traumatized because he believed that

Mercutio was joking and suddenly comprehends that he is dead.

Romeos behavior has changed dramatically in the scenes that we have

studied. He has gone from a self indulged, reckless, irrational,

explosive and sulky disposition, through to an outward looking,

complimentary personality who praises Juliet and in addition, obsesses

over her. He is also at times a little irrational when he takes on the

mannerisms of those who surround him. With Mercutio’s death he then

changes to a wild and avenge-full person. He acts as though he is a

coin, calm and collected one moment but as if flipped, to an

un-reliable character at any time.