Tybalt and Romeo in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Tybalt and Romeo in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Romeo Montague is one of the two leads in Romeo and Juliet. Throughout

the play, his character changes often, from the lovesick, obsessed

Romeo at the beginning to the angry, murderous Rome when he kills

Tybalt. His character is totally different to Tybalt, a member of the

Capulet family, who is hotheaded and arrogant.

At the beginning of the play, Romeo has locked himself away because he

believes himself to be in love with Rosaline, a Capulet. He has locked

himself inside of his room and is refusing to talk. Montague, Romeo's

father, says that he is "black and portentous", and his "tears augment

the morning dew." Benvolio says that he saw him, and that he "gladly

fled" showing that he did not wish to make company. Due to his

self-exile, he is unable to be involved in the fight at the start of

then play. After the fight has taken place, his mother, Lady Montague,

says that she was "Right glad I am he was not at this fray,"

indicating that he would almost certainly have taken part in the

fight, if he had been present. Eventually, Romeo comes around and

talks to his friend. He says that " sad hours seem long" without

Rosaline and that he is "out of her favour when I am in love." He also

says, "o brawling love"," loving hate" and "O heavy lightness". These

are oxymorons, and they indicate the confusion occurring in Romeo's

mind. Also, in the same scene, it is said that that "This is not

Romeo, he's some other where!" showing that Romeo does not usually

behave like this, and he speaks of Rosaline using elaborate and

complicated language, an example of which is "The all-seeing sun ne'er

saw her match since first the world begun." He responds to Mercutio's

joking and fooling with serious comments, like "under love's heavy

burden do I sink!" and "I have a soul of heavy lead."

Romeo is also a person who can fall into and out of love very easily,