minor characters

• Paris is expected by Juliet's family to marry her for status and wealth
• In the play, Paris initially asks Lord Capulet to marry Juliet, but he is told to wait until she is older
• Later, when Lord Capulet insists Juliet marries Paris, she refuses and faces consequences, leading to Paris's tragic end in a duel with Romeo
• Paris symbolizes the power a woman's father and partner had over her in the Elizabethan era
• Lord and Lady Montague contribute to the conflict between the Capulets and Montagues, with Lady Montague dying out of grief for her son
• Benvolio, Romeo's cousin, is portrayed as loyal and peace-seeking, trying to prevent conflicts between the families
• Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, is a catalyst for conflict in the play, leading to his own demise in a fight with Romeo