Romeo characterisation

• • He is the self-conscious sufferer driven by his requited love for Rosaline
• Romeo’s narrative echoes tropes of Aristotelian tragedy the character’s fatal flaw is the inability to think rationally, choosing to make impulsive decisions which result in his down fall 
• Petrarch was a poet in Italy, where the sonnet form originated Petrarch’s poems often objectified women as Romeo does with Rosaline and Juliet. They also display tormented lovers, as Romeo is at the beginning of the play. Petrarch’s trope of unrequited and unattainable love is undermined by Romeo
• Romeo navigates the realm of masculinity, he is contrastes with hyper-masculine characters such as Mercutio
• Romeo’s refusal to accept Tybalts duel also subverts the characteristics of stereotypical masculinity 
• Juliet

  develops quickly which makes it incredibly passionate. Their initial meeting is incredibly flirtatious, which juxtaposes the terrible and debilitating tension it goes on to cause. There love us potently strong, obviously demonstrating by how they both end of committing suicide 
• Mercuito

  While Romeo is an emotional romantic, Mercutio is a cynical man focused on the physical parts of love. It is clear they deeply care for each other. When Mercutio dies, Romeo is overcome with murderous rage. This reaction that the audience sees from Romeo illustrates the extent of love that Romeo had for Mercutio. The only time the audience sees a similar reaction is Romeo’s reaction to the death of Juliet. Romeo’s bond with Mercutio and Benvolio echoes the homosociality typical of Elizabethan England
• Friar

  The Friar acts as a father figure for Romeo. Throughout the novel, there is a distinct absence of parental care and attention given towards the two central characters. The Friar offers Romeo parental security due the complete absence of his own. This is similar to Juliet’s relationship with her Nurse. Romeo and Juliet confide in these surrogate parents which illustrates their compatibility.