Romeo

• Who is Romeo?

  • The only son of the Montague family
  • Between 13 and 21 yrs old
  • incredibly passionate and romantic
• What is his role in the story?

  • One of the play's protagonists
  • His relationship with Juliet drives the play forward
  • Contribute to the plays conflict and rising action
• What does he symbolise?

  • A petrarchan lover
• "A pair os star cross'd lovers take their lives"

  • he is presented as doomed
  • It is clear that he will will die in the play by committing suicide
  • Make his actions seem more tragic as we know it is all for nothing as he will die
• "What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?" - Benvolio

  • Romeo is presented as an emotional character
  • Romeo is often swayed by powerful emotions such as love and power
• "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!" - Romeo

  • Romeo is presented as a petrarchan lover
  • These were men who doted on women
  • Is romeo a parady of the Petrarchan Lover (seems abit cliched?)
• "[aside] She speaks. O, speak agin, bright angel"- Romeo

  • Romeo is sly!
  • Romeo listens in on Juliet for his own benefit
  • His slyness may be cause by insecurity (getting rejected by Rosalyn)
• "I do protest I never injures thee But love thee better than thou canst devise" -Romeo

  • Romeo is loyal to Juliet above all else
  • Politeness markers suggest he is trying to be nice to the Montague's bitter enemy
  • Romeo displays loyalty to the Capulets ( his new family as he is married to Juliet)
  • He is so addicted to Juliet that he will ditch his own family to impress Juliet
• "They fight. Tybalt falls" - Stage Directions

  • Romeo is an impulsive character
  • Romeo's impulsiveness could be interpreted as his harmartia (fatal flaw)
• "Thy tears are womanish" - Friar Lawrence

  • Romeo has been effeminised by his love
  • Elizabethan England and Renaissance Verona had rigid gender roles which Romeo is supposedly failing to meet
  • This could now be interpreted as Friar Lawrence using toxic masculinity towards Romeo
• "I pay thy poverty, and not thy will" - Romeo when buying poison

  • Romeo is privileged as he is forcing the apothocary to sell him the poison
  • Romeo's flaunting of his wealth could be interpreted as generosity, being committed to death