Main Characters Flashcards
Romeo
The son and heir of Lord and Lady Montague. Romeo is
handsome and intelligent, yet he is also impulsive and extremely
sensitive. Romeo is a peaceful character, and is not interested in the
violence that goes on around him, choosing instead to focus his
energies on love. Although Romeo’s love seems fickle (he loves
Rosaline at the outset) his commitment can’t be debated in the end!
Prince Escalus
The most powerful character in the play, with the
authority to govern the other characters and administer sentences.
He is also a kinsman to Mercutio and Paris. As the seat of Verona, his
main concern throughout most of his appearances are in relation to
ensuring that the peace is kept. He is merciful in banishing Romeo
for the death of Tybalt, as opposed to sentencing him to death.
Montague and Capulet
The patriarchs of the Montague and
Capulet families, who have held a long and violent feud with one
another from some time before the play begins. Both seem to
deeply love their respective child, yet do not always seem
appropriately aware of their emotional wellbeing. For example,
Romeo chooses to walk the streets in melancholy rather than share
his feelings with his father, and Capulet feels the best thing for Juliet
would be a marriage with Paris
Juliet
The daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet. Juliet is a
beautiful young girl (13 years old at the start of the play). Juliet is
caring, compassionate, and at times demonstrates courage (she
defies her parents in order to marry Romeo, and drinks the contents
of the vial without fully trusting its effects). At times, she shows great
intelligence and wit, particularly in conversations with her mother.
Mercutio
– A kinsman to the prince and one of Romeo’s closest
friends. Mercutio is an extraordinary character in that he has
sparkling wit and a vivid imagination. Much of Mercutio’s speeches
deal in puns and word-play. He appears to see himself as being
above the vices of love, choosing instead to view it as misplaced
sexual appetite. His hot-headedness is eventually his downfall.
Friar Laurence and the Nurse
Both Friar Laurence and the
Nurse act as guidance counsel for Romeo and Juliet. They appear to
be the two people that Romeo and Juliet trust more than any others
in the world, as they are the two that they confide in. Friar Laurence
is kind and civic-minded (believing the marriage may heal the
feud), whilst the Nurse is kind and sentimental (yet at times vulgar).
She seems as though she is more of a mother to Juliet than Lady
Capulet has ever been.
