Character Logs for Romeo and Juliet Romeo At the beginning of the play, Romeo thinks that he is not good enough for Rosaline. He doubts himself: “She is too fair…wisely too fair.” Act 1 Scene 1 Line 220. He thinks that he doesn’t deserve such a beautiful and clever girl as she is out of his league. Romeo is so under pressure and depressed that he doesn’t want to think about anything else. This miserable situation is making him feel disconnected from the world, and he cannot handle all the strong feelings he has: “O teach me how I should forget to think.” Act 1 Scene 1 Line 225.
‘Pigrogromitus of the vapians passing the Equinoctial of Quebus’ is the rubbish that he fondly remembers. He is also quite stupid for not realising that Sir Toby is conning him and is a coward for not trying to win Olivia’s heart himself. Feste is witty and preys on the absent-minded, (Sir Andrew). He makes quick remarks and likes to make a fool of Sir Andrew. He only does the fooling
Love is not a source of pleasure, love or joy. It is a source of pain and anguish. Romeo’s self-obsessed courtly love for Rosaline causes him deep sorrow. Romeo feels he cannot do anything while thinking about Roslaine; “ah me sad hows seem too long.” He cannot take his mind off her and time passes very slowly while he is thinking of her. This contrasts to where Romeo is with Juliet and time passes very quickly.
He was someone who saw that there was more to life then hatred. He states, “Here’s much to do with hatred but more with loves” (Act I, Scene 1, line 165) He knows that the fight is serious foolishness. (line 168) However, Romeo lets the force of illusionary love take hold of him which causes this young intelligent mind not to function to its full potential. From the very beginning of the play, before he even meets Juliet, he gives in to illusionary love with
One would think this puts him relatively outside the family feud, but we learn that Mercutio is only all to willing to play along with this adversary, and ultimately his quick and volatile nature lead to his untimely death. Mercutio as a masculine character but full of sense of humor through him constantly puns, jokes, and teases—sometimes in fun, sometimes with bitterness. Shakespeare introduces Mercutio in the very first scene was to contract with the romance theme; his point of view towards the love is completely overturns the idea that the story of Romeo and Juliet is an example of perfect romantic love as well as a blind-self-love. Mercutio is an anti-romantic character who regards love as an exclusively physical pursuit this is shown when Romeo complains about the heartache of his unrequited love for Rosaline, Mercutio tells him to get over it “If love be rough with you, be rough with love; Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.” The word “beat” emphasize the view of Mercutio towards the woman is like an enemy; he believed the honor of the man should not be knocked down by anyone. This is reflected to the historical background of the play; during the Elizabeth Age, man’s honor regarded as the first place.
Romeo has a lot of conflict, which he approaches with different, changing attitudes, which we know as contrast. For example at the beginning of the play when we first meet Romeo in Act 1 Scene 1 we learn about his very self centered, immature character as Shakespeare portrays him as. Romeo is revealed as a depressed and melancholy person. This is because of his love-sickness for Rosaline. More importantly, she does not love him back, which fuels his depressing mood.
Benedick’s “bachelor” attitude that he uses as a form of protection initially dominates his character as maliciously rude, witty and obnoxious, he swears that he “truly” loves “none” as he will die “with anger, with sickness, or with hunger but not with love”. This head-strong act that he shows is, yet again, changed instantly as soon as he is given the idea that he is loved back by Beatrice, he transforms in to a romance ridden fool as he assumed her love “must be requited!”. He doesn’t really question any costs to his reputation as a bachelor because love has altered him up to the point of not caring for other’s opinion…Shakespeare again shows how much love taints personal integrity. On the other hand,
It is obvious from all versions of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, written of performed, that the two characters of Romeo and Mercutio share a very close relationship, even though the two friends have highly contrasting personalities. Romeo is a romantic who loves to be in love, and is quite selfish and introverted. Mercutio on the other hand, believes in lust instead of love, and is at his best in the centre of attention. Act 2 Scene 4 is the morning after the Capulet ball where Romeo met Juliet, and is centred on the two friends’ duel of wit. At the start, Mercutio is outwardly wondering where Romeo is, showing that he likes to be in control of his friends.
The never-ending brawl between the Montagues and Capulets in due course envelops the lovers into conflict. Describing the initial fight between the two houses, Romeo states, “Heres much to do with hate, but more with love.” (Sc 1, Act 1, 175) Foreshadowing plays a role in providing hints for events to come as well as to present fate and destiny as a major motivation of the actions of characters. This is the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, a story demonstrating the uncontrollable feelings of love and hate through foreshadowing and fortune. Love and hate appear as a consistent and major theme presented in Romeo and Juliet. As the play begins, Romeo experiences, what he thinks to be, ‘love’ with Rosaline while Juliet is consented to marry Paris.
This prompts Oberon to play a nasty trick on Titania. Hermia and Lysander, who love each other at the beginning of the play, are affected by Puck’s lack of fair use of the love juice. Helena and Demetrius’ relationship also changes dramatically due to Puck’s interference. Hermia and Helena’s friendly love is marbled with jealousy, and erupts in Act 3, Scene 2. Lysander and Demetrius are constantly ‘warring’ over their love for Hermia or Helena, and do not observe the rules of fair play.