why does romeo change over the course of the reading

by Prof. Elliott Schamberger 10 min read

During the course of the play, Romeo matures from adolescence to adulthood as a result of his love for Juliet and his unfortunate involvement in the feud, marking his development from a comic character to a tragic figure.

Full Answer

How does Romeo change throughout the play?

Romeo's Change Throughout the Play I feel that Romeo does not change very much in this play. He has many sides to his personality; he can be happy, sad and depressed but what really causes him to die is his impulsiveness; he does not think of the consequences of his actions and thinks that everything is down to fate/destiny.

How did Romeo change after his first experience in love?

Another way Romeo changed was his first experience in love wasn’t good, he felt it was bitter sweet. Being in love was wonderful, but not being loved back was the most awful thing imaginable, he revealed this to Benvolio to seek comfort.

How does Romeo develop as a character after meeting Juliet?

Romeo did develop more as a character after meeting Juliet, you can see the significant difference in him when you look at when he was in love with Rosaline, he did not feel life was worth living without her. This very thought made him depressed and he would tend to mope about and hide in his room.

How is the idea of Change presented in Romeo and Juliet?

While it is rare for a complete change, a partial change almost always occurs. “Romeo and Juliet,” by William Shakespeare, is a darkened romantic tragedy, in which the idea of change is portrayed through the situations and consequences of Romeo. The reader can easily see Romeo's way of loving change from passion

Who was Romeo's lover?

Romeo is referred to be a ‘’Petrarchan lover’’ which originated by an Italian poet in the 14th century before Romeo and Juliet was written. He wrote a lot of poetry to a lady called Laura, who like ‘Rosaline’ was unattainable and unavailable.

What is the difference between Romeo and Rosaline?

The first difference you will notice in Romeo, is his complete devastation after he is declined so many times by Rosaline. The fact that Romeo doesn’t even know Rosaline is one way he is seen as immature at first, he is completely infatuated with her and expresses that he is manically in love, but then he suddenly hates which can be seen as foolish ...

Did Romeo develop more as a character after meeting Juliet?

Romeo did develop more as a character after meeting Juliet, you can see the significant difference in him when you look at when he was in love with Rosaline, he did not feel life was worth living without her. This very thought made him depressed and he would tend to mope about and hide in his room.

What happens to Romeo before he is banished?

The evening before he is banished, Romeo arranges to spend his last night with Juliet, where he temporarily comes out of his sad state of mind and readopts his passionate and romantic character. He then leaves for Mantua.

What does Juliet think of Romeo when she hears that his lover has been banished?

When Juliet hears that her lover has been banished, she is distraught and confused by conflict of emotions. Romeo has been banished, however he killed her cousin. She shows her deep love for Romeo as she remains loyal to him when the Nurse criticises Romeo she scorns her.

What does Romeo do in Act 5 Scene 3?

In Act five Scene three, Romeo breaks into the Capulet vault, where Paris who, unaware of Romeos love for Juliet wrongly assumes that Romeo is there to desecrate the Capulet vault challenges his.

What is Romeo's best friend's name in Act 3 Scene 1?

However, when his best friend Mercutio is killed by Tybalt, Romeo becomes enraged and seeks his revenge on Tybalt.

Why does Romeo kill Paris?

He kills Paris, however because of Romeo’s developed character, he shows remorse and carries Paris’s body into the vault and lays it beside Juliet. Romeo sees Juliet lying in the tomb, and swallows the poison. This shows that Romeo is driven by emotion and his total and uncompromising love for Juliet.

What scene does Juliet meet Romeo?

In Act one Scene 5, she first meets Romeo at the party. They instantly fall in love and the audience first sees her romantic nature.

What is Juliet's character at the end of the play?

At the end of the play he has developed into a headstrong youth who is capable of making his own decisions. Juliet first appears as a polite young girl who obeys her parents. At the end of the play she has developed into a mature young woman who makes her own choices and arrangements.

Mercutio's Influence On Romeo And Juliet

aptly describes Mercutio’s influence over him as well. Mercutio influences Romeo and other characters considerably during the play, even in the scenes following his death, showing his great significance to “Romeo and Juliet”, by William Shakespeare.

Romeo And Juliet Character Analysis

famous play, Romeo and Juliet. The play is set in the town of Verona in France, where two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, struggle to keep peace, as the feud of many generations still splits the town in half. Through their family feuds, the two young lovers, the Montague Romeo and the Capulet Juliet, try to have a relationships.

Romeo Passionate

Romeo Montague is characterized by his passion and his tendency to make rash decisions. Throughout Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare provides examples of these two of Romeo’s qualities, and, ultimately, they are what define him as a tragic hero. From the beginning of the play, it is evident that Romeo is a passionate person.

Character Analysis Of Mercutio

In Shakespeare’s famous play Romeo and Juliet, the most memorable character, Mercutio, was killed off early, but he still managed to contribute greatly to the plot of the tragic love story. Everybody knows one of the main themes of the play is love, however Mercutio is an anti-romantic character making him a foil to Romeo.

Changes In Romeo And Juliet

their complete personality during the course of a play. While it is rare for a complete change, a partial change almost always occurs. “Romeo and Juliet,” by William Shakespeare, is a darkened romantic tragedy, in which the idea of change is portrayed through the situations and consequences of Romeo.

Juliet's Attitudes Toward Love And Marriage In Romeo And Juliet

Juliet's attitude towards love and marriage changes significantly throughout the play, at first she never even thought about marriage, but then falls deeply in love with Romeo, as a result Juliet decides she can’t live without Romeo and kill’s herself.

Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare Essay

As one of the most complex characters in the play, Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio’s purpose is to act as a static catalyst for the death of most of the characters. Shakespeare uses Mercutio’s character cleverly as the kind of character that stays in the background, but influences the rest of the cast in the utmost amount.

What happens to Romeo when he learns of his banishment?

Romeo's immaturity is again manifest later when he learns of his banishment. He lies on the floor of the Friar's cell, wailing and crying over his fate. When the Nurse arrives, he clumsily attempts suicide.

What does Romeo want to do when Juliet dies?

Later, when Romeo receives the news of Juliet's death, he exhibits maturity and composure as he resolves to die. His only desire is to be with Juliet: "Well Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight" (V.1.36). His resolution is reflected in the violent image he uses to order Balthasar, his servant, to keep out of the tomb:

What happened to Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet?

In one ill-fated moment, he placed his love of Juliet over his concern for Mercutio, and Mercutio was killed. Romeo then compounds the problem by placing his own feelings of anger over any concerns for Juliet by killing Tybalt. Romeo's immaturity is again manifest later when he learns of his banishment.

What is Romeo's character?

Character Analysis Romeo. During the course of the play, Romeo matures from adolescence to adulthood as a result of his love for Juliet and his unfortunate involvement in the feud, marking his development from a comic character to a tragic figure. Romeo is initially presented as a Petrarchan lover, a man whose feelings of love aren't reciprocated ...

What does the Friar remind Romeo of Juliet?

The Friar reminds him to consider Juliet and chides him for not thinking through the consequences of his actions for his wife. The Friar then offers a course of action to follow, and Romeo becomes calm. Later, when Romeo receives the news of Juliet's death, he exhibits maturity and composure as he resolves to die.

Why is Romeo reluctant to fight Tybalt?

Romeo is reluctant to fight Tybalt because they are now related through Romeo's marriage to Juliet.

What is Romeo's role in the Capulet feast?

Romeo's sense of foreboding as he makes his way to the Capulet feast anticipates his first meeting with Juliet: Romeo's role first as a melancholy lover in the opening scenes of the play and then as a Juliet's secret love is significant. Romeo belongs in a world defined by love rather than a world fractured by feud.

What is Romeo's mood in Act 1?

In Act 1, Romeo is lonely and depressed. He is deeply infatuated with a girl who essentially shuts him down. However hopeless it seems, though, he swears he will never love another.

Is Romeo immature?

Romeo is immature in his lovestruck adolescence. He thinks he loves Rosaline, and her refusal to accept has him hiding away from people, and spending all his time alone. He very quickly switches his affections to Juliet, but does seem to mature a bit as the play continues.

What is the Prologue to Romeo and Juliet?

In the Act 1 Prologue to the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes. A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;

What does Shakespeare say about spoiling the ending?

If you just wanted to know the end of the play, Shakespeare would tell you, "Save your penny: they die.".

Why is the moment so powerful?

The moment is powerful because we know what she's about to learn. She' s being carried by forces more powerful than herself, and the tragedy is in how she reacts to them, instant by instant. Shakespeare's audiences knew the ending of Romeo and Juliet before he even set pen to paper.

What is the argument of the tragedie?

G. Blakemore Evans writes in his edition (The New Cambridge Shakespeare, 1984), Cast as a 'Shakespearean' sonnet, this prologue-chorus serves as what was called 'The Argument of the Tragedie' ( Gorboduc (1561)), usually prefixed to both tragedies and comedies written under classical or neo-classical influence (...).

Does Romeo and Juliet spoil the story?

When reading the prologue of Romeo and Juliet, one realises that it does not really "spoil" that much. It does not tell you why or how those two families revive their feud, whether the deaths of the two lovers is related to the feud, why exactly they take their own lives, let alone how and under what circumstances.

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