The+Characters

Today (Monday, April 20, 2009), you got to know the 25 or so characters a little bit. Following is a quick review of them. Don't forget to contribute to the discussion so that you earn homework credit!


 * Romeo Montague:** Romeo is a 16-year-old hottie. He is impulsive, immature, and a loyal friend. As the play opens, he is madly in love with Rosaline, whom he forgets instantly when he sees Juliet. One wonders how long it would take before he became distracted by another pretty girl.


 * Juliet Capulet:** Juliet is 13 and has not given much thought to love and marriage. Once she falls for Romeo, though, she is willing to sacrifice everything for him.


 * Friar Lawrence:** A friar is a priest. Friar Lawrence also seems to know a bit about potions and herbs. He is friends with both the kids.


 * The Nurse:** Back in the day, a wet nurse breast-fed the children of noble families. She is the down-to-earth foil to Juliet's romantic idealism.


 * Tybalt:** Juliet's cousin. He is proud, quick to take offense, and an expert swordsman who hates the Montagues.


 * Capulet:** Juliet's father. Like Tybalt, he's a stickler for etiquette and rules and is likely to have quite a little tantrum if he does not get the respect he feels he is due. He loves Juliet although, as is typical of his time, he does not concern himself much with her thoughts of feelings. He wants her to marry Paris.


 * Lady Capulet:** Juliet's mother. She was 14 when Juliet was born, which makes her about 27 when we meet her. She is in agreement with her husband that Juliet should marry Paris.


 * Montague:** Romeo's father. Hates Capulets. When the play opens, he is worried that Romeo seems depressed.


 * Lady Montague:** Romeo's mother.


 * Paris:** Paris is related to the Prince. Capulet has promised him he can marry Juliet, and he acts presumptuously as if it has already happened.


 * Benvolio:** Romeo's friend. He is a peacemaker in public, but he has a temper in private.


 * Prince Escalus:** Prince of Verona. He is related to both Paris and Mercutio. He wants to keep peace between the Capulets and Montagues.


 * Friar John:** Priest who tries but fails to take a message to romeo.


 * Balthasar:** Romeo's servant.


 * Sampson and Gregory:** Capulet servants who hate the Montagues.


 * Abram:** Montague's servant, fights Sampson and Gregory.


 * The Apothecary:** An apothecary is a pharmacist. Sells poison to Romeo.


 * Peter:** Capulet servant.


 * Rosaline:** Romeo's crush at the beginning of the play. We never see her, but we hear she is beautiful.


 * The Chorus:** Narrator, commentator.

For homework, please answer this question on the discussion page (click the gray rectangle at the top of the page): 
 * Which character would you be and why?**