ChArAcTeRs However, some critics disagree with this, arguing that fate (see Themes section) plays


such a large part in Romeo’s story that he can’t truly be considered a typical tragic hero. This idea is echoed by Romeo who sees himself as ‘Fortune’s fool’. Some commentators argue also, that children or youths are not usually seen as tragic figures, particularly if their ‘flaw’ is inexperience and youthful passion.


RoMeO


✓ Lovesick (at the start) ✓ Melodramatic ✓ Deeply in love with Juliet ✓ Passionate and impetuous


✓ A tragic figure? PoRtFoLiO Deepen your understanding of Romeo by completing your Character Log, p104. JuLiEt


A DuTiFuL DaUgHtEr (At FiRsT) When Juliet is introduced to the audience, she is presented as dutiful and obedient. She speaks respectfully to her mother when she is asked if she has thought about marriage: ‘It is an honour that I dream not of.’ When Lady Capulet suggests that Paris would make a good husband, Juliet agrees to consider him, but promises to do no more than her parents allow: ‘I’ll look to like, if looking liking move. / But no more deep will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.’ However, Juliet is only obedient at the start of the play. She soon starts to rebel and rejects her parents’ plans for her.


A ReBeLlIoUs DaUgHtEr (AfTeR MeEtInG RoMeO) After meeting Romeo, Juliet is immediately willing to turn her back on her family in favour of love. In the Balcony Scene she reflects on her family name, seeing it as an obstacle to her relationship with Romeo. She says that she would be willing to renounce her family if Romeo swore to love her:


‘O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.’


She refers to Romeo as her ‘lord’ and promises total loyalty to him: ‘all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay / And follow thee my lord throughout the world.’ This is in spite of her parents’ desire for her to marry Paris and the fact that Romeo is from a rival family. Juliet’s decision to secretly marry Romeo is a rebellious act for a girl who had once been so dutiful. She lies to her parents, pretending she has gone to make confession and is quickly married at Friar Laurence’s cell. Juliet’s loyalty to Romeo and her obligations to her family come into conflict after Romeo


kills Tybalt. Confused and upset, Juliet at first criticises Romeo: ‘O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! / Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? / Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical!’ However, she scolds herself for her words and reaffirms her devotion to Romeo even though this runs contrary to family loyalty: ‘O, what a beast was I to chide at him!’ Juliet’s most overt act of rebellion is to defy her father and refuse to marry Paris. This sends Capulet into a rage and he threatens to disown his daughter. Juliet’s rebellious streak leads her to conspire with Friar Laurence to fake her own death and avoid marrying Paris.


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