Romeo and Juliet Flashcards
(19 cards)
What are the themes?
Betrayal, Family, Togetherness, Love, Conflict, Royalty, Leadership, Agreement, Harmony, Fate, Youth and Age,
Romeo Montague
He is young, impulsive, passionate, intelligent, handsome, insensitive, yet a sensitive boy. Though impulsive and immature, his idealism and passion make him likeable. At the beginning of the play, he is madly in love with a woman named Rosaline, but the instant he lays eyes on Juliet, he falls in love with her and forgets Rosaline. Shakespeare gives us every reason to question how real Romeo’s love us.
Juliet Caplulet
She is shy and innocent. Yet near the end of the play she deems herself to be strong, intelligent, decisive, headstrong, witty, independent, brave and passionate. Juliet’s view of love is idealistic and intense.
Friar Lawrence
He is kind, civic-minded, a proponent of moderation, and always ready with a plan. As well as being a Catholic holy man, Friar Lawrence is also an expert in the use of seemingly mystical potions and herbs.
Mercutio
A kinsman to the Prince. He overflows with imagination, wit, and, are times, a strange, biting satire and broody fervour. He loves wordplay and can be quite hotheaded.
Nurse
A vulgar, long-winded, and sentimental character. The Nurse provides comic relief. She was Juliet’s faithful confidante and loyal intermediary with her (Juliet’s) and Romeo’s relationship. She provides a contrast with Juliet, given that her view of love is earthy and sexual.
Tybalt Capulet
Juliet’s cousin. He is strong-willed, argumentative, passionate, loyal, hot-headed, blunt, and impulsive: his actions are exemplary of these traits. He holds a deeper hatred to the Montague family than his uncle, Lord Capulet.
Capulet
The patriarch of the Capulet family. He ‘truly loves’ his daughter, Juliet, though he is not well acquainted with Juliet’s thoughts and feelings. Often prudent, he commands respect and propriety. However, he is liable to fly into rage when wither is lacking.
Lady Capulet
She is an ineffectual mother, relying on the Nurse for moral and pragmatic support.
Montague
The patriarch of the Montague clan. He is concerned about Romeo’s melancholy at the beginning of the play.
Lady Montague
She dies of grief after Romeo is exiled from Verona.
The Montagues
They are more caring than the Capulet’s and have great concern for Romeo.
Paris
Kinsman of the Prince (like Mercutio) and the suitor of Juliet most preferred by Capulet. He behaves very presumptuously toward Juliet when Capulet promises that he can marry her.
Benvolio
He makes a genuine effort to defuse violent scenes in a public place. However, he has a nasty temper in private. He spends most of the play trying to help Romeo get his mind off Rosaline.
Prince Escalus
He is concerned about maintaining the public peace at all costs.
The Apothecary
Had he been wealthier, he might have been able to afford to value his morals more than money, and refused to sell poison to Romeo.
Balthasar
Romeo’s dedicated servant
Peter
A Capulet servant who invites guests to Capulet’s feast and escorts the Nurse to meet with Romeo. He is illiterate and a bad singer.
Rosaline
The woman with whom Romeo is infatuated at the beginning of the play. Rosaline never appears onstage, but it is said by other character that she is very beautiful and has sworn to live a life of chastity.
