Patnaik 1

Jessica Patnaik
Mr. Hakim
English 9
30 April 2015
Characterization: Analysis of Romeos Complexity in Romeo and Juliet
With every action comes a reaction. This statement not only applies to science but
also applies to the Capulet and Montague families. Like magnets, the hatred between the
families causes them to repel each other. The heat between the families grow as well as the
madness and chaos in the streets of Verona, Italy. In William Shakespeares play, Romeo
and Juliet, the children of the families, Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague, unexpectedly
fall in love. It begins to become risky and dangerous because of the families rivalry, which
could lead to chaos and violence if they happened to be caught. As the play comes to an
end, the star-crossed lovers take their lives because the secrecy and lies have consumed
them. However, Romeos actions caused reactions that also led to the fatal end of their love
as well as the downfall of his own personal life. As the play progresses, Romeo, a static
character, continues to make irrational and impulsive decisions because of his obsessiveness
and desperation with love.
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare develops Romeos character of obsessiveness
through speech of indirect characterization. The Shakespearean text conveys that Romeo is
very desperate for Rosaline- the woman he adores- to love him back. Romeo is obsessed
with her beauty, and he talks about Rosaline with Benvolio: She is too fair, too wise,
wisely too fair, / To merit bliss by making me despair (1.1.236-37). Romeo has a craze for
Rosaline, and he says that Rosaline is too beautiful to not be betrothed with someone. He
specifically wants to be with her. This fixed obsession for Rosaline is slowing his life down

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because he will not settle for any other girl. Romeos desperation is so strong that
Benvolios advice to move on does not help: Where I may read who passed that passing
fair? / Farewell. Thou canst not teach me to forget (1.1.252-53). Romeo cannot move on at
all because he is stuck on Rosalines beauty that will not escape his mind. When Romeo is
longing for someone or something by constantly referencing it, he will be fixed on it
because of his desperation.
In the second act of Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, Romeo continues to have
impulsive thoughts and make rash decisions through his deep desperation of love for Juliet.
Now that Romeo has moved on from Rosaline, he has found a new love from the Capulet
party named Juliet. Despite the fact that Juliet is from the Capulet side-the rival family of
the Montagues- Romeo still continues to have an obsessive behavior over Juliet. Romeo
goes to the Capulet orchard and visits Juliet: She speaks. O, speak again, bright angel! For
thou art/As glorious to this night, being oer my head,/As is a winged messenger of heaven
(2.2.28-30). Romeo has an obsession and desperation for Juliet, which leads him to make a
risky decision of going into Capulet property and risk being caught and killed. Romeo and
Juliet are in love with each other, so Romeo makes a decision of marriage to signify their
love. He visits Friar Laurence to ask him if he would marry the two together. Friar is
reluctant at first, but then he agrees to do it. Romeo is filled with joy and says, O, let us
hence! I stand on sudden haste (2.3.101). Friar replies: Wisely, and slow. They stumble
that run fast (2.3.102-3). Romeo wants to complete the marriage right away. Because of
his desperation for Juliet, he makes an impulsive decision of marriage that could have
further complications. Romeos speech could cause consequences involving the family and
the marriage in the future. His character of impulsiveness and desperation has remained the
same from the beginning of the drama.

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In acts three to five of Shakespeares play, Romeo continues to demonstrate his
desperate and obsessive behavior that creates many problems. One hot day, Tybalt demands
to fight Romeo in a duel by asking Benvolio and Mercutio where he is. Bickering and
arguing soon follow until Romeo appears. He refuses to fight Tybalt and replies, But love
thee better than thou canst devise till thou shalt know the reason of my love (3.1.72-73).
Romeo does not want to fight with Tybalt because he is Juliets family. His desperate
behavior to make her happy interferes with Romeos family. Before he can even realize
what he has done, it is too late; Mercutio dies because he fought on behalf of Romeo.
Romeos character of speech leads to a terrible fatality. Romeo also causes another fatality:
his own. In act five, Romeo anxiously waits in Mantua for any news. He does not know that
Juliet has faked her own death to join him soon. Unfortunately, Friar Laurences letter
stating that Juliet is not dead does not reach Romeo. Instead, Balthasar, Romeos servant,
hears about Juliets death and gives Romeo bad news saying that she has passed away
and rests in the Capulets monument. He angrily shouts, Is it een so? Then I defy you,
stars! (5.1.25). Romeo continues to say what he feels after Balthasar leaves: Well, Juliet, I
will lie with thee tonight (5.1.37). He plans to commit suicide so he can be with Juliet.
Romeos obsessiveness over Juliet has taken over his whole life and is very willing and
desperate for love. His speech and near actions of indirect characterization cause him to
soon end his potential to become or do something great in his life. Romeo has a very
narrow-minded view on life that eventually ends him.
Romeo is attracted to love and haste and repels away from control and carefulness.
He also does not consider the repercussions of his actions. He is too distracted by love to
realize that it is dominating his life and hindering his personal growth. When one does not
think straight, it can create a clouded judgment that does not allow them to be sensible
enough. Many people do not want to be lonely, so they tend to attach to love a little too

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strongly sometimes when they find someone. Romeo becomes too attached, which
ultimately leads to his death. Heres to my love!... Thus with a kiss I die (5.2.123-24).

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