Jordan Bihms
PreAP English
Mr. Posey
There are many people who are exact opposites of each other. Sometimes it’s a challenge to
even be in the vicinity of them. The play Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare includes many examples in which this strange occurrence takes place. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the different personalities the characters possess are crucial in leading up to the overall tragedy of the play.
Throughout the play, the characters show examples of how their personalities conflict with each other. In Act 3 Scene 1 for example, on line 44, Mercutio says, " Tybalt, you rat catcher, will you walk?" This is one of many examples of how Mercutio makes wise remarks towards characters he doesn't like. Through his cynical demeanor he thrusts the play towards tragedy. In Act 3 Scene 1 Mercutio says, “ Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.” The reader can interpret that he was making a pun about his death which, after further reading, we see to be true. Yet this goes more into depth about his witty personality, and how he spoke. Another example that is included in the story is in Act 3 Scene 1, on line 105, when
Mercutio says, “Help me into some house, Benvolio, or I shall faint. A plague o’ both your houses! They have made worms’ meat of me! I have it, and soundly too! Your houses!” This quote shows how although he was dying, the others suspected that he was still joking around due to his serious trait flaw of joking around all the time. It probably lead to the dramatic consequence of Mercutio kicking the bucket.
Subsequently another one of the characters that have a trait that sets them apart is Romeo.
During parts of the play he shows a variety of emotions, but one that is seen clearly is his anger.
All throughout the play Romeo always lets his emotions grab hold. For example, In Act 5 Scene
3 on line 124 Romeo says, “A dateless bargain to engrossing death! Come, bitter conduct unsavoury guide!” The audience can see now that Romeo is always letting his emotions get the
better of him. During these moments, the play moves towards that suspense of something about to happen. Further bringing his character flaw into light is in Act 5 Scene 3 on line 70. Here
Romeo says to Paris, “Put not another sin upon my head, by urging me to fury: o, be gone! By heaven, I love thee more than myself.” He says this to show how he does everything he can to see juliet for one last time, yet he doesn’t care about what happens to himself along the way. The reader can interpret that he is quick to getting what he wants through any means necessary.
Earlier in the play we can see another character trait possessed by Romeo in Act 5 Scene 1 on line 76. Here Romeo tells the apothecary, “I pay thy poverty and not thy will.” This quote shows how Romeo was being so persuasive towards the apothecary, and like others were being convinced to do something. It goes into depth shedding light on what he is capable of.
Furthermore many other characters personalities contribute to the tragedy of the play.
This includes the habits