Romeo

What are the audience's first impressions of Romeo

Romeo is introduced through a conversation between his parents and Benvolio.
He is initially presented as a sensitive, romantic young man. 'Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs' (Ii)
His melancholic, private behaviour is emphasised by images of darkness, 'Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out' (Ii)
It is clear that he is suffering from unrequited love: The metaphor 'Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast' show his misery, while a list of oxymorons conveys the painful duality of loving someone who doesn't love you back.
He is resolute in his love for Rosaline, 'thou canst not teach me to forget' (Ii).
This can make the audience doubtful of his sudden change in heart when he meets Juliet in I.v, although the rhetorical question 'Did my heart love till now?' could express his own surprise at experiencing true love.

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He shows his romantic character by comparing Juliet to nature, such as 'a snowy dove' (Iv), and using imagery of light, 'Juliet is the sun' (IIii).
references to Juliet being heavenly, 'O speak again bright angel' (IIii)
Romeo uses images of value, 'she hangs upon the cheek of the night / As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear' (Iv) and 'I should adventure for such merchandise' (IIii)
He displays the courtesy expected of a young man, using religious metaphor, 'If I profane my with unworthiest hand / This holy shrine' (Iv).
He is also quite forward when he asks to kiss her, 'My lips, two blusing pilgrims, ready stand / To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss' (Iv)

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in Act 2 Scene 4, he is shown exchanging witty but childish puns with Mercutio, as well as joing in with his sexual innuendos, 'Why, then is my pump well flowered'
He is also presented as impulsive when he climbs the walls into the Capulets' garden in order to see Juliet, despite the threat of death
in his readiness to marry Juliet less than a day after meeting her

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Romeo seems more sensible during his confrontation with Tybalt in III.i but Mercutio interprets this as a lack of honour
He excuses Tybalt's aggression and walks away: 'villain am I none / Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not'.
Despite Tybalt demanding a duel, Romeo defends himself with words, 'I do protest I never injured thee, / But love thee better than thou canst devise'.
Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to show that this change is due to his secret marriage to Juliet, 'Till thou shalt know the reason of my love'

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Romeo reflects on his changed behaviour, using metaphor to suggest that he has become unmanly and dishonourable, 'Thy beauty hath made me effeminate / And in my temper softened valour's steel'
He is full of anger and returns to his previous recklessness
When he fights with Tybalt, he doesnt appear to care whether he dies, stating that someone must accompany Mercutio to heaven: 'Either thou, ot I, or both must go with him'

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Romeo uses death imagery as romantic hyperbole. He compares exile from Juliet with feelings of torture and death.
Shakespeare also begins to use death imagery to suggest Romeo's dangerous lack of regard for his own life, 'Banishment! Be merciful, say "death". / For exile have more terror in his look'.
After his wedding night with Juliet, he is easily convinceed to remain with her, 'I have more care to stay than will to go. / Come death, and welcome'.

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When he is brought news of Juliet's apparent death, his response is very brief to suggest shock and disbelief: 'Is it e'en so?'
he instantly plans to kill himself by Juliet's side, referring to himself as 'life-weary' when buying the poison
his resolution is clear when he threatens to kill Balthasar if he disturbs him ('By heaven I will tear thee joint by joint')
he reluctantly kills Paris, then shows empathy and honour when he lays him in the tomb
Shakespeare uses repeated personification of death to show Romeo's feelings of despair. Struck by Juliet's beatuy, he drinks the poison, kisses her and dies.

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