Romeo and Juliet: Character Profiles

Romeo Montague

Romeo is the young son of the Montague family.
He is romantic and passionate, with a strong capacity for love.
He is impulsive, making spontaneous and often reckless decisions.
He gets overwhelmed by his feelings, especially those of love and despair.
His character undergoes significant change throughout the play, from lovelorn and melancholic to a desperate and resolute man.

Juliet Capulet

Juliet is the young daughter of the Capulet family.
She starts off as an obedient and naive child but matures into a determined and courageous woman.
She is also impulsive, willing to risk everything for her love for Romeo.
She shows an inner strength, courage and assertiveness not typical for women of her time.
Juliet’s character reflects themes of youthful passion versus the constraints of societal norms.

Mercutio

Mercutio is Romeo’s close friend and a kinsman to Prince Escalus.
He is known for his quick wit, sarcasm and imaginative mind.
He brings comic relief but also delivers one of the most famous speeches on dreams, known as the “Queen Mab” speech.
His death marks a significant turn of events leading to the tragic conclusion.
His character delivers themes of fate, reality versus fantasy, and the consequences of impulsive violence.

Friar Laurence

Friar Laurence is a friar in Verona who serves as a confidant to Romeo.
He is wise, patient and a good counsellor, often advising caution and patience.
He secretly marries Romeo and Juliet, hoping that it will reconcile their feuding families.
His plans fail due to unfortunate circumstances, leading to the deaths of the young lovers.
His character represents themes of failed plans, unintended consequences and the complexity of good intentions.

Capulet and Lady Capulet

Capulet and Lady Capulet are Juliet’s parents.
Capulet initially rejects the idea of marrying Juliet to Paris, stating that she is too young, but later changes his mind and becomes forcefully insistent.
Lady Capulet pushes for Juliet’s marriage to Paris, showing little emotional connection to her daughter.
The behaviour of Capulet and Lady Capulet signify parental control and challenge the societal norms and pressures.

The Nurse

The Nurse is Juliet’s loyal confidant and emotional support.
She has a more maternal bond with Juliet than Lady Capulet does.
A rustic, pragmatic woman, who provides comic relief with her frequent inappropriate comments and double entendre.
She also becomes a messenger between Romeo and Juliet.
Despite her loyalty, the Nurse urges Juliet to forget Romeo and comply with her parents’ wishes to marry Paris, highlighting themes of loyalty, betrayal and societal duties.