Capulet family characteristics. Romeo and Juliet may be brother and sister. The naive hope of lovers
Shakespeare's most popular work. Juliet's mother, Juliet and her nurse communicate. Juliet is almost 14 years old. The Duke decides to expel Romeo from the city for murder. Or a translator. 40 km from here. Why die?
"Romeo and Juliet" is one of the most interesting works of William Shakespeare. The tragic love of the main characters Romeo and Juliet, described by the English playwright, still causes unprecedented popularity among readers. The hostility between two wealthy families, which have been feuding for several centuries, finally ends. It ended thanks to the great and pure love of two young hearts, who by an absurd accident left this world. The real feelings that the heroes carried through many hardships and hardships ultimately brought long-awaited peace to families.
Characteristics of the heroes of Romeo and Juliet
Main characters
Romeo |
Romeo Montague is a young and passionate womanizer, frivolous but friendly. Initially, he courts the unapproachable Rosalina. He wants to achieve her favor with all his might, thinking that this is love. However, his friends are against this relationship. After meeting Juliet, Romeo forgets about Rosaline. He understands what real feelings are by looking at Juliet. Their love is full of difficulties and misunderstandings on the part of their warring parents. Romeo will do anything to be with his beloved. |
Juliet |
Juliet Capulet is essentially still a child. By nature she is kind and calm. For her, her parents are considered an undeniable authority. The girl completely submits to their will and does not oppose her parents’ decisions. But that was before meeting Romeo. When a young man appeared in her life, she went against her loved ones and refused to marry the eminent count. For the sake of Romeo, Juliet is ready to take even the most desperate step. Literally in an instant, a sweet child turns into a wise and judicious woman. |
Minor characters
Benvolio |
Romeo's cousin and friend. Benvolio is an ardent opponent of family feuds. Romeo supports him in everything, and trusts him completely. Constantly in close proximity to Romeo and Mercutio. |
Mercutio |
Romeo's best friend, a rake and a merry fellow, a relative of the Count of Verona. Mercutio is one of the most prominent characters in the play. By nature, sarcastic and narcissistic. The young man dies from Tybalt's sword, in Romeo's arms. |
Paris |
Nephew of the Prince of Verona, Count. Juliet's fiancé, also against family enmity, has a good character. He dies at the hands of Romeo at Juliet's grave, blaming the young man for the death of his bride. Relative of Mercutio. |
Friar Lorenzo |
Concerned about the feud between two eminent families. Lorenzo takes an active part in the development of the love relationship of Romeo and Juliet. Helps them, crowns lovers. Believes that this love will bring reconciliation to the Capulet and Montague families. Lorenzo invites Juliet to stage the performance of her death in order to find a reunion with Romeo. |
Tybalt |
Juliet's cousin. He supports the feud between families and seeks to further inflame the centuries-old conflict. He kills Mercutio, and he himself dies at the hands of Romeo, who avenged his friend. Negative character throughout the play. |
Capulet and Montague families |
Two families waging a long-term feud with each other. They don’t even remember why the conflict started. After the death of their beloved children, they make peace. |
Romeo and Juliet are heroes who showed the world what true love is. All of Shakespeare's stories are imbued with human experiences and tragedy. The play "Romeo and Juliet" is also included in this list. The characteristics of these characters make it clear that, despite their age, people have different views and thinking. The description of the plot and images of the characters is presented briefly.
), Juliet was repeatedly cited as an example.
Well, leaving aside the question of how logical it is to cite a literary work written in England in the 16th century about Italy in the 13th-14th centuries as evidence anything at all, let's discuss Juliet's age. Can it be used as an argument that such a young girl could have been married off early? And was she really young?
To begin with, Shakespeare writes, voicing the words of Juliet's father regarding the wedding with Paris:
She is not yet fourteen years old;
Let two more lush summers die -
Then Juliet can become a wife.
That is, the girl’s father clearly states that until she turns 16 there will be no weddings; which suggests that even then this is not the norm, according to some.
However, let's dig deeper: before the tragedy written by Shakespeare in 1591-1595, there were other works about these unhappy lovers. On the basis of which, in fact, Shakespeare wrote his masterpiece.
(It turned out that during the summer I had so much rest that I developed dysgraphia and dyslexia, so don’t hesitate to point out to me that that word is misspelled and all that).
The story of tragic love - writers and poets of all times and peoples turned to such a plot. Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet was no exception. It was not the English classic that became the founder of such a plot. But the opportunity to show the all-consuming happiness of loving people, which can even overcome a sad end, is precisely the idea of Shakespeare’s work.
History of creation
He loves her. She loves him. Relatives are against their union. The lovers solve this problem in their own way: the imaginary death of the beloved, which led to the true death of the young man. This plot has been known since the time of Ovid, who so colorfully described the love story of Pyramus and Thisbe in his Metamorphoses. The only difference with Shakespeare’s plot was that it was not the poison that caused the death of the young man in love, but the sword.
Of course, Shakespeare was familiar with the work of Ovid. But he also thoroughly studied the novella of the Italian Luigio da Porta, who back in 1524 described the love of Romeo and Juliet from Verona in “The Story of Two Noble Lovers.” This story has been changed many times (Juliet was initially 18 years old; before her death, she manages to talk to Romeo, but then dies of longing for her lover).
The main source that served as the basis for Shakespeare’s immortal work was Arthur Brick’s poem “Romeo and Juliet,” created by him in 1562. Shakespeare slightly reworked the plot: the events take place over 5 days in the summer (for Brick it is 9 months in the winter). He finished work on the work in 1596 (the exact date of creation is unknown, but it was printed right then).
The plot of the work
Two noble families from Verona, the Montagues and the Capulets, have been at war for many centuries. Even the masters' servants are caught up in the conflict. After another massacre, Duke Escalus of Verona warns that the culprit will be punished at the cost of his own life.
Romeo, a member of the Montague family, is in love with Rosalind, who is Juliet's friend. Mercutio's friend and brother Benvolio are trying in every possible way to drive away sad thoughts from Romeo.
At this time, the Capulet family is preparing for the holiday. Invitations have been sent to all the noble people of Verona. At the holiday, Senor Capulet's 13-year-old daughter, Juliet, is to be introduced to her groom, Count Paris.
Romeo and his friends also come to the ball at the Capulet house. After all, here he hopes to meet Rosalind, who is the owner’s niece. To prevent anyone from recognizing them, the young men decide to use masks. Their plan was exposed by Juliet's cousin Tybalt. To prevent a possible conflict, the owner of the house tries to stop Tybalt.
At this time, Romeo meets Juliet's gaze. Sympathy is born between young people. But on the path to happiness there is a huge obstacle: the centuries-old enmity between the Montagues and the Capulets.
Romeo and Juliet swear loyalty to each other and decide to get married, believing that this will put an end to the bad relationship between their relatives. Romeo, through the nurse, negotiates with the monk Lorenzo to carry out the ceremony.
A few hours after the wedding, the young man witnesses Tybalt killing his friend Mercutio. Romeo, in a rage, deals a fatal blow to Tybalt himself.
Tragic events led to the Duke deciding to expel the young man from Verona. Friar Lorenzo invites Romeo to wait a certain time in Mantua.
At this time, Juliet's parents inform her that they are preparing to marry her to Paris. In desperation, the girl turns to Lorenzo. He gives her a special sleeping pill to simulate death. Romeo doesn't know about this.
When the young man saw Juliet sleeping, he decided that she had died. Romeo kills Paris and takes the poison himself.
Juliet wakes up and sees Romeo's lifeless body. In desperation, she stabs herself. The death of the lovers reconciles the Montague and Capulet families.
Main characters
The daughter of Senor Capulet, surrounded since childhood by the love and care of loved ones: parents, cousin, cousin, nurse. At just 14 years old, she has not yet met love. The girl is sincere, kind and does not delve into family conflicts. Obediently follows the will of the parents. Having met Romeo, she completely surrenders to the first feeling, because of which she dies as a result.
A romantic young man from the Montague family. At the beginning of the novel, he is in love with Rosalind, Juliet's cousin. His love for Juliet transforms him from a frivolous reveler into a serious young man. Romeo has a sensitive and passionate soul.
Benvolio
Montague's nephew, Romeo's friend. The only one of all the characters who does not support family feud and tries to completely avoid conflicts. Romeo trusts Benvolio completely.
Nephew of Prince Verona. Juliet's groom. Shakespeare describes him as handsome and with a kind soul: he also does not support family conflict. Dies at the hands of Romeo.
Friar Lorenzo
A confessor who takes an active part in the life of Romeo and Juliet. Secretly marries lovers. He is ready to pray for everyone, and passionately wants to stop the war between the Montagues and the Capulets.
Tybalt- Juliet's cousin, who supports the blood feud between the families. He kills Mercutio, and himself dies at the hands of Romeo.
Mercutio- Romeo's friend, a young rake, narcissistic and sarcastic. Was killed by Tybalt.
The main idea of the work
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare shows true human values that can destroy traditions. Love has no barriers: it is not afraid of any prejudices. Young people are ready to go against society for the sake of their happiness. Their love fears neither life nor death.
