Title: Romeo and Juliet: Character Analysis of Romeo | Romeo and Juliet Play Summary & Study Guide | CliffsNotes Shakespeare Central
Headings: Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare
Character Analysis Romeo

Content: The fated destinies of Romeo and Juliet are foreshadowed throughout the play. Romeo's sense of foreboding as he makes his way to the Capulet feast anticipates his first meeting with Juliet: my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
(I.4.106-107)
Romeo's role first as a melancholy lover in the opening scenes of the play and then as a Juliet's secret love is significant. Romeo belongs in a world defined by love rather than a world fractured by feud. Tybalt's death in Act III, Scene 1, brings about the clash between the private world of the lovers and the public world of the feud. Romeo is reluctant to fight Tybalt because they are now related through Romeo's marriage to Juliet. When Tybalt kills Mercutio, however, Romeo (out of loyalty to his friend and anger at Tybalt's arrogance) kills Tybalt, thus avenging his friend's death. In one ill-fated moment, he placed his love of Juliet over his concern for Mercutio, and Mercutio was killed. Romeo then compounds the problem by placing his own feelings of anger over any concerns for Juliet by killing Tybalt. Romeo's immaturity is again manifest later when he learns of his banishment.