Presented by:- Presented by:-

Hafsa KayaniHafsa Kayani (B.S- Eng-4(B.S- Eng-4thth) )

Presented to:- Presented to:-

Miss: Shumaila.Miss: Shumaila.

Character of Romeo:-Character of Romeo:-

Romeo and Juliet:-Romeo and Juliet:- Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is a  is a 

tragedy written by  written by William Shakespeare early  early in his career about two in his career about two young young star-crossed lovers.  lovers.

It was among Shakespeare It was among Shakespeare

most popular play. most popular play.

Its plot is based on Italian Its plot is based on Italian Tale.Tale.

 

Romeo an Romeo an JulietJuliet belongs to a  belongs to a tradition of tragic tradition of tragic romances stretching  stretching back to antiquity . back to antiquity .

Written between 1591 Written between 1591 and 1595,first published and 1595,first published in a in a quarto version in  version in 15971597..

Themes and Motifs:- Themes and Motifs:- Love. Love.

Fate and chance. Fate and chance.

Duality (light and dark). Duality (light and dark).

Time.Time.

RomeoRomeo is one of the  is one of the title characters in  in William Shakespeare's 's tragedy  Romeo and Romeo and JulietJuliet. .

He serves as the play's maleprotagonist. He serves as the play's maleprotagonist. Romeo, the son of Montague and his wife, Romeo, the son of Montague and his wife, secretly loves and marries Juliet .secretly loves and marries Juliet .

The character's origins can be traced as far The character's origins can be traced as far back as Pyramus, who appears back as Pyramus, who appears in Ovid's Metamorphoses. in Ovid's Metamorphoses.

Romeo is one of the most important Romeo is one of the most important characters of the play, and has a consistent characters of the play, and has a consistent presence throughout it. presence throughout it.

Romeo is son and heir of Montague and Lady Romeo is son and heir of Montague and Lady Montague. Montague.

He’s a handsome man of about sixteen who He’s a handsome man of about sixteen who falls easily in and out of love demonstrating falls easily in and out of love demonstrating his immaturity. his immaturity.

At the beginning of the play he is hopelessly in At the beginning of the play he is hopelessly in love with Rosaline but immediately falls in love with Rosaline but immediately falls in love with Juliet at first sight.love with Juliet at first sight.

Could this be fate? Could this be fate?

Shakespeare encourages Shakespeare encourages us to question Romeo’s us to question Romeo’s feelings towards Juliet. feelings towards Juliet.

However, Romeo However, Romeo proves his love through proves his love through his integrity and actions his integrity and actions and he secretly marries and he secretly marries Juliet with the help of Juliet with the help of his friend and confident his friend and confident Friar Lawrence.Friar Lawrence.

Romeo marriage with Juliet:-Romeo marriage with Juliet:-

Romeo is not interested in the on-going feud Romeo is not interested in the on-going feud between his family and the Capulet. between his family and the Capulet.

He is not a violent man. He is not a violent man. Tybalt tries to provoke Romeo into fighting Tybalt tries to provoke Romeo into fighting

him but, true to character, Romeo is not drawn him but, true to character, Romeo is not drawn in. in.

when his close friend is killed by Tybalt, when his close friend is killed by Tybalt, Romeo retaliates and kills in a fit of rage and Romeo retaliates and kills in a fit of rage and grief.grief.

Romeo is one of the most Romeo is one of the most important characters of the important characters of the play, and has a consistent play, and has a consistent presence throughout it. presence throughout it.

His role as an idealistic His role as an idealistic lover has led the word lover has led the word "Romeo" to become a "Romeo" to become a synonym for a passionate synonym for a passionate male lover in various male lover in various languages.languages.

Romeo is the only son of Lord Montague, the Romeo is the only son of Lord Montague, the head of a reputed and rich family of Verona head of a reputed and rich family of Verona that is plagued by its longstanding feud with that is plagued by its longstanding feud with the Capulet family. the Capulet family.

In the first scenes, Romeo appears indifferent In the first scenes, Romeo appears indifferent to his family’s feud. to his family’s feud.

His only concern is his love for Rosaline, a His only concern is his love for Rosaline, a love, which is overwhelming, but artificial.love, which is overwhelming, but artificial.

Romeo is really in love with the idea of love. Romeo is really in love with the idea of love. When he does not receive love in return, he When he does not receive love in return, he grows melancholy and brooding. grows melancholy and brooding.

Even his friend Benvolio cannot distract him. Even his friend Benvolio cannot distract him.

At the Capulet dance, Romeo meets the At the Capulet dance, Romeo meets the beautiful Juliet. beautiful Juliet.

In truth, “the gentle lamb” turns into a “passionate In truth, “the gentle lamb” turns into a “passionate lover”. lover”.

Romeo’s deep feelings for Juliet, who ironically and Romeo’s deep feelings for Juliet, who ironically and tragically is a Capulet, are very different from the tragically is a Capulet, are very different from the shallow love he has felt for other woman, including shallow love he has felt for other woman, including Rosaline. Rosaline.

This genuine love makes him bold, and he is This genuine love makes him bold, and he is prepared to take any risk for Juliet. prepared to take any risk for Juliet.

He bravely goes into her garden after the He bravely goes into her garden after the party, even though he chances being caught party, even though he chances being caught and punished. and punished.

His risk is repaid when he hears Juliet express His risk is repaid when he hears Juliet express her love for him as well.her love for him as well.

Romeo’s love for Juliet softens him towards Romeo’s love for Juliet softens him towards all Capulets. all Capulets.

In fact, when Tybalt insults him, Romeo In fact, when Tybalt insults him, Romeo keeps his cool and does not respond. keeps his cool and does not respond.

He fights Tybalt, kills him, and flees to take He fights Tybalt, kills him, and flees to take refuge in the cell of Friar Lawrence. refuge in the cell of Friar Lawrence.

There he learns he has been banished from There he learns he has been banished from Verona and must leave Juliet. Verona and must leave Juliet.

The thought of being separated from his bride The thought of being separated from his bride drives Romeo into such depression that he drives Romeo into such depression that he tries to take his own life. tries to take his own life.

Friar Lawrence counsels Friar Lawrence counsels Romeo he must learn Romeo he must learn patience. Unfortunately, he patience. Unfortunately, he never does. never does.

Romeo is, indeed, young, Romeo is, indeed, young, inexperienced, hasty, and inexperienced, hasty, and impatient.impatient.

Upon first sight, he Upon first sight, he immediately falls in love immediately falls in love with Juliet, but it is a much with Juliet, but it is a much deeper and more genuine deeper and more genuine love than he has ever love than he has ever known.known.

when he hears of Juliet’s death when he hears of Juliet’s death from Balthazar, he purchases a from Balthazar, he purchases a powerful poison and kills powerful poison and kills himself without a second himself without a second thought. thought.

Because of this incredible love Because of this incredible love

for Juliet and desire to be with for Juliet and desire to be with her for eternity, Romeo has her for eternity, Romeo has been identified as one of the been identified as one of the world’s greatest lovers.world’s greatest lovers.

  More interested in love than in More interested in love than in violence violence

He states in Act 1.1, lines 185-189, He states in Act 1.1, lines 185-189, "O me! What fray (fight) was here? - Yet tell "O me! What fray (fight) was here? - Yet tell

me not, for I have heard it all. Here's much to me not, for I have heard it all. Here's much to do with hate, but more with love."do with hate, but more with love."

Intelligent, clever, and quick witted Intelligent, clever, and quick witted in conversation.in conversation.

In Act 1.5 In Act 1.5 During Romeo's first encounter with Juliet, he During Romeo's first encounter with Juliet, he

gives a clever comparison of his lips to pilgrims gives a clever comparison of his lips to pilgrims (palmers) who have traveled to visit a holy (palmers) who have traveled to visit a holy shrine, Juliet (lines 103-105)shrine, Juliet (lines 103-105)

Brave and unafraid of dangerBrave and unafraid of danger

  He risks death to sneak into the Capulet He risks death to sneak into the Capulet garden to catch a glimpse of Juliet after garden to catch a glimpse of Juliet after the Capulet party. (Act 2.2)the Capulet party. (Act 2.2)

  Impulsive, loyal, and quick to Impulsive, loyal, and quick to angeranger

  He is impulsive in his marriage to Juliet only He is impulsive in his marriage to Juliet only hours after theyhours after they

In killing Tybalt after Mercutio meet.In killing Tybalt after Mercutio meet. In attempting to kill himself after killing TybaltIn attempting to kill himself after killing Tybalt   In killing Paris before he takes his own life at In killing Paris before he takes his own life at

the end of the playthe end of the play He is loyal to Mercutio by avenging his deathHe is loyal to Mercutio by avenging his death

Conclusion:-Conclusion:-

The name Romeo, in popular culture, has The name Romeo, in popular culture, has become nearly synonymous with “lover.” become nearly synonymous with “lover.”

Romeo, in Romeo and Juliet, does indeed Romeo, in Romeo and Juliet, does indeed experience a love of such purity and passion experience a love of such purity and passion that hethat he kills himself when he believes that kills himself when he believes that the object of his lovethe object of his love, , Juliet, has diedJuliet, has died..

The power of Romeo’s love, The power of Romeo’s love, however, often obscures a clear however, often obscures a clear vision of Romeo’s character, vision of Romeo’s character, which is far more complex. which is far more complex.

Yet Romeo’s deep capacity for Yet Romeo’s deep capacity for

love is merely a part of his larger love is merely a part of his larger capacity for intense feeling of all capacity for intense feeling of all kinds. kinds.

Put another way, it is possible to Put another way, it is possible to describe Romeo as lacking the describe Romeo as lacking the capacity for moderationcapacity for moderation..

Love compels him to sneak into the garden Love compels him to sneak into the garden of his enemy’s daughter, risking death of his enemy’s daughter, risking death simply to catch a glimpse of her. simply to catch a glimpse of her.

Anger compels him to kill his wife’s cousin Anger compels him to kill his wife’s cousin in a reckless duel to avenge the death of his in a reckless duel to avenge the death of his friend.friend.

Despair compels him to suicide upon Despair compels him to suicide upon hearing of Juliet’s death.hearing of Juliet’s death.

Such extreme behavior dominates Romeo’s Such extreme behavior dominates Romeo’s character throughout the play and contributes to character throughout the play and contributes to the ultimate tragedy that befalls the lovers. the ultimate tragedy that befalls the lovers.

Of course, though, had Romeo not had such Of course, though, had Romeo not had such depths of feeling, the love he shared with Juliet depths of feeling, the love he shared with Juliet would never have existed in the first place.  would never have existed in the first place.