[CHARACTER] Explore the development of the character of Romeo throughout the play

“With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew”Melancholy lover introduction - belongs in a world defined by love rather than a world fractured by feud – poetic language – rather feminine – tears personified to “augment” morning dew, stressing his extreme pensiveness and despondency

“O brawling love, o loving hate” “Feather of lead, bright smoke”

Melancholy, forlorn, one-sided, unrequited, miserable – Romeo locked in an artificial night due to the lack of reciprocation – antithesis and juxtaposition show his internal turmoil and the deep conflict festering deep within him

“Gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bent”

Desperate to avoid conflict and peace-seeking – attempts to pacify Tybalt – connotations of peace and tranquility and amity – gentle nature – tricolon and personification emphasizes how everything he exuded was designed to avoid conflict – also shows Benvolio’s own regret of his cousin’s rapid shift from “gentle” to “newly entertained revenge”

“If I profane with my unworthiest hand, this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this”

Romeo uses a metaphor to describe Juliet as a holy shrine – he is not worthy – Juliet is sacred, pious, holy - religious semantic field with connotations of faith, religious imagery running through their exchange – passionate - Perfect sonnet form – 14 lines – iambic pentameter, heartbeat rhythm – love is perfect – harmonious relationship – “she doth teach the torches to burn bright” – Romeo sought sanctuary in the dark but the artificial night he fabricated for himself offered him no solace, it is only through Juliet’s love that he finds satisfaction and belonging - “kisses by the book” however audience acknowledges he’s already shed most of his pretenses

“Again, in triumph, and Mercutio slain? Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!”

Shift in Romeo’s character - Tybalt extinguished the passionate flames of love and good in Romeo, eradicating the good qualities that Juliet liked about him, and in replacement passed on his bitter hatred – Romeo thinks love had made him weak and effeminate – casting it away for “fire-eyed fury” – fricative alliteration - boiling, fire-eyed resent– hellish imagery juxtaposes with heaven - interrogative displays his incredulity and anger and fury

“Come, cordial and not poison, go with me, to Juliet’s grave for there I must use thee.”

Cordial = medicine – a metaphor for poison, to cure his melancholy – personification of poison gives it life and conveys its power – must is an imperative verb highlighting the urgency and finality of Romeo’s decision – rhyming couplet – desperation of the situation is pronounced – Romeo has lost Juliet, and has lost his will to live – contrast this to his attempt of suicide in Act 3 – Romeo has matured as a person, while the last attempt was one of cowardice to escape responsibility (chided by Friar Lawrence of not thinking of his wife Juliet) this is a genuine act of love