Minor Character in Romeo and Juliet

by Connor Inglefield

25-MAR-2012 05:25PM
4308

237778034

Connor Inglefield
Pd3

3/20/12

Minor Character in Romeo and Juliet

The play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is the story about a parr of
teenage lovers who each died for the other due to their love. The setting is in the city of
Verona,Italy, and there this tragedy turned lovers into a bloodbath of fighting.In most
stories a person expects the main characters to be the most important part of the story but

In Romeo and Juliet, the minor character Benvolio has a very big influence on
hours
long... Benvolio: It was.What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours...? Benvolio: In love?
Romeo: Out- Benvolio: Of love? Romeo Out of her favor where lam in
love.Benvolio:Alas that love, so gentle in his view,Should be so tyrannous and rough in
proof... Romeo:Thi.s love feels I that feel nolove in this.Dost thou not laugh?
Benvolio:No,coz I rather weep...Romeo:A sick man in sadness makes his wiii...Benvolio:
I'll pay that doctrine or else die in debt." This quote is saying when Romeo is in love with
Rosalind but she doesn't love

h.rtVoucan kill him.Another example, Actl scene 2, 89-108 "At this ancient feast

of Capulet's sups the fair R osaline whom thou so love... Romeo: When the devout religion
of mine eye maintains such falsehood... Benvolio: That I will show you shining at this
feast, and she shall scant show well that now seems best. Romeo: I'll go along,no such
sight to be shown, But to rejoice in splendor of mine own." This quote is saying Benvolio is
telling Romeo to go to t he party tonight so that he can stare at Rosalind but also to stare
at some other beautifulladies. A last example is Actl scene 1,118-158. "lady Montague:

0, where is Romeo? Saw you him today? Right glad I am he was not at this fray.
Benvolio:So early
walking did Isee your son. Towards him I made,but he was 'ware of me and stole into
the convert of the wood... Montague: Many a morning hath he there been
seen,withtears augmenting the fresh morning's dew. Adding to clouds more clouds with
his deep sighs..." in this quote ady Montague and Montague are worried about Romeo
and Benvolio is
telling them not to worry about him that he would handle it. Throughout the play
and Juliet the minor character Benvolio influences the Action/Plot.

av:0R o m e o a nd Lt;i ie t;t h el nill o r

Romeo

ch a r ace t r 9envolio has a huge effect on

Character Development. For example in Act1Scene 1, 170-188, "Benvolio: In love?

Romeo: Out- Benvolio: Of love? Romeo: out of her favor where I am in love.Benvollo: Alas
that love so gentle in his view, should be so tyrannous and rough in proof! Romeo: Why
then,o brawling love,o loving hate,0 anything of nothing serious vanity,misshapen
chaos..." In
his quote BfPlMJs ho"'iAg

l:lS thet

Ro111eo Is desperate without Rosalind.IAnother

example is in Actl scene 1, 67-73. "Tybalt: What,art thou drawn among these
heartless hinds? Turn thee Benvolio;look upon thy death. Benvolio:I do but keep the
peace. Put up

thy sword, or manage it to part these men with me.Tybalt: What, drawn and talk of
peace? I hate the word as I hate hell,all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee,coward." In
these lines of the play Benvolio is telling us that Tybalt hates the word peace and that he
loves to fight. Another example is in Act3 scene 1,121-125 "Benvolio: 0 Romeo, Romeo
brave Mercutio is dead. That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds, which too untimely here
did scorn the earth. Romeo: This day's black fate on more days doth depend.This but
begins the woe others must end." In this quote Benvolio talks with Romeo about Mercutio's
death and that Tybalt has killed a brave man who shouldn't have died.This quote is also
showing us that Romeo cannot hold his anger. So he went out and killed Tybalt. In this play
Romeo and Juliet the minor character Benvolio has a huge influence on many characters

throughout the play.

In Romeo and Juliet, the minor character has a big importance to the
theme of the play.The theme of this play is everything happens for a reason. For
example in actl scene 1,163-247 "Romeo: Ay me,sad hours long... Benvolio: It was.
What sadness
lengthens Romeo's hours...? Benvolio: In love? Romeo: Out- Benvolio: Of love? Romeo
Out of her favor where Iam in love. Benvolio: Alas that love, so gentle in his view,Should
be so tyrannous and rough in proof... Romeo: This love feels I that feelno love in this.
Dost thou not laugh? Benvolio: No,coz Irather weep...Romeo:A sick man in sadness
makes his wiii...Benvolio:I'll pay that doctrine or else die in debt." In this quote Romeo
is desperate because Rosalind doesn't love him. Another example later that same day in
Actl scene 2,
89-108, "At this ancient feast of Capulet's Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so love...
Romeo: When the devout religion of mine eye maintains such falsehood... Benvolio: That
I

will show you shining at this feast,and she shall scant show wellthat now seems best.
Romeo: I'll go along,no such sight to be shown,But to rejoice in splendor of mine own."
In both of these quotes helps show the theme of this play because everything falls for a
reason happens Rosalind breaks Romeo heart so then he goes to the party and

see Juliet.

In most plays or books the main characters tell the plot/action,influence character
development,and theme. But in the play Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare,
the minor characters have a huge influence on these. For example Benvolio plays a very
important part of the story and shows the character development, the theme of the play,
and the influence on action/plot.