B-3

= = =__ Benvolio __ = //Use quotes wherever possible, including line numbers--this will make referencing the lines in the future much easier.//

__Relationship to other characters__ Benvolio is a Montague who is friends with Romeo and is also Romeo's cousin. (Wilkins) Not as hostile towards the Capulets as the other Montagues, more peaceful. (Burge)

__Strength of the character__ He tries to make people happy and is peace loving. His name even means "peaceful". In act I we see he tries to help Romeo get over Rosaline, and in act III he tries to calm Lady Capulet down after Mercutio and Tybalt die. (Wilkins)

Loves and looks out for everyone, tries to save Mercutio's love as he runs away. (Burge)

__Weakness of the character__ He doesn't try hard enough to stop fights. (Wilkins)

Does not stand up for his side of the house and doesn't help to prevent the fight like Romeo did. (Burge)

__Defining moment(s) for the character__ He tried to stop a fight between Mercutio and Tybalt, showing his love for peace, then takes care of Mercutio's body after he dies and still tries to calm Lady Capulet down. (Wilkins)

Getting the fight between the servants in Act 1 and calling it to the attention of the prince. (Burge)

__Essential question(s) for that character (i.e., what would //you// ask them?)__ How do you feel about Romeo? Does he ever annoy you? Are you mad at Lady Capulet for wanting Romeo dead? Where were you during acts 4 and 5?(Wilkins) Are you jealous that Romeo has such an undying love for such a beautiful woman? (Burge)

 Robert Wilkins  3/18/2009  Period 3  __ Romeo was the Direct Cause of Juliet’s Death __   Juliet's death is the direct cause of Romeo’s recklessness and immaturity. Romeo’s selfish impulsive actions get Juliet, he, and several others killed. In the say we see that he is little more than an entitled child who makes bad decisions that negatively affect everyone around him.  Romeo’s impulsive decisions always lead to someone’s death. We see this clearly when Mercutio is killed. //“Why the devil came you between us? I/ was hurt under your arm”//. (3.1. 104-105)  The first death of many, Mercutio dies when Romeo carelessly hampers him during the fight against Tybalt, causing a mortal wound. We also see the love as religion imagery when Mercutio mentions the devil to Romeo, although Romeo loves Mercutio and Romeo was only trying to help. This relates to Juliet’s death because if Mercutio lived, Tybalt would have lived, Romeo wouldn’t have been banished, etc. This is not the only time where we see Romeo’s impulsiveness end up killing people. Another example of Romeo’s impulsive stupidity comes near the end of the play when he says //“then I defy you, stars!”// (5.1 26). Thinking he can beat fate, he takes his own life after killing Paris even though he could have waited in Mantua a little bit longer instead of planning to kill himself. This stunt caused his own death, along with Juliet’s, and Paris’ too.  Fate can also be blamed for the unfortunate events in the play; however fate is not a person, but an explanation used to rationalize all the things that happen. Still, we see Romeo try to get the best of fate, but ends up causing more death, in this case, Juliet’s.//“O, I am fortune’s fool!//” (3.1. 142)  “Fate” in the play is much bigger than Romeo thinks. Although he was doomed from the start, we still see Juliet’s death is Romeo’s fault when he tries to best fate instead of submitting too it like we see here. Shakespeare relates the dramatic irony in the play with fate a lot, as Romeo does not he is already destined to die. Fate made Romeo cause Juliet’s death with his actions. This is not the only time Romeo tries to best fate. Right before he dies he says //“Will I set up my everlasting rest,/ And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars/ From this world- wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last!”// (5.3. 110-113) <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Romeo died trying to best fate, again with his impulsiveness, and ended up killing Paris //and// causing Juliet’s suicide in the process. Romeo’s lines mention stars, which symbolize fate, and everlasting rest means death. <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Finally, Romeo’s choice of friends also played a big part in Juliet’s death. Romeo’s friend choices influence his bad decisions and also fuel his impulsiveness. //<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“One desperate grief cures with another’s languish:/ Take thou some new infection to thy eye,/ and the rank poison of the old will die (1.2. 51-53). //<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> This quote is said by Benvolio when he is trying to get Romeo to go to the party where he met Juliet. This began the chain of events that causes the six major deaths. Benvolio does what Romeo does to Mercutio. He had good intentions, but ended up sealing the fate of a friend. Friar Lawrence is also a “friend” who causes Juliet’s death.//“Then is it likely thou wilt undertake/ A think\g like death to chide away this shame/ That copest with death himself to scape from it:/ and if thou darest, I’ll give thee remedy.”// (4.1. 74-77).This quote proves Friar Lawrence is a shady man and bad friar who wanted to protect his reputation. He does try to think of a more godly way to deal with Juliet’s problem because his own mess is catching up with him. <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> In conclusion, Juliet’s death was the result of Romeo’s impulsiveness, bad choice in friends, and misunderstanding of fate. <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">

main character page