How does Shakespeare present the character of Romeo at the start of the play?

Romeo uses a series of oxymorons, an example being "O brawling love, o loving hate." This shows the audience that he does not want anything to do with anyone, he would rather be alone. The language that he uses at the end of scene 1 is dramatic; he is now emotional rather than being full of self-pity.

Benvolio suggests that Romeo should 'examine other beauties' rather than just sticking with one person, he tells Romeo that he should forget Rosaline and find someone else to be with. Benvolio then decides that he will help Romeo see that other women are also as beautiful, the audience is now led to believe that he would rather be alone than around people at the end of scene 1.

In scene two, Benvolio is still trying to get his point that if Romeo falls in love with another women he will forget Rosaline. As he is saying this, a servant of Capulet comes along with an invitation to all people who are not Montague's, to a party at the Capulet mansion, the servant does not realise that they are Montague's. Benvolio decides that they should go along to this party so Romeo can see other women. Romeo wants to go because on reading the list he sees that Rosaline will be going, he wants to see Rosaline again so he decides to go.

As soon as Romeo sets his eyes on Juliet, his attitude changes from being depressed and lonely to being yet again in love, this time with Juliet. After the party Romeo hides form the other people he went to the party with in some bushes, and goes into Capulet's orchard to see if he can find Juliet. He sees her at the balcony and calls to her that he loves her. It is then decided that they should get married, which is rather hasty considering they have only known each other for about an hour.

"Th'exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine."

Juliet explains to Romeo that she will send someone to him so he can say whether he still wants to marry him. If he does then she wants him to organise the marriage, Juliet is taking control over Romeo.

Romeo starts to be possessive over Juliet when the nurse calls Juliet inside, off the balcony, Romeo doesn't want to leave Juliet alone and doesn't want to say goodbye to her.

" Let me stand here till thou remember it." Juliet forgets what she was going to say, so Romeo says that he will wait forever until she remembers what she was going to say.

They bid goodnight to each other, Romeo ends the scene b saying that he wants the Friar to marry them. When, the next day, Romeo goes to see Friar Lawrence in his cell, the Friar thinks Romeo has been with Rosaline all night, but when he questions Romeo of this he is surprised at the answer he gets.

"With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No;

I have forgot that name, and that name's woe."

This is once again another example of how Romeo changes from loving Rosaline to loving Juliet. The Friar is surprised at Romeo's sudden change of heart towards Rosaline, and when Romeo tells him he wants to get married to Juliet the Friar is afraid that they are taking things too fast and that they should slow down a little. The Friar says he will marry them, but only to bring the houses together.

The way that Romeo has been presented is now seen to of changed from when we first saw him at the start of the play, from at first being sad and emotional at the start of the play, he has changed to being in love with Juliet, completely forgetting that he was moping around sycamore grove mourning for Rosaline. This shows that Romeo is very immature and can change his mind very quickly he is impulsive and impetuous.

Christopher White 10Y1 31/01/04