Shakespeare introduces a new persona to Romeo in the following scenes. Romeo is shown to have no relationship with his father, Lord Montague, and it is also significant that Shakespeare refrains from including a dialogue between them. After agreeing to marry Juliet, Romeo confides immediately to Friar Lawrence about his passionate love for her and asks for the Friar to wed them both in secret, "...that thou consent to marry us today". The Friar is a respected and holy man, who Romeo feels most at ease with. The significance of the character's confidence in the Friar about the matter is immense. Shakespeare reinforces the issue of there being no relationship between father and son by this action, as usually, a father (or mother) is first to hear of their son's marriage, but here, Romeo cannot trust them, and therefore he consults the Friar, which creates the idea that Romeo sees him as a fatherly figure, compared to his own. It can also be argued that Romeo, wishes only for the Friar's involvement in the wedding as his own father and family would be against it, not due to Juliet herself, but to her family name - Capulet, whom the Montague family have conducted an ancient feud. However, it is more likely that Romeo sees the Friar as a father. Shakespeare presents Romeo's character speech with the Friar to be informal and natural, rather than the formal way in which he would speak to his father. I can only assume that Romeo would not be at ease with his father, because of the way Shakespeare includes no evidence of a conversation between them both. In those times, fathers and mothers of powerful and wealthy households would be treated with respect from their children who would not speak informally to their parents. Romeo's relationship with his father is similar to that of Juliet's relationship with her mother - they both do not speak on a regular, informal basis with each other, only if they need to. Romeo's gentle persuasion alters Friar Lawrence's opinion of the marriage, which he eventually agrees to as he thinks that it will resolve the feud between the houses. This is ironic, as although at this time they are uncertain, but sure that it may not have any affect, the feud does end, but with drastic consequences, which Shakespeare has written to receive sympathy from the audience as they watch the performance.
Shakespeare contrasts the following part of the play with the end of the last scene, where Romeo asks Friar Lawrence to wed him and Juliet, with a fight scene. The scene firstly opens with Mercutio and Benvolio teasing each other and speaking of Tybalt's challenge to Romeo. They debate on whether he will fight and generally conclude that he was not weak and would never turn down a skirmish. Romeo enters the scene contentedly, unaware of Tybalt's presence with Mercutio. Tybalt reminds Romeo of the challenge he set and Romeo turns him down, "I do protest I ne'er injured thee", and briskly walks away from him, and the fight. Mercutio laughs at this but gradually come to realise that he is serious and implies that Romeo is weak and a coward. Mercutio offers to fight in Romeo's place, appalled at the recent behaviour of his friend. The fight begins and turns from a theatrical performance to a serious combat. Shakespeare shows Romeo to be weak in this scene, as he is written to refuse a fight. Shakespeare mutely states that this is because he has only just married Tybalt's cousin, Juliet, and because his is in a joyful mood, he does not want to fight. Also, Romeo refrains from fighting as he slyly hints to Tybalt that he is part of the same family. Shakespeare cleverly does this by writing riddles in Romeo's speech, in hope that Tybalt will guess about his recent marriage. Although Shakespeare writes Romeo these riddles, containing metaphors, he is showing Romeo to be fraying Tybalt's temper, rather than being clever with his elaborate language. Shakespeare also makes this scene one of the most dramatic in his play, as the violent event again introduces another drastic consequence for Romeo.
This weakness that Romeo shows is continued into the following moments where Romeo, after finding out that Mercutio is injured, says he has become weaker because of Juliet, "O sweet Juliet / thy beauty hath made me effeminate", Shakespeare reveals Romeo's self obsession and emotional state that was revealed earlier in the first scene. Shakespeare tries to imply that Romeo is attempting to justify his actions and how he thought of them as the best thing that he could do in that particular situation. It is also hinted at by Shakespeare that Romeo doesn't want to take the full blame, so he finds someone to share it with - Juliet, as she is the only one that is on his mind.
With his mind in this emotional state, Romeo cannot think clearly and becomes irrational after being informed that his dear friend Mercutio has died. Recklessly and incensed with rage, he takes the action of fighting Tybalt to relieve himself of his anger. Unplanned, he kills Tybalt and immediately regrets his conduct, and is in disbelief that he has committed murder in slaying Tybalt, "O, I am fortune's fool", and is advised by Benvolio to leave Verona, if the prince were to find him, he would be executed. Shakespeare supplies the audience with a lot of background information of his character Romeo at this point in the play, revealing strength to take revenge for Mercutio. Romeo genuinely believes that his dear friend Mercutio is watching him, and he will witness Romeo's performance. In his guilt, Shakespeare shows Romeo to suddenly feel stronger and braver than when Mercutio was alive, in a desperate hope to regain Mercutio's friendship and support. Shakespeare's chosen words for Romeo, his reference to "fortune" brings to light Romeo's belief in destiny and stars foretelling events. Here it is shown by Shakespeare to have an effect on Romeo, and feels that he has dictated what was going to happen, instead of leaving it to fate to decide.
Shakespeare reveals Romeo's determination to dictate his own future, during his emotional speech when he finds out from the Friar, that he is banished from Verona, "But I am banished: Hast thou no poison mix'd", and becomes paranoid that he will not be able to see Juliet again. Shakespeare instructs Romeo to ask if the Friar has poison for him to commit suicide with, as he feels it was the worst thing in the world that could happen. This proves to the audience that Romeo is self-centred and Shakespeare makes them aware of Romeo's immaturity and over-theatrical actions that he shows. The audience would believe that it was the best that could happen in the situation, to be banished, and should have seen Romeo relieved that he was not sentenced to be killed, but instead Romeo is portrayed to act as if being banished is worse than death.
During Romeo's emotional dialogue, the Friar in the following moments tries to calm Romeo down, and tries to make him see that being banished from Verona was good news. The Friar couldn't understand why this saddened him. Romeo raises his voice to the Friar telling him that he didn't understand and saying that he was, "Taking the measure of an unmade grave". This is one of the times that Shakespeare introduces ambiguity to the play. This can be interpreted as Tybalt's untimely death, that the 'stars' did not predict, as Romeo was too quick in his actions and dictated Tybalt's death. It could, however, be the foreshadowing of Romeo's grave that is unmade. Juliet's grave was made in the family crypt as she pretended to be dead, but Romeo again influenced his fate and killed himself, having no grave made for him. The visual image of Romeo's unmade grave for the audience would be not foreshadowing, but another way in which Shakespeare represents Romeo's over dramatic persona because of the banishment.
The over- exaggerated performance that Shakespeare writes for the character of Romeo is maintained throughout until the end of Act 3 Scene 3. As the nurse enters, Romeo lunges for her in hope of word from Juliet. The nurse tells him that Juliet weeps for days on end because she is missing him so. He responds to this by wanting to end his life, again showing his suicidal thoughts, by attempting to stab himself with a dagger, "...doth my name lodge? Tell me that I may sack the hateful mansion <he offers to stab himself>", but is prevented from doing so by the nurse and the Friar. Romeo is shown by Shakespeare to react in a rash way, over-emphasising the pain he feels. Shakespeare gives the character this line, as he wants the audience to see how desperate this young man is to return to his Juliet. Romeo however, fails to think that in killing himself he will leave Juliet to deal with the events afterwards, alone and also Shakespeare indicates the character to not think as much of Juliet as he claims to feel. This is ironic because if he stabs himself he won't just destroy his name (which prevented him from proclaiming his marriage publicly and Juliet's reluctance to marry her family's biggest foe) he will also destroy himself in the process. Shakespeare uses the metaphor of "hateful mansion" to represent his name, and how much he now despises it, as it has only brought him misery. This appears as a slight echo of his earlier words to Juliet in the balcony scene, "I will tear the word", showing Romeo to have no respect for his family name anymore. Offering to stab himself is a way in which Shakespeare wants to show to the audience Romeo's narrow mindedness, and also his delivery of Romeo's emotions at this point (becoming more and more desperate).
Shakespeare alters Romeo's personality slightly in Act 3 Scene 5, when Romeo departs from Juliet to undertake his journey to Mantua after spending his wedding night with her, "I must go and live or stay and die", and promises that they will be reunited again. Shakespeare conveys Romeo's traits to be more complex, and depicts him to the audience as more mature and responsible. Romeo's actions have become more rational and he is able to make sound decisions. Shakespeare ingeniously depicts to the audience a sudden contrast of Romeo to his performance earlier in the play, and displays Romeo to be aware of the situation. It is ironic that Romeo's character speaks these words as it is foreshadowing future events, if he stays in Verona, he will die, but if he goes, he is destined to die anyway back in Verona. Romeo's promise to meet with Juliet again is also foreboding, as it is true they will meet again, but in death.
Destiny and stars foretelling events play a major part in Shakespeare's play, and in the following scene there is yet another reference to predictions. Romeo hears of Juliet's 'death' from his servant Balthasar, who watched her funeral at the family crypt. In seeing this he immediately returned to his master and informed him of this saddening occurrence. Romeo is shown by Shakespeare to become paranoid and hysterical in hearing of his love's death. Through his hysterical mourning, he blames the stars for calculating the event, and asks why they have done this, "is it e'en that I defy you stars". Shakespeare makes this scene short, but it creates a huge impact on the audience. The audience would have been fully aware that a letter was sent by the Friar to tell of the plan that he and Juliet had formed and what Romeo was instructed to do. But as the letter failed to reach him, the audience would see Romeo as desperate and would be in hope of Romeo being informed of what had actually happened. This is one of the main things that Shakespeare thrives at, enthralling the audience and intriguing them to immerse themselves in the scene. Shakespeare again represents Romeo to be under the stars control, and he mutely directs the character to imply he has disobeyed fate and has been punished for doing so, by, he thinks, Juliet's supposed 'death'.
As a final attempt to set eyes upon Juliet again, Romeo travels back to Verona, to Juliet's Family Crypt. Romeo manages to make it to her and gazes in disbelief at her beauty, because he would have thought that death would have taken her loveliness, but instead she is just as exquisite, "Death that has sucked the honey of thy breath / hath had no power yet upon thy beauty". This is irony, as Juliet is not really dead, and Shakespeare yet again, demonstrates Romeo's over-theatrical and poetic persona. The character Romeo has been portrayed to be emotional, and Shakespeare uses the metaphor "honey of thy breath" to imply Juliet's sweet and loving nature, which is heavily implied to have gone, but ironically it hasn't but it will have, once Romeo kills himself and causes Juliet to take the same actions.
During Romeo's time with Juliet in the tomb, he walks over to the deathbed of Tybalt, who he had slain in a desperate attempt to prove his worth to Mercutio. Romeo is shown to forgive Tybalt, and hopes that he can do the same for him. He feels overwhelming guilt and regrets ending Tybalt's life so early and pleads for his forgiveness, "O what more favour can I do thee, than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain". Shakespeare makes Romeo's dialogue emotional and directs Romeo to speak to Tybalt's body as if his spirit was still there. Shakespeare uses this moment to give the impression that Romeo is tense and desperate to make amends with Tybalt and also Juliet, as if he had stayed, he thinks, she would never had died as a punishment for slaying Tybalt. Shakespeare in this scene introduces Paris into the situation and Romeo, in fear of being found, killed him, but this was not done through anger and hate for Paris. The main reason, Shakespeare suggests, that Romeo felt he had to kill him, was because of a spur of the moment decision, that was a safe way of not being found to have broken into the Capulet Crypt to see Juliet. Paris had asked Romeo, in his dying words, if he could be placed by the side of Juliet - his fiancée. Romeo agreed, and it is shown by Shakespeare to not be a reluctant decision. Shakespeare implies that Romeo did not mind them both dying by Juliet as they had both suffered the same loss - Romeo, a wife and Paris, a fiancée. Shakespeare intrigues the audience when this happens, as they would, at first be unable to understand what he was trying to accomplish by Romeo showing Paris sympathy, but this again was another of Shakespeare's talents, to use ambiguity and metaphorical phrases to achieve dramatic scenes such as this.
In the last scene for Romeo, Shakespeare uses dramatic techniques such as strong metaphorical phrases to represent everything that Romeo's persona contains. Romeo expresses deep love for Juliet and speaks of her as if he is longing for her so much, that it gave him severe pain. Romeo had previously purchased a highly poisonous drug from an apothecary who reluctantly sold it to him. Romeo in the tomb held the drug in his hand, whilst saying his last words to Juliet, his love who had 'died' as a punishment for him. The romantic script explained how the drug would taste foul, but it would eventually lead his spirit to Juliet's in death, "bitter conduct / unsavoury guide", and after saying goodbye to her body, he took the poison to join her in the afterlife. Shakespeare uses the words "bitter conduct" to describe the sordid act that Romeo must do, and although the poison is foul tasting, it will be a "guide" to Juliet. Romeo sees this as a last resort and thinks that death is the only other option left open to him. Shakespeare makes this a dramatic moment by using quick and hurried lines so that the audience will be wondering towards the end of the play, 'what if...?'. Shakespeare has successfully made this a key dramatic scene, which leaves the audience in awe. Shakespeare in this scene had directed Romeo to come to the tomb and prove his love for Juliet. Hastily, Romeo takes the poison, so he could see Juliet again sooner, but this proves to be regretful, as if he had waited, Juliet would have arisen and both of them would have remained living.
Romeo has a complicated and changeable character. His character fluctuates from self-centredness to genuine care and compassion for Juliet. Romeo is absolutely besotted with Rosaline, quickly followed by Juliet. Although Romeo is a romantic dreamer, he is brave and courageous and is willing to fight to the death to avenge his friend. Shakespeare shows Romeo in the beginning of the play to be artificial and self-obsessed. He suffers badly from depression and can be easily despondent and downcast when events dictate. Towards the end of the play however, Shakespeare shows Romeo regaining his maturity, which has been shown fleetingly before, when he becomes determined and looses his foppish manner. His passion and regard for Juliet holds no boundaries and he is ready and willing to commit suicide so that they can be together in death. Romeo never looses his love for Juliet even when circumstances become intolerable. From a callow youth, Romeo changes into a strong-minded brave young man, sincere and genuinely concerned for Juliet's welfare. When all is lost and Juliet appears dead, Shakespeare exhibits Romeo's passion and wish to be with her always, which helps him to end his life, in the knowledge that they will never be parted.
