Does Romeo change throughout the play Romeo and Juliet? If so, how and why does he change?

The absence of Romeo is thoroughly spoken about in the Montague household. Montague mentions how Romeo has been keeping to himself, preferring night to day "Private in his chamber pens himself, shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out". This illustrates Romeo's behavior; dividing himself from the real world and without him noticing, adding more grief to his sorrows. Romeo is acting really immature and as a typical teenage boy. We are given and expression as Romeo a spoilt boy, who is very thin-skinned and self-centered.

Unfortunately, we see that Romeo's attitude is also affected by his surroundings. His best mate, Benvolio are all dead worried of the whereabouts of Romeo. Benvolio conversation had a conversation with Lady Montague about the awful actions of Romeo. He says" So early walking did I se your son: Towards him I made, but he was ware of me and stole covert of the wood" Romeo's attitude of being moody makes Benvolio hurt as he hasn't come to talk to his best mate about it. Romeo is being selfish as he does not want to associate with anyone; he feels they (Benvolio and his parents) will undermine his suppose "love" for Rosaline. When stating that Romeo "[. . .] stole into the covert of the wood" Shakespeare uses the word wood as representation for how lost Romeo is in his dark world, lazing around like a lost little lamb. Also to represent his emotions, Romeo has been frequently locking himself away in his room in order to take in his intense misery. In the same conversation,

Benvolio curiosity starts to develop here to find out what is weighing on his cousins neck. At start, Romeo wasn't opening up but discoursing with Benvolio about his feelings reveals a sudden realization about his sensations. Referring to Rosaline, Romeo cries, "She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow, Do I live dead that live to tell it now". In Romeo's mind, Rosaline is being stubborn by waiting for true love. He wants her now and feels "dead" because she refuses to have him. By using the oxymoron "[. . .] I live dead" , Shakespeare is illustrating that Romeo feels like life is pointless until Rosaline accepts him; if she does not love him, then who will? Still pouring his heart out to Benvolio, Romeo selfishly complains, "Well in that hit you miss. She'll not be hit". Although Romeo has tried to capitalize on every ounce of his charm and flaunt every drop of his beauty, Rosaline still refuses to accept his love. Her negative responses trigger Romeo's feelings of self-doubt, hurt, and hopelessness.

As gutted as Romeo was, he went to the Capulet's ball at the Capulet's house with his friend Mercutio and Benvolio his cousin. At this point of the play, Shakespeare changes the mood of the play from sadness to happiness. Here we start to think this is the place where Romeo would meet Juliet as it is said in the Chorus, "A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life" however we don't know how. Once Romeo met Juliet, his thought of Rosaline just disappears. The strength of "love at first sight" between Romeo and Juliet is so sturdy that it makes them plan for marriage the next day.

At this point of the play, the audience see the sudden alteration of Romeo from a devasted frantic lad to a man with a heart full of joy for love. We feel relaxed and calm as Romeo is now stress-free and a typical teenage guy. However another problem arises as Romeo finds out that Juliet, his love is a Capulet, which is forbidden as both families are adversaries. The build up of awareness and anxiety is elevated as audience waits for the next action these juvenile couple would perform.

At this stage, Romeo has true love and this begins to take its cause. He has to leave behind what had occurred to him before with Rosaline and change his attitude in a way to impress his new Love Juliet no matter the barriers between them or even death. Unexpectedly, Romeo reveals other chapter of his behavior and feelings after he saw Juliet. He uses religious and sentimental language to portray his innervations for Juliet: "Call me but love and I'll be newly baptized". Romeo now has felt what love really is and would never let go. He has been purified with love as he gained with Juliet, making him feel 'over the moon'. With him feeling this supreme affection for Juliet, the audience knows that he has definitely forgotten Rosaline and Juliet is definitely the love for Romeo.

In Shakespearean Times, Romeo and Juliet's underhanded relationship would not be common within middle class people as fathers were the owners of their daughters implying most daughters' duties were to obey all of their father's instructions even though they wouldn't be in unison with their father's. Akin to boys, Parents would only agree to marriage of a high status family and their parents arrange their sons' marriages.

The idea of fate and freewill is first introduced in the opening prologue, when we are told Romeo and Juliet as 'star crossed lovers'. This implies that Romeo and Juliet are ill fated and that it is destined that the two lovers' paths must cross each others therefore there is nothing they can do to avoid their tragic outcome. Later in the prologue, it is said 'The fearful passage of their death-marked love'; this quote suggests that their fate has already been decided. Probably, these two lovers do not only indicate they are "Star-crossed," but that their devotion to each other is clean and pure. The growth of each character depends on the depth of feeling motivated by a pure love. Although, Romeo is youthful and hasty, and Juliet is impatient and headstrong, these qualities advance the importance of each to the other. They are equally committed to the love that is between them, so much so that each will choose death over a life without the oath.

In reference to Rosaline, it seems, Romeo loves by the book. Rosaline, of course, slips away from Romeo's mind at first sight of Juliet. But Juliet is no mere replacement. The love she shares with Romeo is far deeper, more genuine and unique than the clichéd puppy love Romeo felt for Rosaline. Romeo's love matures over the course of the play, from the shallow desire to be in love, to profound and intense.

Romeo has matured since the first scene because the audience have seen and noticed how genuine he is and how he means what he says. We can also tell, his language is more convincing this time when he talks about love for Juliet more than when he talks about his love for Rosaline.

We can see Romeo's off-handed and passionate personality when he proposes to Juliet. "By love, that first did prompt me to inquire. He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes". This aspect of Romeo's behaviour leads to the death of Tybalt later on in the play and the tragedy that led to the death of Romeo and Juliet.

Shortly in the play, Romeo's best friend Mercutio was dispatched by Tybalt, cousin of Juliet. Romeo shows restraint when Tybalt challenges him, which is a big deal, since Romeo damages his reputation when he refuses to fight. But Romeo is just as emotional at the end as at the beginning; "This day's black fate on more days doth depend; this but begins the woe, others must end". The quote explains the anger and furious. He uses vicious language as "black" to describe fate, something seen as sacred as people of Shakespearean times were religious and believed destiny ruled peoples lives.After he kills Tybalt, Romeo is in a state of extreme upset on the floor of Friar Laurence's cell, and threatens to commit suicide. Both the Friar and the Nurse have to yell at him to stop crying and start acting like an adult.

Romeo expelled from Verona is massive devastation to his life at the moment. Not going to have the chance to meet hiss wife Juliet as he would be living massive distances away from her. He visits Friar Lawrence for guidance and assistance. Here, we are adequate of sympathy for Romeo as he speaks to the friar about his love Juliet, as he knows the probability of him meeting Juliet is not likely.

The Friar uses influential words to incite Romeo in not going down the path of complete emptiness and murkiness. He admonished Romeo actions as a blood child; however their blood relations are poor. Friar counsels Romeo so he would not regret his actions. "[...] art thou thy man? Thy form cries out art: Thy tears are womanish and thy wild acts denote" the quote shows the friar Lawrence uses simple words to express himself however it is portrayed as very powerful an strong. He makes Romeo realise his actions by asking him rhetorical questions, increasing the guilt in R5ome of his behaviour, making him understand his right from his left, what is good and what is bad for him in a situation he is, in that moment.

As Romeo has no liveliness left in him as he has no access to his wife Juliet, implying the physical love in him is dead and this is distressing and heart-rending for the audience. At this point, Romeo seeks poison from the apothecary, for he had heard the despondent news from Balthasar. Romeo is in deep agony; his wife's death is leading him to his own grave. Poignant language is used to describe the emotions of Romeo "How oft when men are at the point of death, Have they being merry...., O how may I call this a lightning: my love! My wife. Romeo feels extremely sad and miserable as he converses about how life and death has an impact on him. He mind also sets on Juliet, how pathetic he is without her, like half a piece of his whole body is gone. Romeo can't depend on himself, he needs comfort.

This play Romeo and Juliet is applicable to this modern day even though, it was made years back. At the end of the play, the Capulet and Montague suffered monumental loses, they finally made up and realized life is short so it's better to live and enjoy every bit of it to its fullness of joy no matter what. The moral of this play was very relevant especially with this terrific youth crime and gun culture happening everywhere threatening both young and old. This encourages us all especially people involved in this fatal acts to put their knives and weapons down and to respect a life not a knife. Romeo's character in this play changed from time to time. They show how his love developed and in the cause of that, other emotions and characters he was bound to experience. Romeo's character explores a journey of a lover. This involves disappointments, sadness, joy, adventure and risks. This character was well made by Shakespeare which contributed to the success of the play.

Deborah Marquardt

English coursework