His confusion immediately disappears when he sees Juliet and notices how she appears in the dance like a “snowy dove trooping with crows”. This shows a flaw in Romeo’s character as this contradicts what he said earlier in the play that there being no other woman for him but Rosaline.
Within short time of meeting Romeo takes Juliet’s hand and their opening moments are expressed in a sonnet “Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, Alike bewitched by the charm of looks. But to his foe supposed he must complain, And she steal love’s sweet bait from fearful hooks.” They discover later on that they belong to rival families.
Later that night Romeo is in Juliet’s garden and over hears Juliet talking on her balcony, Romeo declares his love for her and climbs up to the balcony, (an action that shows he is committed to the relationship and is reckless having no thought to his personal safety). The problem of the family differences seems unimportant beside their love and they agree to marry immediately, (this sudden action shows a sign of immaturity).
Romeo visits his friend, Friar Lawrence, the very next morning at daybreak, who consents to marry the couple in secret hoping that this will end the family feud. Romeo’s conversation with the Friar in Act II, Scene 3 shows that Romeo has altered as a person, (he shows a new maturity in that he knows what he wants i.e. marriage and he also defies the feud which spells trouble and can be seen as a flaw).
In Act II Tybalt has challenged Romeo to a duel following their meeting at the ball. Juliet’s nurse arrives to hear Romeo’s plans for the wedding. Juliet goes to confession, meets Romeo at the Friar’s cell and Romeo and Juliet marry later that day. (The fact that this wedding is a rush job when there are obvious problems with the feuding families shows immaturity, as Romeo is not considering the consequences of his actions).
Romeo’s good mood is apparent after the wedding (III.1) when he joins his friends on the hot streets of Verona. Tempers are rising in the heat but not that of Romeo. (Here I feel Romeo shows maturity and acts as a peacemaker) He deliberately avoids confrontation with Tybalt to the disappointment of Mercutio until he is drawn into the fight.
Mercutio’s death he blames on his love which “hath made him effeminate”. Immediately he draws his sword and in his anger slays Tybalt. “Blind eyed fury”. Instantly he realises the consequences of his actions and utters the words, “O, I am fortune’s fool” (II.1.136).
(Here I am unsure whether Romeo is immature. He displayed maturity by being calm and initially avoiding the fight, but then to take immediate revenge in the heat of the moment was not a clever action but it was understandable).
In the Friars cells Romeo is extremely grief stricken before the Friar and the Nurse (III.3). He sees banishment as “torture and not mercy”(III.3.29) and draws his dagger to commit suicide. (Romeo is very immature and selfish here and resorts to self-pity. The Friar calls him “womanish”, he is self centred, suicidal and unheroic here.)
Romeo enjoys one final night with Juliet and in the morning goes to Mantua. “Farewell! I will omit no opportunity that may convey my greetings, love, to thee” (III.5.48). (The language used here shows how much Romeo loves Juliet and how painful it is for them to part. Again he is careless of his own life in that he is prepared to stay and die for Juliet).
In Mantua, Romeo dreams that he and Juliet will be reunited. Juliet is forced into speedy marriage plans. His mood changes as he hears from Balthasar that Juliet’s “body sleeps in Capel’s monument” (V.1.18) but here he shows a strength of purpose and defies fate and takes his future into his control. “I defy you stars”. He is in control even though he is desperate.
Romeo frightens the Apothecary into supplying him with poison and rushes back to Verona where he chooses to take his life at Juliet’s tomb. He meets Paris and offers him a chance to escape. Paris dies like Tybalt before him, a victim of Romeo’s rage. He takes his final look and swallows the poison. Romeo was devoted to Juliet and would die to protect her. (He showed a lot of character and maturity and self-control. The language that he uses proves this. “Thus with a kiss I die”. It is clear from the language used in the final scene that Romeo was maturer at the end than he was at the beginning).
Romeo dies for love and this is the ultimate heroic act.
[Shakespeare uses a combination of dramatic scenes and contrasts to get both the audiences attention and setting the scene. The running battle between the families makes an impressive introduction and also establishes the family feud].
Romeo was a flawed hero as pointed out at various stages, but at times his faults were due to his youth and lack of experience of life. He did mature by the end of the Play which is amazing especially since the timeline of the play lasts for just over four days.