Mercutio Devil-may-care/arrogant/proud attitude o ... By my heel, I care not.

. o Mens eyes were made to look, and let them gaze. I will not budge for no mans pleasure, I. Provocative o Consort? What, dost thou make us minstrels?..., But Ill be hanged sir, if he wear your livery Impulsive/reckless Moody o Mercurial o Sudden outbursts of emotions Good friend to Romeo o Supportive of him and tries to make him happy o O calm, dishounourable, vile submission! o Loyal: passionately defends Romeo; does not want Romeo to seem or come off as weak and cowardly Entertaining/lively/witty/humorous o Wordplay and punning Crude o Sexual innuendos

Tybalt Fiery/choleric nature o What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee." Arrogant and rude o villain, boy Trouble-maker/provocative/incendiary/disdain for Montagues o Always trying to stir up strife (right from the first scene) o [A1S5] o At the party the Capulets are throwing, Tybalt spots Romeo at the gathering and is enraged by Romeo's actions. He states, "What dares the slave come hither, covered with an antic face, to fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now by stock and honor of my kin, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin." o Tybalt is past the point of wanting to just protect the Capulets, he wants to kill Romeo. Even Capulet himself is not that upset by the fact that Romeo is at the party. But these comments by Capulet do not lessen Tybalt's hatred of Romeo. Vengeful o Before Tybalt exits from the scene it can be seen that he is planning something against Romeo when he states, "But this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall." (Act 1, Scene 5, 92-93) Tybalt is not planning to forget that Romeo intruded into the Capulet's ball and he will get revenge. [A3S1]

Tybalt and his companions happen upon Mercutio, and Benvolio. Tybalt asks to have a word with Mercutio, then Mercutio, almost mockingly, converses with Tybalt until Romeo enters the scene. Tybalt immediately drops his conversation with Mercutio and Benvolio saying, "...Here comes my man..." o Tybalt calls Romeo a villain, to which Romeo replies, "...Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting. Villain am I none." o Tybalt does not want to hear any of this from Romeo and he is obviously agitated by Romeo's reasoning. He tells Romeo that his new found reasoning does not excuse him for any of his wrong doings and orders him to turn and draw. Romeo protests saying that he never has injured Tybalt and insists that he could never fight against a Capulet, a name so dear to him. Sees himself as the guardian/protector of his familys honour

Friar Lawrence very close relationship with Romeo o Romeos mentor/fatherly figure o obvious care for Romeos best interests Trustable o Romeo considers Friar Laurence someone he can confide in (tells him about his newfound love, Juliet, as soon as possible) o Both Romeo and Juliet feel they can trust him with the secrecy and importance of their relationship Wise and educated o In his soliloquy, he speaks using rhyming verse compared to the blank verse of the rest of the play o Antithesis, similes, metaphors, personification, and classical allusion. Kind-hearted, careful, wise o Gives Romeo advice and attempts to guide Romeo and Juliet during their struggles [A2S3] o He feels that Romeo is very hasty in his decisions, having been so infatuated with Rosaline, and states, Young mens love then lies/Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes. Being a very wise man, he warns Romeo to slow down a bit, but Romeo stands firm. [A3S3] o Romeo returns to the Friar again when Romeo is in need of help after he murdered Tybalt. The Friar gives Romeo what he feels to be good news: Romeo has not been sentenced to death by the Prince, he has merely been banished. This displays the Friars unwavering optimism, which hold up till the near-end of the play. o Offers guidance to Romeo by pointing out that he should count his blessings and make the best of the situation. He tells Romeo to go to Juliet for their wedding night, and then to make haste to Mantua. He vows to keep in contact with Romeo and let him know what is happening with Juliet. [A4S1] o Helps Juliet plan her death when Juliet begs the Friar to help her in her predicament

Strong sense of duty o Hopes that he could help bring their feuding families together ... In one respect Ill thy assistant be, for this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households' rancor to pure love. Ironically, his intentions were never truly fulfilled because the circumstances surrounding the marriage made it almost impossible for peace to occur. It is important to remember that the Friars impetus for all his actions in the play are initially to bring peace, and secondly to bring happiness to Romeo and Juliet. Capable of sin and dishonesty [A4S5] o He goes to the Capulet household after Juliet is discovered dead, and helps motivate the family to rush their deceased daughter to her funeral service and then to burial. He justifies this by saying it is Gods will, and he lowers himself here by using God as a tool in his dishonesty. However, we must remember that he is still trying to help both families and his young friends, despite his new fault. In A5S3, everything that Friar Laurence attempted to do falls apart. He tries to save Romeo and Juliet, but they both commit suicide, which lays heavy guilt upon the man. He is humiliated when he has to admit his part in the entire scheme, but the Prince believes his story. This does not, however, remove Friar Laurences feeling of personal responsibility. Though he is a genuinely a good man, he, too, can make the wrong choices for the right reasons. His pure intention of bringing the families together has been attained, but his close relationship with Romeo and Juliet does not allow him to feel happy about the results. He is indirectly responsible for their deaths, and though he still remains a very religious man, one may wonder if his faith in God and Gods good will stands just as strong as before. Hasty decision making Cowardly o

The Nurse A trusted family servant to Lord Capulet in Verona and she maintains an active voice in their family affairs o Lady Capulet involves the Nurse in her discussion with Juliet about her possible marriage to Paris. Juliet and the Nurse share a very close bond, one that surpasses one of a girl and her servant. Since being her wet nurse the Nurse has become over the years Juliet's close companion, confidant, friend, mother; and later on in the play her co-conspirator. o Juliet is comfortable with and at ease speaking to the Nurse. This allows Juliet to take her into her confidence when she decides to defy the family feud and marry Romeo. o The Nurse holds Juliet's happiness so high that she betrays her employer and arranges Juliet's marriage and last night with Romeo. The Nurse is an accomplice alongside Friar Laurence in bringing the lovers together.

The Nurse is immersed in Juliet's affairs and strives to help with her plans. Her obstacle is her sense of duty to Lord and Lady Capulet, though this never seems to deter her actions. o uses many terms of endearment; when calling on Juliet in A1S3, she says: "What, lamb? What ladybird?", Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed Casting a light-hearted and easy spirit over the play's tragic themes. o constantly chattering, making bawdy comments o sexual innuendoes o her bawdy references to the sexual aspect of love set the idealistic love of Romeo and Juliet apart from the love described by other characters in the play Facilitator of Juliet's relationship with Romeo/plays the role of messenger/a gobetween/intermediary for Romeo and Juliet o At the Capulet's party she tells both Romeo and Juliet each the identity and forbidden namesake of the other. o The Nurse is the messenger to Romeo to gather all the details for their secret marriage. o The Nurse also gives Juliet the news that Romeo killed Tybalt and was exiled by the Prince, throwing Juliet's emotions further into a whirl. o Her idea to bring Romeo to Juliet even after he has been banished/arranges for Romeo and Juliet's wedding night and final farewell. Betrays Juliet o Does not understand that Juliet's love for Romeo is the real thing, and not some childish infatuation. o She thinks Juliet can easily move on. o This attitude is both callous and unperceptive o Mean and insensitive o The Nurse doesn't share Juliet's idea of love; for her, love is a temporary and physical relationship, so she can't understand the intense and spiritual love Romeo and Juliet share. o This clash in outlook manifests itself when she advises Juliet to forget the banished Romeo and marry Paris, betraying Juliet's trust by advocating a false marriage o There's also the possibility that the Nurse doesn't want to lose Juliet to an uncertain future with Romeo in Mantua. Selfishness might play a role in wanting her beloved Juliet to stay in Verona and marry Paris and doubtlessly bring the Nurse with her when she moves to Paris's house.