® ENGLISH GCSE – ROMEO AND JULIET
Romeo
® Romeo is used to portray idiosyncrasies (unusual behaviour) of the
Elizabethan Era. It can be argued that Shakespeare’s intention
could’ve been didactic (intended to teach) or it could’ve been a
mirror reflection of society.
® Romeo is so important as he is the trigger for the play transitioning
from a comedy to a tragedy – his main flaw is his incapability to think
rationally and makes impulsive rash decisions which leads to his
downfall
QUALITIES:
Romantic & Passionate:
® Romeo explores different types of love throughout the play and is
used to question the effect that love can have on a person. At the
beginning of the play, he’s preoccupied by the concept of love
when he mulls over Rosaline all day. Rosaline represents love as an
idea or a concept as she never appears in the play perhaps showing
how non-existent his love for her was. This idea of love makes Romeo
despondent (in low spirits) as he seeks solace in isolation amongst the
grove of sycamores. This love is contrasted by his love for Juliet who
conveys true love as Romeo transcends different boundaries and
societal expectations (like stepping down from Tybalt’s duel). Romeo
rushes into whatever his feelings tell him to do portraying him as
passionate and easily swept up in emotions (he marries Juliet within 24
hours of seeing her and keeps it a secret from everyone)
o ‘Love is a smoke made with a fume of sighs’ - Act 1 Scene 1
o ‘locks fair daylight and makes himself an artificial night’ - Act 1
Scene 1
o ‘O she doth teach the torches to burn bright’- Act 1 Scene 5
o ‘Did my heart love till now?’ - Act 1 Scene 5
o ‘Give me my sin again’ - Act 1 Scene 5
o ‘Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptis’d’ - Act 2 Scene 2
Masculinity:
® Romeo explores masculinity in the play by being heavily contrasted
with hyper-masculine characters like Mercutio, who is violent and uses
misogynistic (dislikes women) humour to criticise love. Romeo also
refuses to accept Tybalt’s duel again contrasting the typical
behaviour of men in Elizabethan times. Another point is homosociality
in the play and Romeo’s bond with Benvolio echoes this. It’s not so
®
Copyright © 2022 Revision Guru | All rights reserved
Romeo
® Romeo is used to portray idiosyncrasies (unusual behaviour) of the
Elizabethan Era. It can be argued that Shakespeare’s intention
could’ve been didactic (intended to teach) or it could’ve been a
mirror reflection of society.
® Romeo is so important as he is the trigger for the play transitioning
from a comedy to a tragedy – his main flaw is his incapability to think
rationally and makes impulsive rash decisions which leads to his
downfall
QUALITIES:
Romantic & Passionate:
® Romeo explores different types of love throughout the play and is
used to question the effect that love can have on a person. At the
beginning of the play, he’s preoccupied by the concept of love
when he mulls over Rosaline all day. Rosaline represents love as an
idea or a concept as she never appears in the play perhaps showing
how non-existent his love for her was. This idea of love makes Romeo
despondent (in low spirits) as he seeks solace in isolation amongst the
grove of sycamores. This love is contrasted by his love for Juliet who
conveys true love as Romeo transcends different boundaries and
societal expectations (like stepping down from Tybalt’s duel). Romeo
rushes into whatever his feelings tell him to do portraying him as
passionate and easily swept up in emotions (he marries Juliet within 24
hours of seeing her and keeps it a secret from everyone)
o ‘Love is a smoke made with a fume of sighs’ - Act 1 Scene 1
o ‘locks fair daylight and makes himself an artificial night’ - Act 1
Scene 1
o ‘O she doth teach the torches to burn bright’- Act 1 Scene 5
o ‘Did my heart love till now?’ - Act 1 Scene 5
o ‘Give me my sin again’ - Act 1 Scene 5
o ‘Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptis’d’ - Act 2 Scene 2
Masculinity:
® Romeo explores masculinity in the play by being heavily contrasted
with hyper-masculine characters like Mercutio, who is violent and uses
misogynistic (dislikes women) humour to criticise love. Romeo also
refuses to accept Tybalt’s duel again contrasting the typical
behaviour of men in Elizabethan times. Another point is homosociality
in the play and Romeo’s bond with Benvolio echoes this. It’s not so
®
Copyright © 2022 Revision Guru | All rights reserved
