Friday, November 25, 2016

What is your first impression of Romeo?

While this question is rather suggestive, I can speak generally about the first impression offered when we "meet" Romeo in Act 1, Scene 1 of the play Romeo and Juliet. 


We are introduced to Romeo as he is wandering among some sycamore trees- his cousin Benvolio has been entrusted by Romeo's parents to find out what has kept their son so preoccupied. Romeo tells Benvolio that he is in love with a girl, Rosaline, who...

While this question is rather suggestive, I can speak generally about the first impression offered when we "meet" Romeo in Act 1, Scene 1 of the play Romeo and Juliet. 


We are introduced to Romeo as he is wandering among some sycamore trees- his cousin Benvolio has been entrusted by Romeo's parents to find out what has kept their son so preoccupied. Romeo tells Benvolio that he is in love with a girl, Rosaline, who does not return his affections. Because of this, he has sworn himself to chastity. Benvolio tries to persuade Romeo to move on, but he is steadfast in his denial that he will ever love anyone other than Rosaline. 


Bear in mind that Romeo is just in his teenage years. Shakespeare never tells us how old Romeo really was, but he is described as a young man, and presumably a few years older than Juliet, who is thirteen.


Based on the fact that Romeo has been spending time thinking among the sycamores, and his parents worry about the change in his mood, one might describe Romeo as pensive or thoughtful. One might also think Romeo a little dramatic, as he has sworn to Benvolio that he will never love again and live a chaste life. Surely, if Romeo is just in his teens, it is not unthinkable that he might find love again. But no- he will not, can not! Romeo's dramatic display of self-denial might also be considered a pretentious attempt to seem  more mature than he actually is. My interpretations aside, Romeo acts much as all teens do when their heart has been broken for the first time. Pain is relative, so such a display of drama might seem appropriate to someone who has never suffered a heartbreak before.

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