1. THE CHARACTERS Romeo and Juliet By William Shakespeare

2. House of Capulet  Juliet  daughter to Capulet  takes the lead in the romance  lyrical  has premonitions but does not act on them  isolated

3. House of Capulet  Tybalt:  Juliet’s cousin  foil to Romeo  passionate  prideful  easily provoked  hot-blooded  Deals in absolutes

4. House Capulet  Nurse:  Juliet’s nurse  arrogant  wants the “best for Juliet” (translated: wants Juliet married to anyone)  looks at love as “animal lust”  comical

5. House of Capulet  Lord Capulet:  Juliet’s father  impatient  loves Juliet but is misguided in his love  looks at love as a good match

6. House of Capulet  Lady Capulet:  Juliet’s mother  marriage is the duty of a woman  socially conscious  flimsy

7. House of Capulet  Old Man: elderly relative of the family  Peter: the Nurse’s servant  Sampson: servant  Gregory: servant

8. House of Montague  Romeo:  son of Montague  isolated  passionate  idealistic  naive  has premonitions but does not act on them  hopeless romantic

9. House of Montague  Mercutio:  relative of the Prince and friend of Romeo,  witty  honorable  intelligent  could be voice of reason but underestimates Romeo’s passion  foil to Romeo

10. House of Montague  Benvolio:  Montague’s nephew  friend of Romeo  peacemaker

11. House of Montague  Lord Montague  wealthy nobleman  wants Romeo to grow up (emotionally)  older, looks for Romeo to be the heir to the family

12. House of Montague  Lady Montague: Romeo’s mother  Balthasar: Romeo’s servant  Abram: servant

13. Other Major Characters  Paris:  a count  suitor of Juliet  foil to Romeo  Wealthy  Relative of the prince

14. Other Major Characters  Friar Lawrence:  Romeo’s counselor  loved and respected  attempts to do what is “right”  “blind” reasoning  misplaced virtue

15. Other Characters  Prince Escalus: Ruler of Verona  Apothecary: Pharmacist  Friar John: priest  Page: servant to Paris  Chorus: Actor who speaks directly to the audience to set up the play and give key details of the action!