Romeo and Juliet Character Relationships | Shakespeare Learning Zone | Royal Shakespeare Company (2025)

Romeo and Mercutio are close friends. Romeo does not want to go to a party as he is feeling depressed about Rosaline and Mercutio tries to cheer him up.

Romeo: ‘I am not for this ambling. / Being but heavy, I will bear the light.’

Mercutio: ‘Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.’ (1:4)

Romeo meets his friends, including Mercutio, the morning after the ball and is in a much better mood. The friends swap jokes with each other.

‘Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo.’ (Mercutio, 2:4)

‘Thou wast never with me for anything when thou wastnot there for the goose.’ (Romeo, 2:4)

Mercutio defends Romeo against Tybalt in Act 3 but is disappointed that Romeo won’t fight.

‘O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!’ (Mercutio, 3:1)

‘Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.’ (Romeo, 3:1)

Mercutio blames Romeo for his death and curses both the Montagues and the Capulets as he is dying.

‘A plague o' both your houses!’ (Mercutio, 3:1)

Benvolio has promised Lord and Lady Montague he’ll find out why Romeo has been depressed and help him if he can.

Benvolio: ‘Be rul’d by me, forget to think of her.’

Romeo: ‘O teach me how I should forget to think.’ (1:1)

After Romeo has killed Tybalt, Benvolio helps him to escape and is a loyal friend to him.

‘Romeo, away, be gone. The Prince will doom thee death if thou art taken.’ (Benvolio, 3:1)

Romeo asks Friar Laurence if he’ll marry him and Juliet. They share a line when they greet each other, and seem to have a close and trusting relationship.

Romeo: ‘Good morrow, father’

Friar Laurence: ‘Benedicite. What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?’ (2:3)

Friar Laurence marries Romeo and Juliet even though he questions Romeo’s love for Juliet. He seems to help because he thinks it might end their families’ feud.

‘So smile the heavens upon this holy act.’ (Friar Laurence, 2:6)

Friar Laurence tells Romeo about his banishment in Act 3 and helps him to flee Verona although Romeo does not want to leave and would rather die.

Romeo: ‘Calling death ‘banished’ / Thou cut’st my head off with a golden axe / And smilest upon the stroke that murders me.'

Friar Laurence: ‘Oh deadly sin, O rude unthankfulness.’ (3:4)

Friar Laurence fails to get a message to Romeo to inform him that Juliet's death is fake.

'The letter was not nice but full of charge, / Of dear import, and the neglecting it / May do much danger' (Friar Laurence, 5:2)

Friar Laurence attempts to meet Romeo at Juliet's tomb to tell him that Juliet is not really dead, but arrives too late and then leaves without Juliet. He blames himself for their deaths.

'Ah, what an unkind hour / Is guilty of this lamentable chance!' (Friar Laurence, 5:3)

Romeo and Juliet meet at the ball and they are instantly drawn to each other.

‘If I profane with my unworthiest hand / This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: / My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand / To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.’ (Romeo, 1:5)

‘Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, / Which mannerly devotion shows in this; / for saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, / And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.’ (Juliet, 1:5)

Romeo takes a risk to see Juliet by going into the Capulet orchard. When they talk in Act 2 Scene 2, they have strong feelings for each other.

‘that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet; / So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, / Retain that dear perfection which he owes / Without that title.’ (Juliet, 2:2)

‘With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls.’ (Romeo, 2:2)

They both go to Friar Laurence to be married, despite their families’ feud.

‘if the measure of thy joy / Be heap'd like mine…let rich music's tongue / Unfold the imagined happiness that both / Receive in either by this dear encounter.’ (Romeo, 2:6)

‘…my true love is grown to such excess / I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth.’ (Juliet, 2:6)

When Juliet finds out Romeo killed Tybalt, she is distraught but still loves Romeo.

'O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! / Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? / Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical! / Dove-feather'd raven! wolvish-ravening lamb!' (Juliet, 3:2)

Their attempts to be together fail and both choose death rather than living without the other.

'I still will stay with thee / And never from this palace of dim night / Depart again.’ (Romeo, 5:3)

'O happy dagger, / This is thy sheath: there rust, and let me die.’ (Juliet, 5:3)

At the start of the play Lady Capulet asks for Juliet’s opinion on marriage and Juliet responds politely. Their relationship seems formal but respectful.

‘What say you, can you love the gentleman?’ (Lady Capulet, 1:3)

‘I'll look to like, if looking liking move: But no more deep will I endart mine eye Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.’ (Juliet, 1:3)

Lady Capulet brings Juliet the news that she is to be married to Paris in Act 3 and seems excited that Juliet will be happily married. Juliet openly disagrees.

‘But now I’ll tell thee joyful tidings, girl’ (Lady Capulet, 3:5)

‘Now by Saint Peter’s church, and Peter too, He shall not make me a happy bride.’ (Juliet, 3:5)

Later in Act 3 Scene 5, rather than defend her daughter against Lord Capulet when he calls her a ‘wretch’ and threatens to disown her, Lady Capulet seems to give up on her daughter and walks away from her.

‘Talk not to me, for I’ll not say a word. Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.’ (Lady Capulet, 3:5)

‘O sweet my mother, cast me not away…’ (Juliet, 3:5)

Lady Capulet’s attitude towards Juliet changes when Juliet agrees to marry Paris, and she treats her with respect. However, Juliet knows she doesn’t intend to go ahead with the marriage so there is a dishonesty between them that wasn’t there before.

Lady Capulet: ‘Good night. Get thee to rest, for thou hast need.’

Juliet: ‘Farewell. God knows when we shall meet again.’ (4:3)

Lady Capulet is devastated by the death of Juliet.

‘Accursed, unhappy, wretched, hateful day! Most miserable hour that e'er time saw. In lasting labour of his pilgrimage! But one, poor one, one poor and loving child, But one thing to rejoice and solace in, And cruel death hath catch'd it from my sight!’ (Lady Capulet, 4:5)

When talking to Paris, who wants to marry Juliet, Lord Capulet protects his daughter. He tells Paris that Juliet is too young to marry and that she will be involved in choosing her own husband.

‘But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart, / My will to her consent is but a part; / An she agree, within her scope of choice / Lies my consent and fair according voice.’ (Lord Capulet, 1:2)

Lord Capulet threatens to disown Juliet when she refuses to marry Paris, suggesting she is ungrateful.

‘Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch! / I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, / Or never after look me in the face.’ (Lord Capulet, 3:5)

‘Good father, I beseech you on my knees.’ (Juliet, 3:5)

Juliet lies to Lord Capulet, telling her family she will marry Paris even though she doesn’t intend to go ahead with the marriage.

‘Why, I am glad on't; this is well: stand up: This is as't should be.’ (Lord Capulet, 4:2)

‘…am enjoin'dBy holy Laurence to fall prostrate here, And beg your pardon.’ (Juliet, 4:2)

When Juliet dies, Lord Capulet is upset by her death and regrets what has happened.

‘Death, that hath ta'en her hence to make me wail,Ties up my tongue, and will not let me speak.’ (Lord Capulet, 4:5)

Juliet is upset when her cousin Tybalt dies and she discovers Romeo has killed him. Her family think her grief is for Tybalt, which suggests they were close.

‘My dearest cousin’ (Juliet, 3:5)

Romeo and Juliet meet at the ball and they are instantly drawn to each other.

‘If I profane with my unworthiest hand / This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: / My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand / To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.’ (Romeo, 1:5)

‘Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, / Which mannerly devotion shows in this; / for saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, / And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.’ (Juliet, 1:5)

Romeo takes a risk to see Juliet by going into the Capulet orchard. When they talk in Act 2 Scene 2, they have strong feelings for each other.

‘that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet; / So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, / Retain that dear perfection which he owes / Without that title.’ (Juliet, 2:2)

‘With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls.’ (Romeo, 2:2)

They both go to Friar Laurence to be married, despite their families’ feud.

‘if the measure of thy joy / Be heap'd like mine…let rich music's tongue / Unfold the imagined happiness that both / Receive in either by this dear encounter.’ (Romeo, 2:6)

‘…my true love is grown to such excess / I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth.’ (Juliet, 2:6)

When Juliet finds out Romeo killed Tybalt, she is distraught but still loves Romeo.

'O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! / Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? / Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical! / Dove-feather'd raven! wolvish-ravening lamb!' (Juliet, 3:2)

Their attempts to be together fail and both choose death rather than living without the other.

'I still will stay with thee / And never from this palace of dim night / Depart again.’ (Romeo, 5:3)

'O happy dagger, / This is thy sheath: there rust, and let me die.’ (Juliet, 5:3)

Paris asks Lord Capulet for Juliet’s hand in marriage. Capulet thinks she is too young but Paris disagrees.

‘Younger than she are happy mothers made.’ (Paris, 1:2)

Once again Paris asks for Juliet’s hand in marriage and this time Capulet agrees. They are unaware she has just married Romeo. Juliet refuses to marry him.

‘These times of woe afford no time to woo. / Madam, good night: commend me to your daughter.’ (Paris, 3:4)

‘O, sweet my mother, cast me not away! / Delay this marriage for a month, a week; / Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed / In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.’ (Juliet, 3:5)

Juliet chances to meet Paris at Friar Laurence’s cell. He thinks they are to marry in a few days’ time but Juliet knows she won’t marry him.

Paris: ‘Happily met, my lady and my wife.’

Juliet: ‘That may be, sir, when I am a wife.’ (4:1)

Juliet tells her father that she intends to marry Paris even though she is actually going to take the potion the Friar has given her.

‘I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell; / And gave him what becomed love I might, / Not step o'er the bounds of modesty.’ (Juliet, 4:2)

Paris mourns over Juliet’s body at the Capulet family tomb and is upset to know she is dead.

‘Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew, --/ O woe! thy canopy is dust and stones;-- / Which with sweet water nightly I will dew, / Or, wanting that, with tears distill'd by moans: / The obsequies that I for thee will keep / Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep.’ (Paris, 5:3)

Romeo asks Friar Laurence if he’ll marry him and Juliet. They share a line when they greet each other, and seem to have a close and trusting relationship.

Romeo: ‘Good morrow, father’

Friar Laurence: ‘Benedicite. What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?’ (2:3)

Friar Laurence marries Romeo and Juliet even though he questions Romeo’s love for Juliet. He seems to help because he thinks it might end their families’ feud.

‘So smile the heavens upon this holy act.’ (Friar Laurence, 2:6)

Friar Laurence tells Romeo about his banishment in Act 3 and helps him to flee Verona although Romeo does not want to leave and would rather die.

Romeo: ‘Calling death ‘banished’ / Thou cut’st my head off with a golden axe / And smilest upon the stroke that murders me.'

Friar Laurence: ‘Oh deadly sin, O rude unthankfulness.’ (3:4)

Friar Laurence fails to get a message to Romeo to inform him that Juliet's death is fake.

'The letter was not nice but full of charge, / Of dear import, and the neglecting it / May do much danger' (Friar Laurence, 5:2)

Friar Laurence attempts to meet Romeo at Juliet's tomb to tell him that Juliet is not really dead, but arrives too late and then leaves without Juliet. He blames himself for their deaths.

'Ah, what an unkind hour / Is guilty of this lamentable chance!' (Friar Laurence, 5:3)

When talking to Paris, who wants to marry Juliet, Lord Capulet protects his daughter. He tells Paris that Juliet is too young to marry and that she will be involved in choosing her own husband.

‘But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart, / My will to her consent is but a part; / An she agree, within her scope of choice / Lies my consent and fair according voice.’ (Lord Capulet, 1:2)

Lord Capulet threatens to disown Juliet when she refuses to marry Paris, suggesting she is ungrateful.

‘Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch! / I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, / Or never after look me in the face.’ (Lord Capulet, 3:5)

‘Good father, I beseech you on my knees.’ (Juliet, 3:5)

Juliet lies to Lord Capulet, telling her family she will marry Paris even though she doesn’t intend to go ahead with the marriage.

‘Why, I am glad on't; this is well: stand up: This is as't should be.’ (Lord Capulet, 4:2)

‘…am enjoin'dBy holy Laurence to fall prostrate here, And beg your pardon.’ (Juliet, 4:2)

When Juliet dies, Lord Capulet is upset by her death and regrets what has happened.

‘Death, that hath ta'en her hence to make me wail,Ties up my tongue, and will not let me speak.’ (Lord Capulet, 4:5)

Tybalt has a strong sense of family loyalty to Lord Capulet, telling him when Romeo comes to the Capulet Ball, but Capulet seems to think Tybalt is too quick to anger.

‘You are a saucy boy…You are a princox. Be quiet, or I'll make you quiet.’ (Lord Capulet, 1:5)

‘Why, uncle, ‘tis a shame’ (Tybalt, 1:5)

Lord and Lady Capulet seem to agree with each other most of the time. Lady Capulet tries to defend her daughter against Lord Capulet’s rage briefly in Act 3, but ultimately sides with her husband against her daughter.

‘Fie, fie, what, are you mad?’ (Lady Capulet, 3:5)

At the start of the play Lady Capulet asks for Juliet’s opinion on marriage and Juliet responds politely. Their relationship seems formal but respectful.

‘What say you, can you love the gentleman?’ (Lady Capulet, 1:3)

‘I'll look to like, if looking liking move: But no more deep will I endart mine eye Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.’ (Juliet, 1:3)

Lady Capulet brings Juliet the news that she is to be married to Paris in Act 3 and seems excited that Juliet will be happily married. Juliet openly disagrees.

‘But now I’ll tell thee joyful tidings, girl’ (Lady Capulet, 3:5)

‘Now by Saint Peter’s church, and Peter too, He shall not make me a happy bride.’ (Juliet, 3:5)

Later in Act 3 Scene 5, rather than defend her daughter against Lord Capulet when he calls her a ‘wretch’ and threatens to disown her, Lady Capulet seems to give up on her daughter and walks away from her.

‘Talk not to me, for I’ll not say a word. Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.’ (Lady Capulet, 3:5)

‘O sweet my mother, cast me not away…’ (Juliet, 3:5)

Lady Capulet’s attitude towards Juliet changes when Juliet agrees to marry Paris, and she treats her with respect. However, Juliet knows she doesn’t intend to go ahead with the marriage so there is a dishonesty between them that wasn’t there before.

Lady Capulet: ‘Good night. Get thee to rest, for thou hast need.’

Juliet: ‘Farewell. God knows when we shall meet again.’ (4:3)

Lady Capulet is devastated by the death of Juliet.

‘Accursed, unhappy, wretched, hateful day! Most miserable hour that e'er time saw. In lasting labour of his pilgrimage! But one, poor one, one poor and loving child, But one thing to rejoice and solace in, And cruel death hath catch'd it from my sight!’ (Lady Capulet, 4:5)

Lord and Lady Capulet seem to agree with each other most of the time. Lady Capulet tries to defend her daughter against Lord Capulet’s rage briefly in Act 3, but ultimately sides with her husband against her daughter.

‘Fie, fie, what, are you mad?’ (Lady Capulet, 3:5)

Romeo and Mercutio are close friends. Romeo does not want to go to a party as he is feeling depressed about Rosaline and Mercutio tries to cheer him up.

Romeo: ‘I am not for this ambling. / Being but heavy, I will bear the light.’

Mercutio: ‘Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.’ (1:4)

Romeo meets his friends, including Mercutio, the morning after the ball and is in a much better mood. The friends swap jokes with each other.

‘Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo.’ (Mercutio, 2:4)

‘Thou wast never with me for anything when thou wastnot there for the goose.’ (Romeo, 2:4)

Mercutio defends Romeo against Tybalt in Act 3 but is disappointed that Romeo won’t fight.

‘O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!’ (Mercutio, 3:1)

‘Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.’ (Romeo, 3:1)

Mercutio blames Romeo for his death and curses both the Montagues and the Capulets as he is dying.

‘A plague o' both your houses!’ (Mercutio, 3:1)

Benvolio has promised Lord and Lady Montague he’ll find out why Romeo has been depressed and help him if he can.

Benvolio: ‘Be rul’d by me, forget to think of her.’

Romeo: ‘O teach me how I should forget to think.’ (1:1)

After Romeo has killed Tybalt, Benvolio helps him to escape and is a loyal friend to him.

‘Romeo, away, be gone. The Prince will doom thee death if thou art taken.’ (Benvolio, 3:1)

Tybalt has a strong sense of family loyalty to Lord Capulet, telling him when Romeo comes to the Capulet Ball, but Capulet seems to think Tybalt is too quick to anger.

‘You are a saucy boy…You are a princox. Be quiet, or I'll make you quiet.’ (Lord Capulet, 1:5)

‘Why, uncle, ‘tis a shame’ (Tybalt, 1:5)

Juliet is upset when her cousin Tybalt dies and she discovers Romeo has killed him. Her family think her grief is for Tybalt, which suggests they were close.

‘My dearest cousin’ (Juliet, 3:5)

Paris asks Lord Capulet for Juliet’s hand in marriage. Capulet thinks she is too young but Paris disagrees.

‘Younger than she are happy mothers made.’ (Paris, 1:2)

Once again Paris asks for Juliet’s hand in marriage and this time Capulet agrees. They are unaware she has just married Romeo. Juliet refuses to marry him.

‘These times of woe afford no time to woo. / Madam, good night: commend me to your daughter.’ (Paris, 3:4)

‘O, sweet my mother, cast me not away! / Delay this marriage for a month, a week; / Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed / In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.’ (Juliet, 3:5)

Juliet chances to meet Paris at Friar Laurence’s cell. He thinks they are to marry in a few days’ time but Juliet knows she won’t marry him.

Paris: ‘Happily met, my lady and my wife.’

Juliet: ‘That may be, sir, when I am a wife.’ (4:1)

Juliet tells her father that she intends to marry Paris even though she is actually going to take the potion the Friar has given her.

‘I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell; / And gave him what becomed love I might, / Not step o'er the bounds of modesty.’ (Juliet, 4:2)

Paris mourns over Juliet’s body at the Capulet family tomb and is upset to know she is dead.

‘Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew, --/ O woe! thy canopy is dust and stones;-- / Which with sweet water nightly I will dew, / Or, wanting that, with tears distill'd by moans: / The obsequies that I for thee will keep / Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep.’ (Paris, 5:3)