# Romeo — Romeo and Juliet character guide > Romeo in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** young Romeo, gentle Romeo, true Romeo, dear Romeo, good Romeo **First appearance:** 0003-act-i-scene-i ## Snapshot A Montague heir who trades melancholy for lightning love, then finds his new marriage tangled in the feud he was born into. ## Who they are Romeo drifts through Verona's streets nursing a private heartache until a Capulet feast throws him into Juliet's path, and he pursues her with the same intensity he once gave to despair. He is tender, impulsive, and quick to let feeling override caution, joking with Mercutio even as he arranges a secret marriage through Juliet's nurse. His private vow collides with the public feud, making every choice he makes in the early and middle acts carry weight far beyond one young man's heart. ## Relationships ### [Juliet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters/juliet) _romantic_ Star-crossed lovers whose passionate, secret romance defies their feuding families. ### [Nurse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters/nurse) _friendship_ The Nurse acts as a messenger and ally for Romeo and Juliet's secret romance. ### [Mercutio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters/mercutio) _friendship_ Mercutio is Romeo's witty, loyal best friend who mocks romance but defends his honor to the death. ### [Friar Laurence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters/friar_laurence) _professional_ Friar Laurence serves as Romeo's spiritual advisor and secret ally, marrying him to Juliet. ### [Tybalt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters/tybalt) _rivalry_ Tybalt is Romeo's bitter enemy and Juliet's cousin, whose hatred leads to deadly confrontation. ### [Benvolio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters/benvolio) _friendship_ Benvolio is Romeo's peace-loving cousin and loyal friend who tries to counsel him. ### [Rosaline](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters/rosaline) _romantic_ Romeo's initial unrequited infatuation with Rosaline, which quickly fades upon meeting Juliet. ### [Prince Escalus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters/prince_escalus) _professional_ Prince Escalus is the ruler of Verona who banishes Romeo for killing Tybalt. ### [Tybalt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters/tybalt) _rivalry_ Tybalt is Romeo's bitter enemy and Juliet's cousin, whose hatred leads to deadly confrontation. ### [Nurse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters/nurse) _friendship_ The Nurse acts as a messenger and ally for Romeo and Juliet's secret romance. ## In the story ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i) Appears melancholic and lovelorn, pining for Rosaline and speaking in oxymorons about love. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii) Lovesick for Rosaline, reads the guest list, and agrees to attend the feast. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iv) Melancholy and reluctant to dance, still lovesick over Rosaline; expresses foreboding about the night's events. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-v) Attends the Capulet feast, sees Juliet, and falls in love at first sight; learns she is a Capulet. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i) Climbs the orchard wall, driven by his heart being with Juliet. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii) Expresses his love for Juliet in poetic soliloquy, climbs the orchard wall, and pledges to marry her. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii) Confesses his love for Juliet and asks Friar Laurence to perform the marriage. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv) Joins the conversation, trades jests with Mercutio, and later instructs the Nurse to arrange Juliet's visit to Friar Laurence for their marriage. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-v) Mentioned as awaiting Juliet at Friar Laurence's cell for their marriage. ### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-vi) Eager to marry Juliet, dismisses potential sorrow as insignificant compared to his joy. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i) Initially refuses to fight Tybalt, but after Mercutio's death, kills Tybalt and is banished. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii) Romeo is the subject of Juliet's longing and the cause of her anguish; he is banished for killing Tybalt. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii) Romeo is consumed by despair over his banishment, seeing it as worse than death because it separates him from Juliet. He is irrational and suicidal, but eventually calms after the Nurse brings Juliet's ring and Friar Laurence counsels him. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-v) Parts from Juliet at dawn, banished to Mantua. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i) Romeo, in Mantua, experiences a hopeful dream but is shattered by news of Juliet's death, leading him to defy fate and seek poison. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii) Dies by poison in Juliet's tomb after killing Paris. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters/romeo - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romeo_and_juliet_se/characters