# Romeo Coates — The Works of Max Beerbohm character guide

> Romeo Coates in The Works of Max Beerbohm by Max Beerbohm.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Romeo, the rejected Romeo, Poor Romeo, the new Romeo

**First appearance:** 0007-poor-romeo

## Snapshot

An amateur actor and social climber whose theatrical pretensions made him the era's favorite butt of fashionable mockery.

## Who they are

Coates is the book's study in aspiration and humiliation, a man who wanted the stage and got the laughter instead. He is mocked as the rejected Romeo, pitied as poor Romeo, and renamed the new Romeo whenever fashion briefly smiled on him. His arc matters because it shows the cost of dandyism's democracy: anyone could try to be a Beau, and most who tried became cautionary tales rather than legends.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Coates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_works_of_max_beerbohm_se/characters/mr_coates)

_family_

Mr. Coates and Romeo Coates were likely father and son, with a relationship of paternal guidance and shared theatrical interests.

### [Mr. Coates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_works_of_max_beerbohm_se/characters/mr_coates)

_family_

Mr. Coates and Romeo Coates were likely father and son, with a relationship of paternal guidance and shared theatrical interests.

## In the story

### [Poor Romeo!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_works_of_max_beerbohm_se/chapters/poor-romeo)

The stage persona of Mr. Coates, ridiculed for his performance and later known for his dandyism.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_works_of_max_beerbohm_se/characters/romeo_coates
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_works_of_max_beerbohm_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_works_of_max_beerbohm_se/characters