Skip to main content

How would you describe Romeo in ten words?

I have provided ten words to describe Romeo, as well as justification for why I would describe Romeo that way.


1.     Sorrowful



Many a morning hath he there been seen,
With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew.
Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs


(Act I, sc 1: 117-119)



These words are spoken by Lord Montague, expressing his sentiments about his son's mood. Romeo feels this way because Rosaline has rejected him.


2.     Withdrawn



...But he, his own affections' counsellor,
Is to himself--I will not say how true--
But to himself so secret and so close,


(Act I, sc 1: 133-135)



This was also spoken by Lord Montague. Romeo has isolated himself and does not wish to speak to anyone because Rosaline has rejected him.


3.     Confused



Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs;
Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes;
Being vex'd a sea nourish'd with lovers' tears:
What is it else? a madness most discreet,
A choking gall and a preserving sweet.


(Act I, sc 1: 176-180)



Romeo does not know what to make of what he feels, for he is at once overwhelmed by feelings of affection and joy whilst at the same time embittered and sad.


4.     Prophetic



I fear, too early: for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
With this night's revels and expire the term
Of a despised life closed in my breast
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.


(Act I, sc 4: 112-119)



Romeo here predicts his own death, which he has seen in a dream. He says as much to Benvolio just before they are about to gatecrash the Capulet ball.


5.     Infatuated



O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear;
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!


(Act I, sc 5: 42-44)



Romeo has just seen Juliet for the first time and is overwhelmed by her beauty.


6.     Poetic



But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.


(Act II, sc 2: 2-3)



Romeo waxes lyrical when he sees Juliet appear at a window whilst he is hiding in the Capulets' orchard.


7.     Impulsive



...save what thou must combine
By holy marriage: when and where and how
We met, we woo'd and made exchange of vow,
I'll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray,
That thou consent to marry us to-day. 


(Act I, sc 3: 60-64)



Romeo has just asked Friar Laurence to marry him to Juliet within the first 24 hours he knows her — a rash and impulsive act.


8.     Vengeful



Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain!
Away to heaven, respective lenity,
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!


(Act III, sc 1: 117-119)



Tybalt has slain Mercutio in a swordfight and Romeo expresses his rage at this ignominy and wants to avenge his friend's death as soon as Tybalt returns to the scene.


9.     Distraught



Ha, banishment! be merciful, say 'death;'
For exile hath more terror in his look,
Much more than death: do not say 'banishment.'


(Act III, sc 3: 12-14)



Friar Laurence has just told Romeo that he had been banished from Verona for killing Tybalt. He is utterly distraught knowing he might never see his beloved Juliet again.


10.   Suicidal



I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none.
Farewell: buy food, and get thyself in flesh.
Come, cordial and not poison, go with me
To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee.


(Act 5, sc 1: 83 - 86)



Balthasar has just informed Romeo of Juliet's supposed death. He is overwhelmed by the news and decides to take his own life. He purchases a potent poison from an apothecary. He plans to drink it once he is in the Capulet vault next to Juliet's seemingly lifeless body. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

etymology - Origin of the greeting "Sweet dreams".

Does anybody know the etymology of the phrase "sweet dreams"? I tried googling but did not find anything satisfying. Is this a relatively new phrase of the modern world or has this been in use for some time? I think it's the latter one. Answer The OED has the interjection as "a farewell to someone going to bed" from the 20th century: 1908 Sears Roebuck Catal. 198/1 Tenor Solos..Good Bye, Sweet Dreams, Good Bye. But it goes back until at least the 19th and possibly 18th centuries. John Wolcot, writing under the pseudonym of Peter Pindar, used it in his poem "Orson and Ellen; A Legendary Tale" published in 1801: Also from 1801 in The infernal Quixote (Page 287) by Charles Lucas: In the March 1776 of The Universal Magazine was published "The Serenade. A Pastoral Tale. From the German of Gesner" , where the shepherd Daphnis watches over his beloved as she sleeps and sings: The same tale appears in 1776's as Idyl XI, " Daphnis ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Is there a word/phrase for "unperformant"?

As a software engineer, I need to sometimes describe a piece of code as something that lacks performance or was not written with performance in mind. Example: This kind of coding style leads to unmaintainable and unperformant code. Based on my Google searches, this isn't a real word. What is the correct way to describe this? EDIT My usage of "performance" here is in regard to speed and efficiency. For example, the better the performance of code the faster the application runs. My question and example target the negative definition, which is in reference to preventing inefficient coding practices. Answer This kind of coding style leads to unmaintainable and unperformant code. In my opinion, reads more easily as: This coding style leads to unmaintainable and poorly performing code. The key to well-written documentation and reports lies in ease of understanding. Adding poorly understood words such as performant decreases that ease. In addressing the use of such a poorly ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are the similarities between the relationships of the characters in The Outsiders and Romeo and Juliet?

At first glance, it might appear as if the characters in  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton and  Romeo and Juliet  by William Shakespeare do not have much in common; however, when one isolates the core of the conflicts, it becomes clear that the relationships in both stories are rooted in rivalry and secrecy.  In both  The Outsiders  and  Romeo and Juliet , an overarching theme is rivalry. While   socioeconomic status separates the greasers from the Socs in The Outsiders , last names separates the Montagues from the Capulets, who appear to be relatively equal in terms of socioeconomic status. Due to these rivalries, there are instances of deadly interactions in both stories. In  The Outsiders , Johnny kills Bob (whether his actions were justified or not is debatable). In  Romeo and Juliet , Romeo kills Tybalt and Paris, and Tybalt kills Mercutio. These deaths have profound effects on the main characters. In Ponyboy's case, the Johnny's death and other events in the novel inspire h...
Post a Comment
Read more