Romeo

Does Romeo develop throughout the play?

Romeo is the male protagonist of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. He is the only son of Lord Montague, which means he is a nobleman. We never learn his age, but he could be anything from 13 (like Juliet) to his early 20’s. 

In many ways, Romeo is a complex character. This is also why it is difficult to establish whether he truly develops over the course of the play. We hear of him before meeting him: In Act 1, Scene 1, his parents and Benvolio talk about his mental state. He is depressed and cries constantly because he believes himself in love with a young noblewoman named Rosaline who does not return his feelings. This paints a picture of a young man with extreme emotions.

Romeo then appears and complains about Rosaline saying that she will not “ope her lap to saint-seducing gold” (1.1.207). He is essentially saying that she refuses to spread her legs even for gold. If we interpret this line as ...