Romeo
Romeo is a teenage boy and comes from the Montague family. Romeo is very determined, impatient and he is very love sick throughout the play. This is revealed from his determination to marry Juliet and his eagerness to marry her as soon as possible. However, Romeo also has a good reputation throughout Verona. “And to say the truth, Verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well-govern’d youth” (I.iv.66-67). When Tybalt realizes that Romeo is at his uncle Capulet’s party he reports it to him. Capulet tells Tybalt to ignore Romeo because he does not want trouble and because Romeo has a good reputation.
Juliet
Juliet is a very beautiful thirteen-year-old girl and she is the daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet. Juliet is a very proper, respectful and naïve young girl. This is revealed when Lady Capulet speaks to Juliet about marriage Juliet response is, “It is an honour that I dream not of” (I.iii.67). However, Juliet soon matures when she falls in love with her family’s rival Romeo and shows courage in trusting her entire life and future to Romeo.
Nurse
The Nurse is a lower-class woman who has taken care of Juliet her entire life and has become like a mother to Juliet. The Nurse is a very comical, talkative and sentimental character who often brings relief to the play with her inappropriate remarks such as, “I must another way, to fetch a ladder, by the which your love Must climb a bird's nest soon when it’s dark” (II.iv.72-74). Here the Nurse plans to get a ladder so Romeo can climb into her room at night. The Nurse is also Juliet’s confidant during her affair with Romeo.
Friar Lawrence
Friar Lawrence is a wise Religious leader and an expert in the use of potions and herbs. He is also kind, and a good friend to Romeo and Juliet throughout the play. “If in thy wisdom thou canst give no help, do thou but call my resolution wise” (IV.i.52-53). Juliet knows that Friar Lawrence is wise which is why she goes to him for help when she realizes that she has to marry Paris. Friar Lawrence is a very significant character because he is the one who secretly marries Romeo and Juliet in hopes of bringing peace to the Capulet and Montague family. He also played a role in the plan to make Juliet’s parents think that she is dead to that she does not have to marry Paris, which results in a terrible crisis.
Tybalt
Tybalt is a Capulet, Juliet’s cousin. Tybalt is vain, aggressive, violent and he loathes Montagues’. “What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee” (I.i.64-65). This quote reveals that Tybalt hates peace and that he is always looking for a fight especially with the Montagues’.
Mercutio
Mercutio is Romeo’s close friend. He is imaginative, hotheaded, witty and sometimes strange. “Good, Peter to hide her face, for her fan’s the fairer face” (II.iv.97). When the Nurse comes to talk to Romeo about wedding arrangements Mercutio begins joking around and making fun of the Nurse revealing his humorous side. He does not like Romeo’s ideas of love and tries to convince Romeo to view love differently.