Character Archetypes in
Romeo and Juliet
Archetype
an archetype is a typical character, an action or a
situation that seems to represent universal patterns of
human nature
Shakespeare and Universal
Appeal
Appealing to all audiences means creating characters
and situations that are relatable to all viewers
One of Shakespeare’s most celebrated qualities is his
ability to craft characters we feel automatically familiar
with and situations we have lived in some form
Archetypes
Established long before Shakespeare
Stories depend on (and have always depended on)
archetypes in order to communicate theme
Character Archetypes
Though the situational and action-based archetypes
within Shakespeare’s work are just as significant, today
we are focusing on the role of archetypal characters
Character Archetypes at Work
in Romeo and Juliet:
Star-crossed lovers
Hopeless romantic
The wise mentor
The voice of reason
The controlling parents
The law-keeper
The catalyst
The bumbling fool
The wise-cracking friend
Star-crossed lovers
Two lovers who, due to forces beyond their control, are
unable to be together
Related to “doomed” or “forbidden” love
Ties back to the idea of “forbidden fruit”—by the end of
the story, tends to bring about a realization at a great
price
“Hopeless” romantic
This character believes in love above all else and while
often viewed as silly or over-dramatic by other
characters, embodies such human instincts as hope and
faith in destiny and goodness
The Wise Mentor
Other characters approach this character in times of
need—often asking for advice or solutions to
complicated problems
One of the most well-trusted characters—often older
and more experienced than the hero
The Voice of Reason
This friend exists to remind the hero of his/her
mortality and of the limitations that exist within the
universe of the story
Some stories treat this character as comedic element—
there for the satisfaction of “defying all reason”
Other stories include this character for the sake of
having a “control group”—a person to represent
“normal” in order to keep the story believable and
relatable
The Controlling Parents
Popular in stories about young people, this role can
also be filled by an overbearing boss or any other
character with a great deal of power over the hero’s life
Forces the hero into impossible situations by having
immovable and (often according to the hero)
unreasonable expectations for the hero
Can, at times, exist simply to represent “tradition” in
order to exaggerate the hero’s independence and
innovative spirit
The Law-Keeper
Not necessarily a negative character, but a character
that exists to enforce the laws of that story’s universe
The Catalyst
A character that starts of the chain of events necessary
for the conflict to reach its climax
Can start a fight, inform the hero of key information,
or complete another task that can cause the hero to
rush into action and bring about the resolution
The Bumbling Fool
In Shakespearian works, this is a “clown” character
This character exists for comedic relief
Often lower-class in some way, the fool’s ignorance can
sometimes be used as a plot device, but is often simply
for entertainment purposes
The Wise-Cracking Friend
A more evolved version of the afore-mentioned “fool”,
this character is not ignorant, but rather arrogant
Makes light of the hero’s dilemma through personal
attacks or sarcasm
Though occasionally used simply for entertainment,
more often serves as a key part of the plot, or
occasionally as a confidant
Sometimes this character is also the “voice of reason”
and acts to balance out or correct the hero’s faults
Do Now:
Complete the “Character Archetypes” sheet, being sure
to include:
Character from Romeo and Juliet that fits the archetype,
and an explanation of why
Character from another text that fits the archetype, and
an explanation of why
On the back, answer the essential question: what about
Romeo and Juliet allowed Shakespeare to appeal to all
audiences including and outside of his use of
archetypes?