The Tragedy of
Romeo and Juliet
Cast of Characters
Setting
• Verona, Italy
Feuding Families
Montague vs. Capulet
Prince Escalus
and his page
• The ruler of Verona. His
main concern is stopping
the violence between the
families. He decides to
punish anyone who fights
with either exile or death.
• His page is his assistant,
who reports any fights on
the streets.
Some Citizens of Verona
• Old Man
• 3 Musicians
• Apothecary
• An Officer
• Chief Watchman
• Chorus
Friar lawrence
and Friar John
• Friar Lawrence is a peaceful
friar who aids Romeo and
Juliet. He is one who secretly
weds the couple, hoping
their matrimony will help the
feuding families.
• Friar John is the assistant to
Friar Lawrence. His role is to
notify Romeo of the plan.
Lord Montague
• Romeo’s father. He is
very concerned about
Romeo’s depression over
Rosaline.
Lady Montague
• Romeo’s mother. Wife of
Lord Montague.
Mercutio
• While a member of neither
the Capulets or the
Montagues, Mercutio is a
close friend to Romeo. He
is a colorful, funny,
vibrant character who
sometimes displays a
quick temper.
Benvolio
• Romeo’s cousin and
friend. He tries to ease
Romeo’s mind of
Rosaline. A public
peacemaker of sorts, he
attempts to stop fights
before they start.
Balthasar and Abram
• Balthasar is Romeo’s
servant. He brings news to
Romeo in Mantua.
• Abram is a Montague
servant who quarrels with
Gregory and Sampson.
LORD Capulet
• The head of the Capulet
household, he is very
protective of his daughter,
though he is not very
involved in her life.
Lady Capulet
• The mother of Juliet and
wife to Lord Capulet,
Lady Capulet is an absent
mother who, like her
husband, cares a great deal
for her daughter but does
not relate much to her.
NURSE
• A mother-figure to Juliet,
she stands in support of
Juliet for much of the
play.
TYBALT
• Juliet’s cousin. A keen,
arrogant Capulet and over all
Montague-hater, Tybalt will
not hesitate to fight.
Sampson, Gregory and Peter
• Sampson and Gregory are Capulet Servants who provoke a
fight with the Montagues as the play opens.
• Peter is a messenger who invites guests to the Capulet feast
where Romeo first meets Juliet.
PARIS and rosaline
• Paris is family to the
Prince and potential suitor
to Juliet, he is a favorite
among the Capulet
parents. Juliet does not
like him.
• Rosaline is the object of
Romeo’s first failed
attempt at affection. She
does not like Romeo.
Romeo
• A young and restless
Montague, Romeo has
nothing but love on his
mind. In the play’s
beginning he is in love
with a girl named
Rosaline. However, as
soon as Romeo lays eyes
on Juliet, he is enraptured,
and willing to go to the
world’s end to keep her.
juliet
• The daughter of Capulets,
Juliet is young and
inexperienced, but she
easily entrusts her entire
world to her new love
Romeo, despite the grave
consequences that may
follow.
Prologue
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could
remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend…