But the true Romeo has not yet fully emerged. He is not only a courtly, carefree young man. He is capable of the deepest passions of love. In his initial courtship of Juli

Romeo's battle with Paris only demonstrates how much he has forsaken the world. By the time he reaches the tomb he is so given over to death and love, so separate from life and the world, that he can call himself a dead man. His passion now absorbs itself in dying, as it did before in loving. His farewells to life are scarcely farewells. They seem more like greetings to death and Juliet. His imagination and passion have reached their ultimate peak when he dies. In that sense, Romeo has truly triumphed.

Romeo's ability to die for love comes as no surprise. We are prepared for it by his falling in the Friar's cell, and by his willingness, after the wedding night, to risk his life to stay in Verona if Juliet so wishes. It is the manner of Romeo's choosing to die that comes as a revelation. Gone are all traces of the standard responses of a lover. Gone, also, is the momentary inability to act that we noticed in his behavior at the Friar's. With the words, "I defy you, stars," Romeo takes fate firmly in his hands and determines the time and manner of his own death. In the very brevity of his words and speed of his actions lies Romeo's stature as a character. He does not pause, either for self-indulgent emotion or in lack of conviction, but with unwavering courage he goes

Some topics in this essay:
Mercutio Benvolio, Verona Juliet, , Juliet Romeo, true romeo, death love, love juliet, friar's cell, mercutio benvolio,