Journal Response #1

        In comparison, Benvolio and Tybalt play two very common roles in the play “Romeo and Juliet.”  Benvolio is Romeo’s cousin, and Tybalt is Juliet’s cousin.  Both are very helpful towards Romeo and Juliet because they Benvolio tries to help Romeo understand his love life, and Tybalt is always very loyal to the Capulet household and is always looking for revenge.  Although from different families, both characters are always trying to do what is best for the family even if that means risking their lives or jumping in the middle of a fight to break it up.  Both characters hate each other’s families due to the long held grudge between the families.  Also, both Benvolio and Tybalt are extremely demonstrative when they are explaining something.  In contrast, they are both members of two very different families.  The families seem so different because of the way they handle situations.  The way Benvolio and Tybalt handle situations is very different also.  For example, if Benvolio were to be in a middle of a brawl, he would probably do anything just to make peace and not fight.  On the other hand, Tybalt would most likely try to kill the other person, especially if they did something to his family.  Also, the language that they use is very different.  For example, Benvolio likes to use a more simple language, and sometimes more poetic.  This is exemplified in Act 2 Scene 4 when Benvolio states “Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large.” which demonstrates his poetic nature in his language usage.  Conversely, Tybalt uses a more aggressive tone and language, declaring things like in Act 1 Scene 5 lines 61-67 where he states, “Come hither cover’d with an antic face. To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?  Now, by the stock and honor of my kin, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin.”  Therefore, both characters have their similarities and differences, but that is what makes them engaging characters and the story more interesting.

In comparison, Lord Montague and Lord Capulet are both very similar in ways.  For example, both Lord Montague’s and Lord Capulet’s love for their children is unbelievable.  Both lords constantly are worried about their children’s conditions and if they are safe.  For example, in Act 1 Scene 2 Lines 14-15, Lord Capulet explains to Paris when Paris is asking to marry Juliet, “The earth hath swallow’d all my hopes but she, she is the hopeful lady of my earth.”  And also, whenever Lord Montague comes back from the small fight between him and Lord Capulet, the first thing he asks Benvolio is how Romeo is and his location.  This shows that both Lord Capulet and Lord Montague are both very concerned about their children.  In contrast, Lord Capulet is more overprotective of his daughter than Lord Montague is.  For example, although both men care greatly about their children, Capulet locks his daughter inside the house all day because he fears that she will die like all of the rest of his children.  Conversely, Montague just wants to know where Romeo is, but as long as Romeo isn’t getting into trouble, Montague doesn’t really care where his children are.  Therefore, even though the two men differ in some of their rules concerning their children, that doesn’t take away the fact that they are both very caring and loving towards their children.

Overall, it is both the similarities and differences in these two sets of characters that add additional color and depth to the tragic love tale of “Romeo and Juliet”.  Despite these two families’ differences, they share similar love and dedication to their families.