Benvolio – Analysis Essay, Research Paper

Character Analysis Essay – Benvolio

There is a play called Romeo and Juliet. It is about two high class families who are always at each other s throats. Most of the people who live in the city, Verona, have chosen a family to side with. There are a few people, however, who stay neutral. Well these families, the Montagues and the Capulets, have only one child a piece. Incidentally, these children fall in love, obviously against the approval of there parents. The kid s solution to the problem is to run away, which doesn t happen how it was supposed to. The two children, Romeo and Juliet, both end up committing suicide at each other s deathbeds. This brings the play to a close, because the dual-deaths brings peace between the two families.

This is the character analysis of Benvolio. He was basically the peacemaker of this play. Whenever the confrontations between the Montagues and the Capulets got heated up, Benvolio would be there to make an attempt at peace. He wouldn t always be successful at it though. Benvolio had many skills, a great personality, and was very respectful. There were many conflicts in the play and incidentally, Benvolio was there for almost all of them.

Probably Benvolio s strongest personality trait was honesty. Benvolio was the George Washington of his time, in terms of honesty. No matter who was right, the Montagues or the Capulets, Benvolio would speak the truth. The prince of Verona himself asked Benvolio, Who began this bloody fray? when he needed to know the truth. (47) Benvolio was also funny, sensible, smart, and friendly. He shows these traits beginning his first line in the play to his last.

Benvolio had many skills, but the one that stuck out was talking with people and working things out. Whether it was telling someone not to fight, or finding out what was wrong with a friend, What sadness lengthens Romeo s hours?, he was good at talking with people. (6) Other skills Benvolio showed throughout the play were his wit and his ability to be a faithful friend.

Benvolio runs into many conflicts throughout the story. His main motivation in the play was to keep the families safe from each other. Therefore, any conflict that included the Capulets and the Montagues in the city of Verona has something to do with Benvolio. Part fools! Put up your swords (3) Here Benvolio attempts to stop a brawl, but the candle of hate is rekindled when Tybalt comes. Benvolio tried to always give peace a chance, but was never successful at stopping any conflicts.

Another conflict Benvolio faced was when Rome killed Tybalt. Benvolio said nothing to stop Romeo s rage. Here comes the furious Tybalt back again. (46) Benvolio probably said this to warn Romeo, but after reading the rest of the page, it seems that Romeo was not warned very well. Benvolio did however try to get Romeo off the streets when Romeo killed Tybalt.

In conclusion, Benvolio was a good character with good intentions. It seems these nice hopes never occurred though. He was skilled at a great number of things, and he had a great personality, but he couldn t make a difference when it mattered most (Romeo committing suicide). It was not Benvolio s responsibility to stop Romeo, and he would have had to go out of his way to do it, but Benvolio did do that sort of thing throughout the play. He always gave more than was expected of him. There were too many what-ifs in this play to count. Benvolio only added to the hundreds.