Romeo and Juliet Foil Essay

Foil characters are defined as characters that are used to contrast another character. This character in most cases is the protagonist. Moreover, foil characters tend to be based on the protagonist’s hubris, wherein contrasting the fatal flaw shows how it has ballooned out of control. Foil characters further themes by highlighting the characteristics of certain characters that will help enhance the theme. The role of foil characters in Shakespearean tragedies is to show what could have happened if the protagonist made a different choice. Likewise, this idea is prevalent within Romeo and Juliet. Furthermore, this play portrays two children from warring families who meet and fall in love, but eventually kill themselves as their love is not accepted in either family. In Romeo and Juliet foil characters are used to contrast different characteristics of both Romeo and Juliet. They also take on the role of changing faith. These characters exemplify how faith can have two sides. The death of a foil character for example, brought chaos and misery towards both the families. However, the quick thinking of another foil character brought Romeo and Juliet together. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s qualities are emphasized and distinguished through the foil characters: Mercutio, Tybalt, and Benvolio. Mercutio is an important foil character as his actions ultimately mark a shift in Romeo’s character. First, Mercutio’s death causes Romeo to avenge his friend’s death. For example, Romeo avenges Mercutio by killing Tybalt. This is illustrated when Romeo says “Either [you], or I, or both, must go with him,” (Shakespeare, 3.1, 134). This quote illustrates that the death of Mercutio causes a shift in Romeo, wherein he is now engulfed with rage and revenge. This is a change from his prior disposition, which focused on maintaining peace. Furthermore, this quote illustrates that Mercutio is an important foil character because had he not died, Romeo would not have

Cited: Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.