Characters have a purpose in all books. Without characters, there is no plot or story. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the characters, Romeo and Juliet, are the main characters of the play and there are several supporting characters such as Benvolio, or the Friar. Tybalt's prejudice, Benvolio's peacefulness, and the Friar's kindness help either the love of Romeo and Juliet, or the rivalry between the Capulets and the Montagues.
Tybalt is the Capulets' kinsman, and his prejudice fuels the anger between the two houses in Verona. For example, in the play, it says: "What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word/As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee" (1.1.71-72). This reveals that Tybalt is too prejudiced to be on friendly terms with the Montagues, and it clouds his judgement as well as starting and enhancing the rivalry of the two houses and the fights that occur in the streets of Verona because it is possible that he starts most of the fights.
Benvolio is the kinsman of the Montagues and his peacefulness shows the reader that not all of the Montagues despise the Capulets other than Romeo. For example, it says, "Part, fools!/Put up thy swords" (1.1.65-66). This shows that he does not tolerate fights in the public and he tries to stop them so that nobody wouldn't get hurt. Another example is, "I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,/Or manage it to part these men with me" (1.1.69-70). This shows that he asks people to help him stop fights that occur in the streets and that he may use his swords for moral purposes only.
The Friar is a preacher in the city of Verona and his kindness helps the romance of Romeo and Juliet progress throughout the book. For example, it says, "In one respect, I'll thy assistant be;/For this alliance may so prove,/To turn your households' rancor to pure love. " (2.3. 97-99). This shows that he believes that the marriage of Romeo and Juliet will show the two houses that they can get along. Another example is, "That cop'st with death himself to 'scape from it;/And if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy" (4.1.76-77). This shows that he feels empathy for Juliet and her desperate attempt to escape from the marriage with County Paris, and he tries to help her so she could be happy again.
In conclusion, the three characters help to the tragedy of the play because they help the couple through hard times, and they help with the enmity between the Capulets and the Montagues, whether if they rankle it, or if they try to reduce the hatred and fighting between the houses.
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