Jongjin Park

Leffert

English 9 P.2

16 April 2015

Paris and Romeos Similarities and Differences

Throughout the play of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, there seems to be multiple

conflicts between the protagonist, Romeo, and other people in his life. Despite all of the conflicts,

Shakespeare successfully makes us empathize with Romeo so that we better understand his

actions and motives whatever it may be. However, by doing this, Shakespeare also makes the

readers empathize with another character: Paris. This is because Romeo and Paris have so much

in common. Romeo and Paris in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet are similar because of how

they are indeed in love with Juliet, and their infatuation with Juliet, but they differ in their levels

of self-centeredness.

They are both indeed in love with Juliet. In Scene 5 of Act 1, Romeo sees Juliet and says,

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! (1.5.51). He claims he has never loved before

loving Juliet. And his passion never seems to go away even to the moments of his death. Paris

loves Juliet so much, when Capulet decides that Juliet will marry Paris, he expresses his

excitement by saying, My lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow. (3.4.29). It is clearly

shown that Paris and Romeo clearly love Juliet.

Even though they are in love with Juliet, their love is only an extension of their

infatuation. They may be in love, but their loves limits only goes as far to be considered an

infatuation for Juliet. Throughout the entire play they both seem to love Juliet with flaming

passion. Yet, they hardly know anything about Juliet. Romeo married Juliet only after meeting
her for the very first time the day before in Scene 5 of Act 1. Almost every time Romeo

describes her beauty, he almost always ends up describing her outer beauty instead of her

personality or heart. This is exemplified when Romeo says, Beautys ensign yet/ Is crimson in

thy lips and in thy cheeks, (5.3.93-94). And throughout the entire play, Paris and Juliet have

only one conversation together. And in the conversation, Paris acts as if they should have a close

relationship when he greets Juliet, Happily met, my lady and my wife! (4.1.18). It is clearly

shown that they are only infatuated with Juliet.

Though they may be equally as infatuated, Romeo is more self-centered than Paris.

Whenever Romeo provoked any action or words unto Juliet, he did not think about the future, the

society, or their families. Romeo did not keep his distance away, which is shown when Romeo

kisses Juliet within the few hours they had met in Scene 5 of Act 1. Romeo also marries her

without the approval of the families in Scene 6 of Act 2. And he causes Juliet to kill herself when

Romeo decides that he will kill himself over the grief of Juliets fake death in Scene 3 of Act 5.

It can be argued that his actions are what led to the unification of the families, but this would not

be perceived as a happy ending to Romeo or Juliet who only wanted to be with each other. He

even goes as far to say, Is death mistermed. Calling death banished,/ Thou cutst my head off

with a golden ax (3.3.21-22). This shows that he has thoughts of killing himself, which are the

same thoughts that gets Juliet killed later on in the story. On the other hand, Paris kept his

distance from Juliet as a show of respect. He also asked permission of the marriage to Juliets

father to be approved of the entire family of the Capulets, so that he and Juliet would not face

any dire consequences in Scene 2 of Act 1. And by this, Paris followed the direction of Capulet

according to his will in the thought of pleasing Juliet and her family. Romeo is clearly more self-

centered than Paris.

 As seen above, Romeo and Paris both share the fact that they are both attracted to Juliet,

and that they are both infatuated with Juliet. However, Romeo is more self-centered than Juliet

shown by their actions and words.