Romeo Montague
The male protagonist. A young man of around 16 years old, Romeo is the only son of the Montague family. He is passionate, impulsive, and idealistic about love. He falls deeply in love with Juliet at first sight and marries her in secret.

Juliet Capulet
The female protagonist, aged around 13. She is the daughter of the wealthy Capulet family. Initially portrayed as an obedient child, Juliet later displays strong-willed defiance in pursuit of her love for Romeo, even faking her own death.

Friar Lawrence
A Franciscan friar who serves as a mentor and confidant to Romeo. He secretly marries the young lovers in hopes of ending the feud between their families. His well-intentioned plans go awry with tragic consequences.

Mercutio
A kinsman to the Prince and Romeo's close friend. He is known for his wit, wildness, and Queen Mab speech mocking dreams. He is killed in a duel by Tybalt.

Nurse
Juliet's nursemaid and confidante. She is a vulgar but caring woman who initially supports Juliet's love for Romeo but later opposes their relationship.

Tybalt
Juliet's cousin from the Capulet family. He is an aggressive and vain young man who hates the Montagues. His killing of Mercutio leads to his own death at Romeo's hand.

Other notable characters include Benvolio (Romeo's cousin), Lord and Lady Capulet (Juliet's parents), Lord and Lady Montague (Romeo's parents), and Count Paris (a kinsman of the Prince who seeks to marry Juliet).

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Love vs. Lust/Infatuation
The play contrasts true love with superficial lust and infatuation. Romeo's initial obsession with Rosaline is portrayed as immature infatuation, while his love for Juliet is deeper and more genuine, though still passionate and intense. Their love transcends the hatred between their feuding families, highlighting the redemptive power of true love.

Fate vs. Free Will
The opening prologue refers to Romeo and Juliet as "star-crossed lovers," suggesting their relationship is doomed by fate and destiny from the start. However, their choices and actions, such as secretly marrying and taking drastic measures, also contribute to the tragic outcome, raising questions about the extent of free will.

Light vs. Dark Imagery
The play frequently uses contrasting imagery of light and dark to represent the love between Romeo and Juliet versus the hatred and violence surrounding them. Their love is portrayed through light metaphors like "sun" and "brightness," while the feud is depicted through darkness and night.

Violence and Conflict
The long-standing feud between the Montague and Capulet families provides the backdrop of violence and conflict in which the love story unfolds. The play explores how this cycle of violence leads to tragic consequences, despite the efforts of the young lovers to find peace.

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"Romeo and Juliet" was likely quite popular among Elizabethan audiences. Shakespeare's works were known for their broad appeal, attracting both the nobility and commoners. The themes of passionate love and tragic fate resonated widely.

While we lack detailed contemporary reviews, we know that Shakespeare's works often received mixed responses from literary critics. Some might have considered the play's focus on intense, youthful passion as overly dramatic or unrealistic, while others would have appreciated its poetic language and emotional depth.

In summary, while direct evidence from 1597 is sparse, "Romeo and Juliet" was likely a popular and significant play in its time, appreciated for its emotional intensity, poetic language, and exploration of timeless human themes.

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