In the well known play, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare typically introduces two characters, Benvolio and Tybalt, that throughout the play will partake important roles in the two feuding families, Montgue and Capulet, by using the method of foiling; two characters who contradict one another so the audience can convey their significances. Tybalt and Benvolio stand as two very different characters… While Benvolio uses his will power to control the problems, Tybalt can’t seem to draw his sword fast enough to intervene. Benvolio, standing as a peacekeeper, a trustworthy friend to Romeo in his distraught affections over love, and a problem solver is first introduced when the servants of the Capulet family pick a fight with the servants of the Montague household as a tribute to their ongoing rivalry. Unlike Benvolio, Tybalt is an aggressive, cocky character that is always looking for a fight. He is first introduced in the same scene as Benvolio when the two conflicting families came to a disturbance in the streets of Verona. While Benvolio attempts to simmer down the firing forces, Tybalt stands in the middle nagging on the fight. Not only does Tybalt attempt to arise a fight in the families, but he tries to start a fight with Benovlio when he says, “Turn thee… Look upon thy death.” Although Benvolio does draw his sword, he continues to pursue his peace keeping; with Tybalt responding, “Talk of peace? I hate the words as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee,” once again enhancing the rage in the air. As one can see, the two most certainly do not favor one another in similarities or in character and in fact contradict each other in almost any way possible.
Another example of characters that have their differences and similarities throughout the play consists of Lady Capulet and the Nurse. Lady Capulet is a woman that was married early and at the age of fourteen gave birth to Juliet… She takes the role of an ineffectual mother, as she often relies on the Nurse for moral support and to raise Juliet. In Contrast, the Nurse is an indecent yet sentimental character in which she provides a comic relief across the board with her commonly inappropriate speeches. Although these two women differ greatly in actions, they do compare in similarity when discussing their love for Juliet. Lady Capulet sees Juliet as more of a “charge” than that of a daughter and understands where Juliet’s role should stand, while the Nurse only desires Juliet’s happiness, thinks more of Juliet as a daughter than Lady Capulet, and perhaps understands Juliet’s heart more than she does. For example, in the play Romeo and Juliet, Lady Capulet and the Nurse are discussing the matter of Juliet marrying Paris when the audience can foreshadow the idea of Lady Capulet seeing Juliet as a “charge”, “Speak briefly. Can you like of Paris, love?” This speech by Lady Capulet conveys a message of pressure… It’s as if she is rushing Juliet to make a life changing decision on her marrying Paris without allowing Juliet much time to evaluate the circumstances. Overall, Lady Capulet and the Nurse both care for Juliet a great deal, but in different ways… The Nurse sees and cares for Juliet as a her own daughter in her experiences, her love for the enemy, Romeo, while Lady Capulet is seeing her daughter as a candidate for marriage, marrying Paris.