Romeo and Juliet, the famous tragedy by William Shakespeare, tells the story of two young lovers whose families are enemies. But who is Paris, the man who wants to marry Juliet and becomes a rival to Romeo? Here is a short introduction to his character and role in the play.
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Paris’s background and personality
According to Wikipedia, Paris is a fictional character who is a **kinsman to Prince Escalus**, the ruler of Verona. He is also a **count**, which means he is a nobleman of high rank and wealth. He is described as **handsome, gracious, and honorable** by other characters in the play. He is a **suitor of Juliet**, meaning he wants to marry her and make her his wife.
Paris does not have much personality or depth in the play. He is more of a plot device that creates conflict and tension between Romeo and Juliet. He is polite, formal, and respectful, but he does not seem to have much passion or emotion. He does not know Juliet well, nor does he try to woo her with words or actions. He simply follows the tradition and expectation of arranged marriages in his society.
Paris’s role in the play
Paris first appears in Act I, Scene II, where he asks Juliet’s father, Capulet, for permission to marry his daughter. Capulet hesitates, saying that Juliet is too young and that she should have a say in the matter. He invites Paris to a party at his house that night, where he can meet Juliet and try to win her affection.
However, at the party, Juliet falls in love with Romeo, who belongs to the rival Montague family. They secretly marry the next day with the help of Friar Lawrence, a priest who hopes to end the feud between the two families. Meanwhile, Paris continues to pursue Juliet, unaware of her marriage to Romeo.
After Romeo kills Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, in a fight, he is banished from Verona by the Prince. Juliet is devastated and refuses to marry Paris when her father arranges their wedding. Capulet becomes angry and threatens to disown her if she does not obey him. Juliet’s mother and nurse also turn against her and support the marriage with Paris.
Juliet seeks help from Friar Lawrence, who gives her a potion that will make her appear dead for 42 hours. He plans to send a message to Romeo, telling him to come back and rescue her from the tomb where she will be buried. However, the message does not reach Romeo in time.
Paris visits Juliet’s tomb on the night of her supposed death. He mourns for her and places flowers on her grave. He encounters Romeo, who has come to see Juliet one last time and kill himself with poison. Paris thinks that Romeo is there to vandalize the tomb and challenges him to a duel. Romeo kills Paris and drags his body inside the tomb. He then sees Juliet’s lifeless body and drinks the poison. Juliet wakes up shortly after and finds Romeo dead beside her. She stabs herself with his dagger and dies.
Paris’s significance in the play
Paris represents the conventional and patriarchal society that Romeo and Juliet rebel against. He is a contrast to Romeo, who is impulsive, romantic, and passionate. Paris is also a victim of fate, as he dies because of a misunderstanding and a failed plan. His death shows how the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues has caused many innocent lives to be lost.
Paris also serves as a foil for Juliet’s character development. At first, she is obedient and submissive to her parents’ wishes. She agrees to meet Paris at the party and consider him as a husband. However, after she meets Romeo, she changes into a strong-willed and independent woman who defies her family and society for love. She rejects Paris’s proposal and chooses death over marrying him.
Paris may not be a memorable or complex character in Romeo and Juliet, but he plays an important role in creating the tragic situation that leads to the lovers’ deaths. He also shows how love can be different for different people: for him, it is a matter of duty and honor; for Romeo and Juliet, it is a matter of life and death.
