Benvolio

Play

Romeo and Juliet

Summary

Romeo's cousin and friend whose defining characteristic is his desire to avoid conflict — "benvolio" means "good will" in Italian and the name fits him perfectly. He consistently tries to calm the street brawls, urges Romeo to move on from Rosaline, and provides the Prince with an accurate account of Mercutio's death. He disappears from the play after the third act, his peaceable nature having no function in the world the tragedy has become.

Notable Quotations

"Part, fools! / Put up your swords; you know not what you do." *(I.i)*

"Be ruled by me; forget to think of her." *(I.i)*

Cross-references

• Romeo and Juliet — the play
• Tragedies
• character_romeo — his cousin and closest friend
• character_mercutio — his companion in Romeo's circle