To Foil or Not to Foil, That Is the Question

To Foil or not to Foil, That is the Question

Characterization of the main characters is essential to the book. Therefore, the foils use to characterize are also very important. In the play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare develops Romeo as a character by making many supporting whole entire existence’s purpose is to create contrast and be a foil. He uses these foils by focusing on Romeo’s weakness and irrational nature.

The most of obvious example of this is Mercutio. Mercutio is made out to be an opposite, when it comes to love, of Romeo. Romeo is in love with being in love. So, Mercutio is hates the whole entire idea of love. In the Queen Mab speech (Act I Scene V), Mercutio shows his hate.He says “then he dreams of another benefice … This is the very Mab that plats the manes of horses at night” this shows he knows the nature of love, as it parallels how some dream of love, but “Queen Mab plats them” rather than getting what they want. He is cynical about lovein his nature, and this shows this.

Another example of a foil is Tibalt. Tibalt serve early on as the antagonists in the play, so in their nature they are opposing forces. They act to oppose him, and in doing so, serve as a contrast to a person