DRAMATIS PERSONAE the characters of a play or

DRAMATIS PERSONAE *the characters of a play (or people in a drama)

THREE CATEGORIES Capulets Montagues Neutral

CAPULETS Capulet: head of one of the houses at odds with each other Lady Capulet: wife to Capulet Juliet: daughter to Capulet Nurse to Juliet Peter: servant to Juliet's nurse

CAPULETS Paris: a young Count, kinsman to the Prince; the suitor of Juliet most preferred by Capulet Tybalt: nephew to Lady Capulet; Juliet’s cousin

CAPULETS Sampson: servant to Capulet Gregory: servant to Capulet An old Man of the Capulet family Gentlemen and Gentlewomen

MONTAGUES Montague: head of one of the houses at odds with each other Lady Montague: wife to Montague Romeo: son to Montague

MONTAGUES Mercutio: kinsman to the Prince and friend to Romeo. Benvolio: nephew to Montague, and friend to Romeo Balthasar: servant to Romeo Abram: servant to Montague Gentlemen and Gentlewomen

NEUTRAL Rosaline: the woman with whom Romeo is infatuated at the beginning of the play Chorus: a single character who functions as a narrator offering commentary on the play’s plot and themes Escalus: Prince of Verona

NEUTRAL Friar Laurence: (switch) Franciscan, friend to both Romeo and Juliet Friar John: (switch) Franciscan, messenger An Apothecary Three Musicians An Officer Citizens of Verona

NEUTRAL Maskers: a person taking part in a masquerade often wearing a mask Torchbearers: person who carries a torch Pages: a person employed as the personal attendant of a person of rank Guards, Watchmen, Servants, and

SCENE (setting): Verona; Mantua (both cities in Italy)