Benvolio

Benvolio Montague(Italian:Benvolio Montecchi) is a fictional character inWilliam Shakespeare'stragedyRomeo and Juliet.He isLord Montague's nephew andRomeo's cousin. Benvolio serves as an unsuccessful peacemaker in the play, attempting to prevent violence between the Capulet and Montague families.

Benvolio
Romeo and Julietcharacter
Jacques St-Cyr as Benvolio in Prokofiev'sRomeo and Juliet
Created by	William Shakespeare
In-universe information
Family	Lord Montague(uncle) Lady Montague(aunt) Romeo Montague(cousin)

Sources

In 1554,Matteo Bandellopublished the second volume of hisNovellewhich included his version ofGiulietta e Romeo.Bandello emphasises Romeo's initial depression and the feud between the families, and introduces theNurseand Benvolio. Bandello's story was translated into French byPierre Boaistuauin 1559 in the second volume of hisHistoires Tragiques.Boaistuau adds much moralizing and sentiment, and the characters indulge in rhetorical outbursts.

Etymology

The name Benvolio means "good-will" or "well-wisher" or "peacemaker" which is a role he fills, to some degree, as a peacemaker and Romeo's cousin. He also wants peace so civil brawls between him and Tybalt can stop but will do anything for his family even if that means war against the Capulets. (For comparison, see the derivation ofMalvolio– ill-will – inTwelfth Night.)

Role in the play

Benvolio is Lord Montague's nephew andRomeo's cousin. He is usually portrayed by Shakespeare as a kind and thoughtful person who attempts to look out for his cousin.

Benvolio spends most of Act I attempting to distract his cousin from his infatuation withRosalinebut following the first appearance of Mercutio in I.iv, he and Mercutio become more closely aligned until III.i. In that scene, he drags the fatally wounded Mercutio offstage, before returning to inform Romeo of Mercutio's death and the Prince of the course of Tybalt and Mercutio's deaths. Benvolio then disappears from the play (though, as a Montague, he may implicitly be included in the stage direction in the final scene "Enter Lord Montague and others" and he is sometimes doubled withBalthasar).

Part of Benvolio's role is encouraging Romeo to go to the party, where he falls in love withJuliet.

Performances

A mock-Victorianrevisionist version ofRomeo and Juliet's final scene (with a happy ending, Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio andParisrestored to life and Benvolio revealing that he is Paris's love, Benvolia, in disguise) forms part of the 1980 stage-playThe Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.He also attempts to romanceRosalineinSharman Macdonald'sAfter Juliet.

In the 2019 British musical& JulietBenvolio is portrayed by actress Kirstie Skivington.

Portrayals

In 1968 the part of Benvolio was played byBruce RobinsoninRomeo and Juliet.

In the1996 versionofRomeo and Juliet,the actor who played Benvolio wasDash Mihok.

In the 2001 French musicalRoméo et Juliette: de la Haine à l'Amour,the role was originated by Grégori Baquet.

In the2013 versionofRomeo and Juliet,the actor who played Benvolio wasKodi Smit-McPhee.Benvolio gets a larger supporting role as he narrates the film and replaces Abraham's scenes in the final act of the film.

References

Bibliography

• Edgar, David(1982).The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.New York: Dramatists' Play Service.ISBN978-0-8222-0817-4.
• Gibbons, Brian, ed. (1980).Romeo and Juliet.The Arden Shakespeare Second Series. London: Thomson Learning.ISBN978-1-903436-41-7.
• Moore, Olin H. (1937). "Bandello and 'Clizia'".Modern Language Notes.52(1):38–44.doi:10.2307/2912314.ISSN0149-6611.JSTOR2912314.

External links

• Complete listing of all of Benvolio's lines
• Benvolio Character Analysisat British Library