Benvolio Montague () is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet. He is Lord Montague's nephew and Romeo's cousin. Benvolio serves as an unsuccessful peacemaker in the play, attempting to prevent violence between the Capulet and Montague families.
Sources
In 1554,
Matteo Bandello published the second volume of his
Novelle which included his version of
Giulietta e Romeo. Bandello emphasises Romeo's initial depression and the feud between the families, and introduces the Nurse and Benvolio. Bandello's story was translated into French by
Pierre Boaistuau in 1559 in the second volume of his
Histoires 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 of
Malvolio – ill-will – in
Twelfth Night.)
Role in the play
Benvolio is Lord Montague's nephew and
Romeo Montague'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 with Rosaline but 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 with Balthasar).
Part of Benvolio's role is encouraging Romeo to go to the party, where he falls in love with Juliet Capulet.
Performances
A mock-Victorian revisionist version of
Romeo and Juliets final scene (with a happy ending, Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio and
Count Paris restored to life and Benvolio revealing that he is Paris's love, Benvolia, in disguise) forms part of the 1980 stage-play
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. He also attempts to romance
Rosaline in Sharman Macdonald's
After Juliet.
In the 2019 British musical & Juliet Benvolio is portrayed by actress Kirstie Skivington.
Portrayals
In 1968 the part of Benvolio was played by
Bruce Robinson in
Romeo and Juliet.
In the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet, the actor who played Benvolio was Dash Mihok.
In the 2001 French musical , the role was originated by Grégori Baquet.
In the 2013 version of Romeo and Juliet, the actor who played Benvolio was Kodi 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.
Bibliography
External links
