I taught Romeo and Juliet to ninth-graders when I was an English teacher. It was the perfect play for an introduction to Shakespeare: two kids about the same age as my students making impulsive decisions that got them into trouble. We all think the play is about star-crossed love and the tragedy Romeo, Juliet, and so many other characters suffer because the protagonists challenge the norms of society. Romeo and Juliet’s relationship is a romantic whirlwind that has stood the test of time, but at its heart is another fabulous, forgotten relationship: the “bromance” between Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio. It is this wonderfully crafted dynamic I want to discuss today.

Romeo

Romeo is the consummate romantic. He sees the world through rose-coloured glasses. He longs for love, but his devotion is fickle, and he gives his heart over to his latest fancy. Nothing is impossible in Romeo’s mind, even if it is marrying the daughter of his family’s greatest enemy, a girl who could barely be considered a teen. He believes himself to be invincible. Though banished upon sentence of death, he stays in Verona for a booty call. Ever the optimist, he believes Friar Lawrence when he says the fuss over his banishment will eventually blow over, and he can return to Verona a free man.    

Benvolio

Benvolio is the pragmatist of the group. He is the only trio member who keeps a cool head, thinks things through, remains calm, and tries to defuse conflicts instead of aggravating them. Several characters rely on Benvolio to give an unbiased report of plot events. After Roseline rejects Romeo, Benvolio convinces him to attend the Capulet party. During Mercutio and Tybalt’s altercation, Benvolio tries to convince the men to discuss matters further at another time, but then Romeo enters, and the duel begins.

Mercutio

Mercutio plays the role of the impulsive clown. His mouth has no filter, which often goads people to anger. Everything is a joke to him, and he drinks to excess. When stabbed by Tybalt, Mercutio jokes and downplays his injuries. Believing he has suffered only a scratch, his friends do nothing to help him and watch him die.

The trio in my writing

When writing, I often recall these three personalities—the optimist, the pragmatist, and the clown—and use them to shape my characters. The protagonists in my novels (like Braelynn in the Braelynn’s Birthright series) often have two close friends. My protagonist is usually the Benvolio of the group. She keeps a cool head in times of conflict and thinks things through. One of her friends is a Romeo, jaded, romantic, always looking for the silver-lined cloud in the storm. Her other friend is a Mercutio, a joker, always trying to make light in the darkness and not always at opportune times.

The trio in other stories

I am not alone in modelling my characters after this famous trio. Here are a few others you might have seen (each of these examples lists the roles in the following order: Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio):

• Supernatural: Sam, Dean, Castiel
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow, Buffy, Xander
• The Rookie: Lucy, Tim, John
• Elsbeth: Kaya, Captain Wagner, Elsbeth
• The Big Bang Theory: Penny, Leonard, Sheldon

What other Romeo-Mercutio-Benvolio trios can you think of?

The takeaway

The next time you sit down to write, consider modelling your characters after classic groupings like the one in Romeo and Juliet. To do this, read classic literature like a writer would, not for pleasure, but to question the author’s choices. Try to figure out why the pairings (or trios) of characters work—What has made them stand the test of time? What is their appeal?—and try to create personalities with similar traits, motivations, and relationship dynamics. The ability to pen memorable characters that will pull on your readers’ heartstrings is only a few classic works away.

Subscribe to my newsletter for more great writing tips and free books for review and receive Self Publishing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step Guide for New Authors for freee!