Lord Montague
Montague -- so rich and yet so helpless. OK, we know he has rages, but he's been a really good father to Romeo for the most part. Unfortunately, he has no parental control as his teenage boy wrestles with his raging hormones. Of course, we feel sorry for him at the end because he didn't get a chance to do much for his son. Romeo ends up dead anyway. The news of that takes out his old lady so, despite his wealth and power, Montague is left with nothing.
Romeo Montague
Romeo-- knew a good thing when he saw it in Juliet. It was love at first sight. It is only after he secretly crashes the Capulet's Masked Ball where he first sees his destiny. Unfortuantely, the hatred between the Montagues and Capulets continues. Romeo and Juliet must be married in secret to prevent more bloodshed. Romeo has a gentle, thoughtful, romantic side. But after Tybalt kills Mercutio, he goes on the rampage. After murdering Tybalt, he is banished to the distant city of Mantua. Romeo never receives the Friar's message that Juliet is safe. Instead word of her death comes to Mantua, and Romeo hurries back to Verona. In the Capulet tomb, Romeo drinks a lethal poison, so that he may die with his bride.
Romeo's cousin
Benvolio -- in hindsight, he could have made all the difference. Romeo's good friend has a hidden dark side. While Benvolio tries to behave above reproach, he is so ready for action that he keeps getting into trouble.
Case in point, early on, he jumps in to stop a brawl... but it is Benviolio's exposed weapon that antagonizes Tybalt into getting involved.
When Romeo battles Tybalt, Benvolio is in a position to intervene, but he chooses not to. Romeo kills Tybalt and is exiled from Verona Beach.
Mercutio makes fun of Benvolio for getting into quarrels: "Thou? -- why thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more or a hair less in his beard than thou hast.... Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarreling. Thou hast quarrel'd with a man for coughing in the street, because he hath waken'd thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun." So guess who the ultimate survivor is? Benvolio. Future town father. Last Veronese left standing.
Mercutio
Mercutio -- his smart, sharp tongue backfired. This quick-witted aristocrat is a relative of Prince Escalus. His banter suggests long friendship with Romeo and can become far out -- like way out. For example: Mercutio: No I am the very pink of courtesy.
Romeo: Pink for flower?
Mercutio: Right. Besides being a flower, he is also a center of attention. Romeo describes him as "a gentleman... that loves to hear himself talk." If one cares to be superstitious, the ending of Romeo & Juliet can seem affected by Mercutio's curse on both the House of Montague and that of Capulet. As he dies, from Tybalt's blow, he proclaims, "A plague on both your houses!"
However ironic, his words ring true in the end.
