Benvolio
Benvolio 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 throughout. He makes a genuine effort to defuse all violent scenes in public places, however, Mercutio accuses him of having a nasty temper in private.
He spends the majority of the play trying to help Romeo get his mind off Rosaline, even after Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet.
Quotes
Act 1 Scene 1: ‘Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do’
Act 1 Scene 2: ‘Why, Romeo, art thou mad?’
Act 1 Scene 2: ‘At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest’
Act 2 Scene 1: ‘Romeo! my cousin Romeo!’
Act 3 Scene 1: ‘O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio’s dead! That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds’
Act 3 Scene 1: ‘Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay; Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink’