Benvolio and Balthazar
People should be honest
Jacob Sibert
Advance English 1
December 9, 2014
Benvolio and Balthazar Theme
Act 1 Scene 1
"Here were the servants of your adversaries" , is the first thing that truly shows how honest Benvolio is, during his conversation with Lord and Lady Montague, (p997 line 114). Before this had happened Benvolio had been trying to break up a fight and had been caught into it. However, during his narrative he never attempts to tell anything but the truth, and it starts with this line. While this is one instance, you can tell he is an honest man because Lord and Lady Montague accept his word without protest or question. Through his honesty he is trusted without question and respected by two of the highest people in Verona.
Act 2 Scene 1
Benvolio isn't only respected by his Lord and Lady, he is also known to be honest and true by Prince Escalus, the prince of Verona. After another fight, this time ending in two deaths, the prince ignores the mob of people, both the Montague's and Capulet's, and asks, "Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?" (Act 3 scene 1). And, with all upon him, he tells the truth, even though he could have lied and probably gotten away with it. However he tells the truth, sometimes the hardest thing to do, and the Prince is able to make a fair and just decision. Without this, the families may have gone on to get revenge for each duel and just end in more bloodshed, especially if Benvolio had lied. Thanks to him though, the guilty were punished, even if it was his family member, Romeo.
Act 5 scene 1
Benvolio isn't the only one who is honest, another Montague is. The servant of Romeo, Balthazar, is honest and honorable. When he brings Romeo news of Juliet's death, he doesn't delay, and tells Romeo frankly, "Her body sleeps in Capel's monument,"(page 1087 line 18). However, because of others lies, and Juliet's own grand deception, the truth becomes a lie, and honorable intentions hurt others. Romeo trusts Balthazar and accepts his word. This trust about a lie leads to three more deaths(Romeo, Paris, and Juliet) and all because of not telling the truth
Act 4 scene 1
Although this was brought up earlier, the grand deception of Juliet could have been avoided if the truth was told. Friar Laurence himself helps fuel it, when he explains to Juliet, "No warmth, no breath, shall testify thy livest,"(p1075 line 108). If, and this applies to the whole play, Romeo and Juliet had been honest they wouldn't be dead. When Mercutio and Tybalt fought Romeo could have stopped it by telling Tybalt he married Juliet. Juliet could have avoided her death and Romeo's if she told her parents the truth. If she was willing to die to be with Romeo, what did it matter if her parents disowned her. Also, if Mercutio and Tybalt didn't die, then Lady Montague wouldn't die from grief at her son's banishment. Paris would also live, as Juliet wouldn't have pretended to die. So, the theme is overwhelmingly that people should tell the truth, as all the tragedies of this tragedy could have been avoided with the truth.