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Paris is a count and a relative of Prince Escalus that Juliet is being pressured to marry. He is infatuated with her and hopes she will agree to marry him, but after she marries Romeo in secret she refuses to become his wife. When Juliet "dies" (really under the effects of Friar Lawrence's sleeping potion), he wants to mourn her in peace, but is killed by Romeo Montague in a short duel.

History[]

Count Paris is a well-to-do nobleman in Verona and a kinsman of Prince Escalus. He's first seen in the second scene of the first act, when he goes to confer with Lord Capulet, head of the Capulet household. He bids that his daughter marry him, but Capulet turns this down, saying that Juliet is much too young for marriage. Paris states that women younger than her have been made happy mothers, and Capulet adds that some are made mothers/wives far too early. Yielding, Capulet invites Paris to the imminent ball, asking him to woo Juliet if he really wants her hand in marriage.

Paris doesn't quite make his mark during the party, and Juliet falls for Romeo instead, not knowing that he is in fact a Montague. However, when Tybalt dies a couple of acts later into the play, Capulet (in his twisted idea of making Juliet seemingly feel better) elects that Paris will without question marry Juliet, rushing the marriage to that Thursday. Before even greeting Juliet however, Paris hurries to Friar Lawrence's church, so he can officiate the approaching wedding.

Here, he happens upon a devastated Juliet, who is dressed in mourning and in tears after both her mom and dad threaten to disown her. She just committed to the undertaking in which she is to fake her own death, to elope with the banished Romeo. Paris deprecates her, finding that her tears have slandered her face, which he declares is now his. He continues to press that she is his wife, even though she is quite evidently not having any part in the matter. However, she can't muster the strength to deny him, so she pretends to be subservient.

After Juliet's apparent death, Paris visits the family tomb to mourn her. When Romeo arrives to take his own life beside her, as he is under the impression that she's really dead, Paris concludes he's at the tomb to somehow vandalize it, and bounds out of his hiding spot to fight Romeo; leading into the last battle of the play.

Paris' endeavors are in vain, as Romeo slays him after their brief duel. In his last breaths, Paris asks to be put aside Juliet in the tomb, and depending on the version, Romeo will or won't comply with this wish.

Personality[]

Count Paris is portrayed as a noble and courteous gentleman. He is seen as an honorable and respectable figure, known for his loyalty and social status.

Appearance[]

Count Paris is described as a handsome and well-dressed young man. He presents himself with elegance and sophistication, reflecting his high social standing.

Background[]

Little is known about Count Paris's background. He is a nobleman from Verona, and his family holds a prominent position in society. His status and reputation make him an attractive match for Juliet Capulet.

Synopsis[]

In the play, Count Paris becomes engaged to Juliet with the approval of her parents, who see him as a suitable husband for their daughter. However, Juliet is already in love with Romeo Montague. Paris's pursuit of Juliet leads to conflicts and complications in the story.

Relationships[]

Juliet[]

Count Paris is betrothed to Juliet, as arranged by their families. However, Juliet's heart belongs to Romeo, which creates tension and conflict in their relationship.

Quotes[]

Spoken By Paris[]

  • "Do not deny to him that you love me."
  • "Poor soul, thy face is much abused with tears."
  • "Come you to make confession to this father?"
  • "O, I am slain!"
  • "Younger than she are happy mothers made."
""Happily met, my lady and my wife!""
— Count Paris in Act 4, Scene 1

Spoken About Paris[]

  • "The valiant Paris seeks you for his love" (1.3.80)
  • "A man, young lady- lady, such a man as all the world - why, he's a man of wax" (1.3.81-82)
  • "Verona's summer hath not such a flower" (1.3.83)
  • "Nay, he's a flower, in faith, a very flower" (1.3.84)
  • "Can you love the gentleman... read o'er the volume of young Paris' face, and find delight writ there with beauty's pen. Examine every married lineament and see how one another lends content, and what obscured in this fair volume lies find written in the margent of his eyes. This precious book of love, this unbound lover, to beautify him only lacks a cover. The fish lives in the sea, and 'tis much pride for fair without the fair within to hide. That book in many's eyes doth share the glory that in gold clasps locks in the golden story. So shall you share all that he doth possess by having him, making yourself no less" (1.3.85-100)
  • "The gallant, young, and noble gentleman, the County Paris" (3.5.18-19)
  • "So worthy a gentleman to be her bride" (3.5.150)
  • "A gentleman of noble parentage, of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly ligned, proportioned as one's thought would wish a man" (3.5.191-194)
  • "O, he's a lovely gentleman! Romeo's a dishclout to him. An eagle, madam, hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye as Paris hath" (3.5.231-234)

Gallery[]

Interpretations[]

Various interpretations of Count Paris have been explored in different productions of Romeo And Juliet. Some portray him as a sympathetic character caught in the web of tragic circumstances, while others emphasize his role as a representation of societal expectations and arranged marriages.

In some productions of the play, Paris can be seen as naïve, unsuspecting and generally unaware of Juliet's discomfort. However, he can just as soon be interpreted as a controlling, disrespectful chauvinist who values Juliet less as a person, and more as a prize bound to him by law—that is, his property, his pretty ornament. This is shown when he calls her "my lady and my wife" even though he hasn't actually married her yet (though he does call her "love" shortly thereafter). It is also shown when he wants to apprehend and kill Romeo when he believes Juliet is really dead and Romeo is there to vandalize the tomb. In the Baz Luhrmann movie, Paris is seen as a suave but possessive individual.

Lady Capulet describes Paris with words like "gallant" and "valiant" but throughout the play this was never shown.

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