Question

an hour but married, tybalt murdered,
doting like me and like me banished,
then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair,
(70) and fall upon the ground, as i do now,
taking the measure of an unmade grave.

what does romeos repetition of the word banished reveal about his character?
select the correct answer.

• it shows romeo does not understand his punishment.
• it suggests he doesnt believe friar laurence about the news.
• it shows he is trying to figure out how to handle exile.
• it reflects the depth of his despair about the punishment.

Explanation:

Analyze the context of Romeo's repetition

In Act 3, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo repeatedly uses the word "banished" (or "banishment") after learning of his exile from Verona. The excerpt shows him comparing his state to being "banished" and falling upon the ground "taking the measure of an unmade grave."

Evaluate the character revelation

Romeo's obsessive repetition of "banished" and his physical collapse onto the ground demonstrate his extreme emotional devastation. He views exile as a fate worse than death because it separates him from Juliet, reflecting the overwhelming depth of his despair.

Assess the multiple-choice options

• Option 1 suggests a lack of understanding, which is incorrect; he understands the physical reality of the punishment all too well.
• Option 2 suggests disbelief, but Romeo fully believes the news and is reacting directly to its reality.
• Option 3 suggests practical planning, but Romeo is completely incapacitated by grief rather than logically planning how to handle exile.
• Option 4 correctly identifies that the repetition reflects the profound depth of his despair.

Answer:

• It shows Romeo does not understand his punishment.
• It suggests he doesn't believe Friar Laurence about the news.
• It shows he is trying to figure out how to handle exile.
• It reflects the depth of his despair about the punishment. (Correct answer)