The Prince of Verona

Character Analysis

The Prince of Verona wan peace, but he can't restrain the violence between the Montagues and the Capulets. If the Prince can't do anything about the feud, it means that the law (which the Prince embodies) is powerless against the passions of hate and of love.

But—and this is key—at the end, he comes back on stage and sorts everything out: "Some shall be pardoned, and some punishèd" (5.3.319). We're slightly hopeful that, from now on, the rule of law will be able to keep these people in line—and that maybe we'll move on from the feuding, gang-type, family-based excuse for justice to an actual system of law-and-order.

The Prince of Verona's Timeline