In this excerpt from act v of shakespeare's romeo and juliet, romeo encounters paris when he enters juliet’s grave. paris challenges him to a duel, but romeo pleads to be left alone before he is forced to fight. what does this excerpt reveal about romeo’s character?
romeo: i must indeed; and therefore came i hither.
good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man;
fly hence, and leave me: think upon these gone;
let them affright thee. i beseech thee, youth,
put not another sin upon my head,
by urging me to fury: o, be gone!
by heaven, i love thee better than myself;
for i come hither arm'd against myself:
stay not, be gone; live, and hereafter say,
a madman's mercy bade thee run away.