Benvolio is Montague's nephew and Romeo's cousin, the peacemaker whose part ends when the comedy does. He is not in Brooke's poem, where an unnamed friend tells Romeus to look at other women.

"I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword, / Or manage it to part these men with me." (Act 1, Scene 1). His first act is to stop a fight, and the "Or" offers Tybalt another use for a sword. Tybalt's refusal makes the feud a choice, not a reflex.
"Or reason coldly of your grievances, / Or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us." (Act 3, Scene 1). On a hot day he offers cold reason and names what keeps a quarrel alive: an audience. Honour in Verona is a performance, and nobody backs down while watched.

His cure for love works through the eyes ("Examine other beauties", Act 1, Scene 1), and AQA's Specimen 2 mark scheme names his attitude to love as a contrast to the lovers'. The cure works too well: it takes Romeo to the feast. After the killings his account to the Prince (Act 3, Scene 1) makes Tybalt "deaf to peace" and leaves out that Mercutio called Tybalt out, so Lady Capulet's "Affection makes him false" has a point. It is his last speech; he never appears again. Use him as a foil to Tybalt (peace against hate) and to Mercutio (calm against provocation): the voice of peace leaves the play as the tragedy begins.

Benvolio is Montague's nephew and Romeo's cousin, the peacemaker whose part ends when the comedy does. He is not in Brooke's poem, where an unnamed friend tells Romeus to look at other women.

"I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword, / Or manage it to part these men with me." (Act 1, Scene 1). His first act is to stop a fight, and the "Or" offers Tybalt another use for a sword. Tybalt's refusal makes the feud a choice, not a reflex.
"Or reason coldly of your grievances, / Or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us." (Act 3, Scene 1). On a hot day he offers cold reason and names what keeps a quarrel alive: an audience. Honour in Verona is a performance, and nobody backs down while watched.