The biggest change in Romeo's character occurs at the end of Act One, when he encounters Juliet at the Capulet family masque. To this point, he has been sullen and moping, heartbroken over his unrequited love for a girl named Rosaline who the audience does not meet. Rosaline, it seems, has not only rejected Romeo, but has sworn to remain chaste, refusing the attentions of all men. Romeo's cousin Benvolio and his friend Mercutio constantly try to cheer him up, and indeed this is their motive in encouraging him to go to the Capulet's ball in the first place. When he meets Juliet, his demeanor changes immediately. He is smitten with her at first sight, and determines at that moment that he will marry her. So at the beginning of the play, he is lovesick and depressed, and at the end he is again in love, this time for good.
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