County Paris

Also known as: County / PARIS / Paris / Sir Paris / noble earl / the County / the County Paris / young Paris · Family: Paris · Role: suitor · First appears: Romeo and Juliet · Act I, Scene III

In Act I, Capulet allows County Paris to court Juliet, provided he wins her consent, while Juliet agrees only to consider him with Lady Capulet’s approval. By Act III, Capulet has set their marriage for Thursday, and Lady Capulet announces that Paris will marry Juliet at Saint Peter’s Church, though Juliet refuses: “He shall not make me there a joyful bride.”

In Act IV, Capulet repeatedly hastens the marriage, and Paris accepts that his wedding to Juliet will take place the next morning. He arrives as the bridegroom with music, but the planned celebration becomes a funeral when Juliet is found dead. At the churchyard in Act V, Paris encounters Romeo at the monument, fights him, and is slain; he is also identified as Mercutio’s kinsman, “noble County Paris!”