Question

[Romeo:] Dost thou not laugh?

Benvolio: No, coz, I rather weep.

Romeo: Good heart, at what?

Benvolio: At thy good heart's oppression.

Romeo: Why, such is love's transgression.

Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,

Which thou wilt propagate to have it press'd

With more of thine: this love that thou hast shown

Doth add more grief to too much of mine own.

—Romeo and Juliet,
William Shakespeare

What inference can be made about Romeo from this dialogue?

Romeo wants to laugh, but he cannot.
Romeo is determined to give up on love.
Romeo cares about his cousin’s feelings.
Romeo enjoys everyone else feeling his pain.

Answer 1

Romeo cares about his cousin’s feelings.

He acknowledges Benvolio’s sympathy and worries that sharing his own grief will only add to Benvolio’s sorrow, showing sensitivity to and concern for his cousin’s emotions.