The Latehomecomer
by Kao Kalia Yang

Romeo and Juliet Character Analysis

Romeo and Juliet are the titular star-crossed lovers in William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. In ninth grade, Kao writes an essay arguing that Romeo and Juliet died before it was possible to assess if they were in love. Kao reveals, through this essay, that she thinks true love is different from romantic infatuation, and that it grows over a lifetime.

Romeo and Juliet Quotes in The Latehomecomer

The The Latehomecomer quotes below are all either spoken by Romeo and Juliet or refer to Romeo and Juliet. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Politics, Refugee Camps, and Inhumanity Theme Icon
).

Chapter 11 Quotes

Love is the reason why my mother and father stick together in a hard life when they might each have an easier one apart; love is the reason why you choose a life with someone, and you don’t turn back although your heart cries sometimes and your children see you cry and you wish out loud that things were easier. Love is getting up each day and fighting the same fight only to sleep that night in the same bed beside the same person because long ago, when you were younger and you did not see so clearly, you had chosen them. I wrote that we'll never know if Romeo and Juliet really loved because they never had the chance.

Related Characters: Kao Kalia Yang (speaker), Mrs. Gallentin, Bee Yang , Chue Moua , Romeo and Juliet
Page Number and Citation: 199
Explanation and Analysis:

Chapter 12 Quotes

My grandfather was not a bad man, as my grandmother grew to know and love him.

Related Characters: Kao Kalia Yang (speaker), Youa’s Husband , Youa, Romeo and Juliet
Page Number and Citation: 224
Explanation and Analysis:
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Romeo and Juliet Character Timeline in The Latehomecomer

The timeline below shows where the character Romeo and Juliet appears in The Latehomecomer. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 11: Our Old Moldy House
The Immigrant Experience Theme Icon
Love and Family Theme Icon
...special. Kao realizes that she understands literature. She has to write an essay on whether Romeo and Juliet were in love or lust, and she writes about the love that she’s seen—of people... (full context)