Balthasar
Balthasar's function is almost entirely mechanical, yet decisive: his honest but misinformed report of Juliet's death is the final piece that makes Romeo's suicide possible before the truth can reach him. His presence at the tomb also makes him one of the play's key witnesses to its final events.
Appears In
Biography
Balthasar is Romeo's personal servant, a minor figure whose two appearances nonetheless carry enormous consequence for the play's ending. He follows Romeo into exile in Mantua and, unaware that Juliet's death is a ruse engineered by Friar Lawrence, rides through the night to bring his master the news he believes to be true: that Juliet is dead and lies in the Capulet tomb.
That single, mistaken report is the mechanism by which the play's final catastrophe becomes unavoidable — Balthasar has no way of knowing the Friar's letter meant to explain the truth has failed to reach Romeo, and his loyalty in bringing the news as quickly as possible only hastens the tragedy he could not have foreseen.
He accompanies Romeo to the tomb in the final scene, is sent away with a threat against his life should he return, and disobeys just enough to remain nearby and witness the ending — later giving an account of events to the watch and to the assembled families that helps establish the truth of what happened.
Motivation
Balthasar is motivated by loyal service to Romeo, both in delivering news he believes to be true as quickly as possible and in remaining nearby at the tomb despite being ordered away, out of concern for his master's safety.
Personality
Balthasar is lightly drawn but consistently defined by devotion to Romeo, following him into exile and to the tomb itself despite the danger. His disobedience of Romeo's order to leave — staying close enough to witness the ending rather than abandoning his master entirely — is a small but telling act of loyalty that also happens to preserve the truth of what occurred.