Final answer:
Romeo and Juliet, the protagonists of Shakespeare's play, embody the theme of love versus hate and experience significant changes as they evolve from youths constrained by familial hate to passionate lovers united against societal norms. The Nurse acts as a supporting character to this theme, while the tragic climax involving Romeo's and Juliet's sui_cides illustrates the destructive power of the family feud.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the characters that are most relevant to a possible theme of love versus hate are the protagonists Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet are also the characters that undergo significant changes during the play. Their love defies the enmity between the Montagues and Capulets, representing a theme that love can transcend societal boundaries but also that unchecked hatred leads to disaster.
Over the course of the play, Romeo transitions from a lovestruck youth pining for Rosaline to a passionate lover for Juliet, defying his family's feud. Juliet transforms from an obedient and naive girl into a determined woman ready to defy societal norms for her love.
The Nurse is another character who relates to the theme as she supports Juliet's romance with Romeo despite the potential consequences. The play's climax occurs when Romeo finds Juliet in the tomb and, believing her to be dead, kills himself; a tragic misunderstanding that underscores the theme of fate and the consequences of the feud. Juliet’s subsequent sui_cide upon waking further illustrates the devastating results of the hate between the two families.