In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the young nobleman Juliet is expected to marry is Count Paris.
Paris is a kinsman of Prince Escalus and a socially suitable match for Juliet. Lord Capulet initially tells Paris that Juliet is very young, but later agrees to the marriage after Tybalt’s death. The wedding is hurried forward, creating the immediate crisis that leads Juliet to seek Friar Laurence’s help.
Paris is not portrayed as the play’s central villain. He behaves courteously toward Juliet and visits her tomb believing she has died. His presence there leads to a confrontation with Romeo, who kills him before entering the tomb.
A common mistake is to call Paris Juliet’s husband. The two never complete a marriage ceremony: Juliet is secretly married to Romeo, and the planned wedding to Paris is prevented by Friar Laurence’s sleeping potion scheme.