In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Juliet’s father intends her to marry Count Paris. Paris is a kinsman of Prince Escalus and a nobleman who seeks Juliet’s hand.
At the beginning of the play, Lord Capulet is cautious about arranging the match because Juliet is still very young. He tells Paris to court her and win her affection rather than treating the marriage as an immediate order. Their wedding is later set for Thursday, but the plan changes abruptly after Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s banishment.
Juliet secretly marries Romeo instead, with the help of Friar Laurence. When Lord Capulet believes Juliet is grieving Tybalt, he advances her marriage to Paris, unaware that she is already Romeo’s wife. Juliet then asks Friar Laurence for a way to avoid the forced match, leading to the sleeping-potion plan.
Paris is not Romeo’s rival in the same way as Tybalt. His role is that of Juliet’s approved suitor and intended husband, and his death at the tomb occurs after he encounters Romeo there.