How did shakespeare use character name meanings in his works?

There's an english project im having trouble with. I have to explain in detail how shakespeare used character names (and their meanings) to contribute in his works. Someone please help.|||Benvolio sounds a lot like an Italian word for good, he's the calmer friend of Romeo, there's more to this, but you may be more familiar with Romeo and Juliet than I am.


Mercutio sounds like mercury, quicksilver, which was thought of having properties related to change, much like Mercutio's moods.





Miranda from the Tempest can be anagramed into something similar to admired, and may in fact have been based off one of his daughter.


Caliban, can be rearranged to spell canibal... similar to cannibal, no? And seeing how colonialism was happeing around that time in history...





Hope this helps you start your search.