Name 5 character traits of Romeo that are opposite to Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet and provide textual evidence of each.

Romeo is superstitious, believing that his dream is predictive of the future. In act 1, scene 4, he tells Mercutio that he should not attend the Capulet party because his bad dream will become reality: "In bed asleep while they do dream things true." Mercutio mocks him for this, telling a story about Queen Mab, a fairy who enters people's dreams.
Mercutio is conveyed as more traditionally masculine, such as when he is angered on Romeo's behalf when Tybalt calls Romeo a "villain" (act 3, scene 1). Mercutio fights with Tybalt over this insult, resulting in Mercutio's death. On the other hand, Romeo is emotionally sensitive and often dramatic. In act 3, scene 3, Romeo is banned from Verona by Prince Escalus for killing Tybalt. Romeo equates his exile to death because he cannot physically be with Juliet:

And sayst thou yet that exile is not death? Hadst thou no poison mixed, no sharp ground knife,No sudden mean of death, though ne'er so mean,But "banished" to kill me?—"Banished"!

When Mercutio speaks of love, he is preoccupied with lust and sexual desire, as evidenced by his frequent sexual innuendos and witticisms. By comparison, Romeo experiences love with depth and emotion. Romeo says to Juliet in act 2, scene 2:

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,My love as deep; the more I give to thee,The more I have, for both are infinite.

Mercutio and Romeo have very different ways of speaking. Mercutio is cynical about love, so words directed at Romeo are often teasing and bawdy. By comparison, Romeo spends the entire play fixated on first Rosaline, then Juliet. Through his constant lovesickness, Romeo's style of speech is romantic and poetic. Upon first seeing Juliet in act 1, scene 5, Romeo says,

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.

The most significant difference between Mercutio and Romeo is how they prioritize love. In act 1, scene 4, Mercutio mocks Romeo for being lovesick over Rosaline. He tries to convince Romeo to raise his spirits for the Capulet party, telling his friend to dance and act happy. Romeo places love above all else, which contributes to his downfall; believing Juliet is dead, he poisons himself because he is incapable of living without her (act 5, scene 3).