Comparing Mercutio In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Mercutio’s role to Romeo and Juliet takes many shapes and forms. Mercutio is the opposite of Romeo when it comes to love, as he says “If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking and you beat love down. (1.4.27-28)” While Romeo believes in love both ways in a relationship, Mercutio believes that long-standing love isn’t real. Also, Mercutio isn’t technically a Montague or a Capulet, so he doesn’t really take the feud or love very seriously. Mercutio is also quick tempered, and even though he isn’t truly a Montague he is shown like a counterpart to Tybalt because he likes to side with the Montagues. Like Tybalt, Mercutio is quick to go to his sword, “O calm, dishonourable, vile submission. Alla staccato carries it away. Tybalt you rat catcher, will you walk?(3.1.74-76)” When Romeo rejects Tybalt’s offer to fight, Mercutio draws his sword to save Romeo’s name, but also because his love to fight. Mercutio offers as a contrast between houses, sort of like the man in the middle in Romeo and

”(Romeo and Juliet 3.1.83-91). The significance of this quote is that it shows that it was the death of Mercutio that caused Romeo to start a fight with Tybalt regardless of the Prince’s previous order that if their families ever disrupted the civil peace again, death would be the punishment. This shows the importance of Mercutio’s character because without him, the fight between Romeo and Tybalt would not have happened. Mercutio’s death continued to show his strong importance in this play. Mercutio pushed the story forward by causing Romeo to fight

They have made worms meat of me,” (3.1, 68-69). This quote exemplifies that although Mercutio is neither a Montague nor a Capulet he still dies in a battle fought between the families. This incident heightens Romeo’s fatal flaw, as his reckless act of heroism turned out to be a burden as it caused the death of Mercutio. Moreover, Mercutio’s plague towards the families also foreshadows further tragedy, as Romeo then gets banished from the Verona, along with additional events which later on result to his death. Last, even after his death, Mercutio acts as a foil character to Romeo by causing a shift in Romeo’s gentle character. For example, after Tybalt slays Mercutio, Romeo avenges his friend by killing Tybalt. This act shows his alteration in character, as he was never seen as a ferocious character in any previous scenes. This is evident in the play when Romeo says, “Away to Heaven, respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now,” (3.1, 125-126). This quote exemplifies Romeo’s new perception, as he claims he is finished with sympathy and gentleness. This change in Romeo’s personality is significant because not only is he going to attack Tybalt, but also he is going to kill him, which then entitles him a murderer. This is significant because it further leads to his banishment, which in all leads to his death. The transition in the persona of Romeo is highlighted by the character Mercutio, which leads to the

He asserts the fact that he is more than willing to, and unhesitant, to step up for Romeo, even if Romeo is faced with violent and uncertain situations, which indirectly characterises Mercutio as a person who is courageous, is willing to be aggressive, and to use violent means in order to maintain either Romeo or his pride and status, accurately matching the symbolic meaning of a

In Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech, Mercutio is talking about the unrequited love of Romeo and Rosaline and how pointless it is for Romeo to keep dreaming about Rosaline when she probably does not know he exists. Mercutio is trying to make a point to Romeo with humor and to also be serious. Mercutio did a good job of that by saying the Queen Mab speech in Act one, Scene

This results in Romeo’s fate to be darkened. Second, Mercutio shows how Romeo is constantly dreaming. Mercutio’s realism contrasts Romeo’s head in the clouds. This is revealed when Mercutio says “True, I talk of dreams, which [is] the [child] of an [inactive] brain,” (1.4, 96-97). This quote exemplifies that dreaming cannot be a portent, and that it can change just like the wind. This also shows that Mercutio has a flamboyant imagination, while demonstrating his mocking side. This quote also acts as foreshadowing in which shows that if Romeo keeps his head in the clouds he will make mistakes in life, such as him quickly marring Juliet. Moreover, this quote reveals that Mercutio is an important foil character because his view on love contrasts that of Romeo. Mercutio’s view on love is that it is futile, however Romeo thinks of it as a key component to life. Mercutio’s mocking of the hopeless love, makes Romeo’s view look stronger and more passionate. Third, Mercutio shows how serious Romeo is. Mercutio always talks in a witting and light-hearted way, in which contrasts to Romeo’s seriousness. Mercutio always uses clever wordplay and puns to mock people and bring comic relief into the play. This is emphasized when Mercutio says “And but one word with one of us? ... Make it a word and a blow,” (3.1, 40-41). This quote illustrates the comedy that Mercutio brings. At the edgy moment when Tybalt was about to fight, Mercutio still made a mockery of him.

Tybalt intended to fight Romeo because he disliked his presence at the Capulet’s party but after Romeo refuses to fight Mercutio feels the need to fight for him instead. This is not the only time Mercutio is a display of masculinity in the play. As Romeo’s friend he likes to mock him, calling him an petrarchan lover and joking about his version of love. The difference to Romeo is also found when juxtaposing how Romeo and Mercutio speak. For instance, when Romeo talks about the girls he is in love with or has a crush on he talks in poetic sentences. In comparision, Mercutios:” Laura was a kitchen slave. Surely she has a better love to make rhymes for her. Dido was shabbily dressed. Cleopatra was a gypsy girl. Helen and Hero were sluts and harlots.

49-51) Mercutio’s comment on how dreams are merely fantasy for fools. Another part of Mercutio's personality is that he is often quite cynical in the way he views other people’s interests and beliefs. Mercutio’s crude nature shows with this quote “Now art thou what thou art by art as well as by nature, for this drivelling love is like a great natural that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole.” (Shakespeare II.4).

To begin with, Mercutio is a good friend to Romeo in that he stands up for Romeo when in need. In Act III, Scene I, there is a scene in which Tybalt, Mercutio, and Romeo are conversing. In lines 59-60, Tybalt says, “Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a villain.” This

Mercutio tries to get Romeo's mind on something else. He also describes imagination in a powerful, memorable way in his "Queen Mab" speech (Act 1, scene 4). The speech shows Mercutio's eloquence and it describes dreams as coming from a fairy creature. He is clever man.

" Mercutio was correct in his predictions. The love between Romeo and Juliet ends up a tragedy for both families. Mercutio's character is essential in driving the action forward in this play. He foreshadows the devastating events, serves as Romeo's friend, and gives the audience important information throughout the play. Mercutio's death is the turning point in the play.

As a friend of Romeo’s, Mercutio supports the Montague’s in the ancient feud. An example of Mercutio defending the Montague’s is when Tybalt, a member of the loathed Capulet family, abuses Romeo and Mercutio intervenes on Romeo’s behalf. Attempting to restore peace, Romeo gets between the two combatants and Mercutio “hath got his mortal hurt” (Page 149; Act 3, Scene 1) on Romeo’s account. In spite of his “life shall pay the forfeit of peace” (page 17; Act 1, Scene 1), Romeo seeks revenge on Tybalt as he loves his murdered friend. As Romeo kills Tybalt out of love for Mercutio, Shakespeare suggests that love conquered the thought of being penalized with death.

In “Romeo and Juliet”, written by William Shakespeare, multiple characters’ lives are changed forever, if not ended, within the span of a few days. This timeless story conveys multiple messages, besides “don’t make rash decisions”. These messages are written into the story through powerful characters and leave the audience with something to take away; an example of one of these characters is Mercutio, a witty and feisty friend of Romeo’s. Despite his short time in the book, he is a vital piece in deciding the main characters’ fates. Mercutio shows Romeo how to lighten up, never back away from a challenge, and makes the audience curious enough to delve deeper behind the meanings of the script.

While the fight is mainly between the Montagues and Capulets, Mercutio also has his part. While Tybalt is looking for Romeo, Mercutio continues to mock him and even draws his sword on Tybalt. “Come on, sir, perform your forward

These two characters exist on a two different spectrums. This scene reinforces that while Romeo is a dreamer; Mercutio is the sensible character of the two and helps to keep Romeo as a character grounded and rational. When Romeo tells Mercutio that he "…talk'st of nothing", Mercutio responds by saying that "dreams…are the children of an idle brain." (Scene 1, Act 4)