The author, William Shakespeare, efficiently employs various events and characters in the play, Romeo and Juliet, to convey that love conquers all. Through manipulation of Act 2, Scene 2, also renowned as the 'Balcony Scene’, Shakespeare effectively demonstrates how Romeo and Juliet’s love surmounts numerous things, in the play. Additionally, Shakespeare portrays that/how the strength of Romeo’s love for his murdered friend Mercutio, creates a desire for revenge despite potentially receiving death penalty; displaying that Romeo’s love for his friend conquers the fear of death. Furthermore, the final scene also depicts how love triumphs over the terror of death and how the Montague and Capulet parents’ mutual love for their children, Romeo …show more content…
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. Shakespeare manifests the final scene of Romeo and Juliet to illustrate how love triumphs over the terror of death and depicts how the Capulet and Montague parents’ mutual love for their children dismisses the ancient feud. The protagonists, Romeo and Juliet’s preference of being killed rather than “death be prorogued, wanting thy love” (Page 91; Act 2, Scene 2), indicates they would rather die than death be delayed without the fulfilment of each other’s love. Romeo commits suicide as he is unaware that Juliet’s death is fiction, which results in Juliet finding his corpse when she awakens and stabs herself as they both do not wish to live with the absence of each other’s love. Again, Shakespeare portrays that love conquers the most feared prospect of life:
In the play of “Romeo and Juliet”, by William Shakespeare, Tybalt is to blame for their deaths, because he killed Mercutio, Romeo's friend, leading to his banishment and Juliet misery/desperation causing her to fall into a deep sleep. Mercutio's death from Tybalt, only resulted from Tybalt provoking and insulting Romeo. As a friend Mercutio defended Romeo but in the end payed the price with his life. Shakespeare suggests that, “My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf. My reputation stain'd With Tybalt’s slander”(Act 3, Scene 1,line 105).
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
Mercutio, similar to Tybalt is a fiery combatant, onry, and quick to fight. However, Romeo’s own actions to stop the duel between Mercutio and Tybalt would result in Mercutio motivating Romeo’s rage. Without Mercutio’s desire to battle Tybalt, Romeo never would have discovered his vengeful side. On page 868 of Prentice Hall’s Literature, Volume Two, lines 107-113, Romeo realizes his actions, “This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf-my reputation stained With Tybalt’s slander-Tybalt, that an hour Hath been my cousin. O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate And in my temper soft’ned valor’s steel!” This shows the boiling anger building within Romeo, ultimately brought on by himself and
Romeo is another character that makes dangerous and impulsive decisions out of love for others, his choices are fast and also end up in multiple deaths. Romeo says, “Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.” (Act III, Scene 1, Line 128) Shakespeare uses Romeo’s lines to express how much Romeo is willing to give for the death of Mercutio. By fighting Tybalt it would make it harder for Romeo to unite the opposing families. Romeo’s decision to fight resulted in the death of Tybalt, it also caused him to be banished from Verona which further separated him from Juliet. Although they have different personalities, Mercutio and Romeo have similar actions that lead to tragic losses. Romeo confesses, “O, I am fortune’s fool!” (Act III, Scene 1, Line 135) after his decision to engage in a fight that resulted in the death of Tybalt. Romeo got what he initially wanted, but after the fight, he realized how he worsened the situation. With Tybalt’s death, Romeo’s task of uniting the Capulets and Montagues becomes nearly impossible. Also, because Romeo is banished from Verona he will be separated from Juliet. Romeo is paying the consequences of his poorly thought out
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
This demonstrates the needless sacrifice of Mercutio from Tybalt’s hatred. Another character that develops this theme is Romeo. Shakespeare states that after Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo becomes enraged in hatred and when Tybalt returns, Romeo forgets that Tybalt is his cousin-in-law and fights Tybalt and eventually kills him. Romeo says, “Away to heaven, respective lenity, and editorial fire-eyed fury be my conduct now. Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again that late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company.
Romeo and Juliet is known as one of the most popular love stories ever written. However, the play is not about love, but about death. William Shakespeare wrote this play to warn readers about the danger of hatred and impulsive actions. Romeo’s love for Juliet and his impulsive nature contributed to the deaths of Tybalt, Mercutio, Juliet, Paris, Lady Montague , and Romeo himself.
In conclusion Romeo and Juliet had many things against their love in Shakespeare’s tragic play, but the three main characters to blame for what happened to them are the Feud, Lady Capulet, and Fate. All of these characters in some way pressured Romeo and Juliet to make the harsh choice of killing themselves. In the main characters eyes the choices that these three other characters made in the play gave them only one choice or they would have to live the rest of their lives forever unhappy without the comfort of each
In Luhrmann’s film, Romeo’s love for Mercutio becomes prominent when Tybalt slays Mercutio at the abandoned theatre. Romeo’s compassion for his friend draws his fury; rage leading him to challenge Tybalt to a duel to the death. Romeo kills Tybalt at the monument in the streets of Verona Beach to avenge Mercutio. This exhibits his love towards his fallen friend. To add on, Romeo’s overwhelming love for Juliet allows him to fight his way through the police and the chaotic atmosphere to reach Capel's monument. This shows Romeo’s love to meet Juliet again is beyond his willingness to face death straight on. Additionally, Romeo sneaks into the Capulet’s mansion to speak of his love for Juliet. He states, “And but thou love me, let them find me here. / My life were better ended by their hate / Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love” (II.ii.75-77). He expresses that if Juliet’s love was not returned, he would rather die than live without Juliet’s love, thus showing love connects to the tragedy of death. In conclusion, Romeo’s compassion for Mercutio and his love for Juliet show that love guides people to make decisions that inevitably result in the outcome of
Love has already overcome him and controls all of his thoughts and actions. This love prevents Mercutio from saving Romeo and keeping peace between the families. In Act 3, scene 1, Mercutio fights Tybalt on behalf of Romeo and his relationship with Romeo. Romeo attempts to break up the fight, but Tybalt stabs Mercutio. As he is dying, Mercutio says, "A plague o' both your houses!
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet focus on the two young lovers, Romeo and Juliet, who fall in love and die within a span of three days. Romeo and Juliet illustrate how the love brings them together to over power the control of their relationship. The moment that Romeo and Juliet declare their love for one another, they try to keep their love a secret since they are the children of the feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Initially their families would be outraged against their relationship that Romeo and Juliet propose to hide the truth of their love. Once Romeo and Juliet reveal to the Nurse and Friar Lawrence their plans to marry, their relationship is nothing but a risk of problems. Romeo is unafraid to show his love that he teases Tybalt teasing him about falling in love with Juliet, although not explicitly. However, the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt, occur when Romeo and Juliet take actions to protect themselves, but they are not however, protected. Juliet protects her relationship by committing a false death only for Romeo to believe it as true. As a result, the act to protect Romeo and Juliet’s relationship a secret are examples of the failed actions both Romeo and Juliet try to prevent; however, it is not ‘fate’ that control their lives and deaths.
Secondly Tybalt sends a decree for a fight and he kills Mercutio. This is shown by “I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I”. This reveals that Mercutio wants to have a fight with Tybalt. Tybalt wants to have a fight with Romeo the most but Mercutio gets in the way. Mercutio feels that he must stand by the Montague’s. He feels he needs to be a true Montague and fight. Romeo retaliates and kills Tybalt in anger and revenge for his friend. This is apparent in the line “Either thou or I, or both, must go with him. This conveys that Romeo felt he had to get revenge for Mercutio but he really didn’t mean to kill Tybalt and couldn’t believe that he’d actually done it.
In contrast, Mercutio attempts to stop Tybalt’s thirst for vengeance when he tries to duel Romeo but ultimately gets killed in the process of trying to save his good friend from being killed by Tybalt which causes Romeo to take vengeance upon Tybalt by killing him.
The word love can mean many things. Love can be an object, emotion, and a life. However, love could lead to a loss of power, prosperity, and status. In the literary work “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare, the readers are introduced to a tragic love story. In this play, readers are also shown the different perspectives of love and the many downfalls it could lead to. The central theme of this work is the recklessness of love. The theme is significant because it is shown throughout the whole story and it’s a strong force that takes place of all the other emotions and values. In this play, Shakespeare uses characters to present different aspects of love. In addition, Nurse, Mercutio, and Romeo completely show what actual love is and what it is like to lose it due to their experiences.
One of the relationships that Shakespeare uses to demonstrate how young love can often cost people other important relationships is the friendship of Romeo and Mercutio. An angry Mercutio, after just being stabbed by Tybalt, yells at Romeo “A plague o’ / both your houses! Why the / devil came you between us? I was hurt under your / arm” (Shakespeare 3.1.103-104, 106-108). Close friends often confide in each other by sharing their problems, secrets, and relationship desires. By knowing these things, friends can help stand up for their friend when they are in tough times. Romeo does not do this with his friend Mercutio. Instead of sharing his feelings and the news of his marriage with Juliet, Romeo closes himself off from Mercutio. Mercutio then stands up and challenges Tybalt because he thinks that he is helping Romeo maintain his pride, not knowing that Romeo wishes that Mercutio would not fight Tybalt because Tybalt is his new cousin. This lack of communication leads Mercutio to say that “both your houses” were “plagued” and that he believes that Romeo was equally responsible for his death. This relationship could have been saved if Romeo’s love for Juliet had not closed him off from his friend, showing that Shakespeare believes that love can cost a person other relationships. Shakespeare also shows this idea