Literary Devices In Romeo And Juliet

In Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, the quick-witted character Mercutio “is a notorious scene-stealer” (Utterback 105). Mercutio’s major function in the play is to be a catalyst for the plot. Mercutio’s purpose as a character is most significantly revealed in his relationship with Romeo, his baiting of Tybalt, and his death. More importantly, Mercutio functions as the catalyst for the pattern of disasters in the play that follows his own tragic death, making him, as described by critic Stephen Greenblatt “a spirit that seems to challenge the very possibility of romantic love or tragic destiny” (856).

In Act I, Scene iv, Romeo was complaining to Mercutio about how “[Romeo] dreamt a dream tonight” and it gave him a bad feeling about going to the Capulet’s masquerade (I, iv, 50). Mercutio replied with “True, I talk of dreams; which are the children of idle brains” (I, iv, 98). Mercutio is telling Romeo to do something rather than be depressed about Rosaline rejecting him. Mercutio is telling Romeo to find someone new and forget about Rosaline. Romeo should go to the party and find someone to help him forget about Rosaline.

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.

Will you pluck your sword out of his pitcher by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out."(Romeo and Juliet ACT 3 Part 2)When Tybalt agreed to fight with Mercutio instead they move closer to eachother and began to fight.Romeo jumps in to stop them from fighting stating beat down their weapons.--Gentlemen, for shame! forbear this outrage!-- Tybalt,--Mercutio,--the prince expressly hath or bid this bandying in Verona streets.-- hold Tybalt!--good Mercutio!--"(Romeo and Juliet part 3)in that case Marcutio was already Stabbed and hurt by Tybalt as he ran away with his other mens.Benvolio and Romeo tried to help him and all Mercuitio was saying was that it was only a scratch.As Romeo encourage's Mercutio to stay alive he says"Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much"(Romeo and Juliet Act 1 Part 3)mercutio was explaining how he ended up getting stabbed and he was was stabbed under Romeo' arm and how he wouldnt be abel to survive till tommorro stating"No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door; ut 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man."(Romeo and Juliet Act 3 Part 3)When Benvolio brings Mercutio into a house where Mercutio would be safe in Romeo was left alone.Benvolio came back to Romeo saying that Mercutio had died "O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead!That gallant spirit hath aspir'd the clouds,Which too untimely here did scorn the earth."(Romeo and Juliet Act 3 Part 3)Romeo knew this would be a far worse problem for him and that Tybalt was going to continue to Threaten on killing

This foreshadows that Tybalt will seek revenge on Romeo and he does, by killing Mercutio. The next time Romeo and Tybalt meet, they duel, and Romeo kills

He mopes, “Give me a torch. I am not for this ambling./ Being but heavy, I will bear the light” (I.iv.11-12), and, “I have a soul of lead./ So stakes me to the ground I cannot move” (I.iv.15-16). The first attempts to cheer him up weren’t successful at all, so Mercutio thought up of the tale of Queen Mab. He then turns it into a speech that didn’t seem like much at first, but it unraveled to showcase the fact that the dreams Romeo had were meaningless and that he needed to let himself be happy. When Mercutio’s monologue is abruptly cut off by Romeo telling him that he “talk’st of nothing” (I.iv.95-96), Mercutio replies in a predicted sardonic tone, “True. I talk of dreams” (I.iv.97). This refers back before the speech when Romeo announced he had a dream. Mercutio wants to try and let the dream pass by as if it were nothing and just enjoy the party. He taunts Romeo for not being able to choose whether he should be happy or depressed over something as meaningless as a

In this part of the play, Romeo, along with Mercurio and other Montagues, is about to crash a Capulet party. Before entering the home, Romeo says, “I fear, too early; for my mind misgives / Some consequence yet hanging in the stars / Shall bitterly begin his fearful date.” (1.4.106-108). In this quote Romeo is telling Mercurio that he had a dream in which something bad happens at the Capulet party. Dismissing the thought, Mercurio heads into the party with a very timid Romeo.

“Alive in triumph and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now” (Act 3. i. 124-126). When Mercutio was slain to death by Tybalt, Romeo filled with rage. The anger that Romeo was feeling took control of what he was going to do next.

During scene four in act one, Mercutio and Romeo discuss their differing ideas on dreams. Through this discussion, the scene is laid for the rest of the play of how Romeo and Mercutio oppose one another. They begin a back and forth conversation about dreams when

Mercutio thinks that Romeo will not answer Tybalt’s challenge to fight him as he states that “Romeo is already dead.” (2.4.14) Mercutio doesn’t feel confident for Romeo. Mercutio also says that Romeo’s white wench’s black eye shot him with a love song which cut his blind bow-boy’s butt shaft. When saying this, Mercutio is referring to how Rosaline blinds Romeo’s with his love even though Romeo loves Juliet much more. Mercutio’s words here can also mean that Rosaline/Juliet has taken Romeo’s concentration, virginity or even manhood and that Romeo doesn’t have what it takes to fight. Mercutio also remarks that “And is he a man to encounter Tybalt,” questioning if Romeo has the guts to forget about love and defend himself and his honor as a man. Mercutio’s comments allow Shakespeare’s audience to question Romeo’s masculinity. His dialogue also exemplifies Mercutio’s sense of humor as well as his minimal respect towards

Mercutio’s wittiness towards Romeo is prevalent in a majority of his actions. When Mercutio mocks Romeo's vision of love and the poetic devices he uses to express his emotions: Romeo, Humors! Madman! Passion! Lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh, Speak but

The play "Romeo and Juliet" was written between 1589 and 1595. Mercutio was a key character in the play and all of the audience enjoyed Mercutio's scenes. The rudeness appealed to the groundlings and the word play appealed to the more educated. Mercutio is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's 1597 tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. He is a close friend to Romeo and a blood relative to Prince Esauls and Count Paris. Mercutio mocks Romeo’s vision of love and the poetic devices he uses to express his emotions. Mercutio character is described as loyal, devoted, funny and witty. He is an anti-romantic character who likes Juliet’s nurse, regards love as an exclusively physical pursuit. For Mercutio love means sex and women are born to please men. Mercutio thinks that dreams are like illusions meant to tempt men’s souls fall apart when he wakes. Mercutio is neither a Montague nor a Couplet. Because he is a friend of Romeo, he stands on Montague’s side.

Mercutio’s foreshadowing is brought together with the conclusion of his speech where he claims, the dreams procured by Queen Mab are “begot of nothing but vain fantasy,/which is as thin of substance as the air/and more inconsistent than the wind” (1.4.96-98). This quote, while harsh, is startlingly accurate in describing Romeo’s mental state. Throughout the play Mercutio is presented as a tether to the physical world, seeing every event in a primal, carnal manner. In this way he is the complete opposite of Romeo, and therefore balances out the reckless and insubstantial nature of Romeo’s idealistic

Mercutio speaks of the evils of love and how it should be forgotten, whilst attempts to console him. As Romeo enters the party, against Mercutio’s wishes, he says that : “I fear too early, for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars” (Shakespeare 1.4. 113-14). Romeo is insightfully foreshadowing the deaths of both him and Juliet as per the fault of fate, even before he meets Juliet at the masquerade

In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, many events take place to define this literary work as a tragedy. From the death of star-crossed lovers to the ancient grudge between two opposing families, every aspect of the play is tainted with misfortune. The contributing factors to the tragedy are the difficulty of getting information across clearly, letting emotions overpower rationality, and destiny being the superior power in the lives of the characters.