Mercutio's Death in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Mercutio steps in to protect his friend, Romeo, from the dangers of the villainous Tybalt Capulet. Unfortunately, Mercutio dies in both versions of Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," never making it to the end of the story lines. However, Mercutio dies portrayed as a hero in Luhrmann's portrayal of "Romeo and Juliet," by attempting to save Romeo from Tybalt, unlike in the play, where he is seen as the joker he has always been. Mercutio's portrayal as a hero probably occurred because of Luhrmann's dislike of the way Mercutio died in the play. Nonetheless, Mercutio still suffered the same fate that occurred to him in both versions.

Mercutio’s death scene in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is often overlooked due to the emphasis on Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. However, the scene showcases a variety of different literary devices such as satire and irony to convey these thematic topics to further develop the plot and theme, making it very important to the play.

When Romeo finds out about Juliet’s “death” he believes he has all the facts. He suddenly makes the decision to kill himself, aided by poison. “Romeos best speech is perhaps the one he delivers in the tomb; with it he gives dignity, meaning, and finality to the one act he plans and executes” (Huntley). The speech and characters of the play have been depicted all throughout music, literature, dance, and theater. There’s a certain musical flow and intense alternation of mood that enliven the speech. Mercutio is a big part of this. When Romeo needs guidance, Mercutio is there quickly giving him advice worth hearing. In fact, some believe the wisest words in the entire play are said by him.

Mercutio is the best friend of Romeo Montague in William Shakespeare’s, Romeo and Juliet. He is known as the life of the party, because he’s lighthearted and always fun to be around. Mercutio’s death brings about a lot of chaos for Verona but, because of his childish ways, he’s responsible for his own death. He never took anything seriously, couldn’t control his anger, and he never walked away from altercations, he had to have the last word.

Mercutio? How could he blame for such a thing like this? He was one of Romeo’s best friends and only wanted the best for him. Mercutio doesn’t seem to be a person to cause the deaths of Romeo and Juliet,

Another role that Mercutio plays in determining the outcome of the play is Mercutio dies in the figth with Tybolt. In act 3, scene 1, lines 127-130, Romeo says "; for Mercutio soul is but a little ways above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or both, must go with him." Romeo is saying that Mercutio is dead and that one of us, or both has to go keep Mercutio company. When Romeo knows that Mercutio is dead because of Tybolt he goes after him. This then leads to Romeo killing Tybolt, which gets him banished from Verona by the Prince.

At first, he is described as a jocular person who often use vulgar jokes. However, he accepts a challenge from Tybalt and because of this duel he dies although Romeo stands Tybalt’s provocation. Moreover, after Mercutio’s death, Romeo kills Tybalt, and he is banished from Verona. Because of Mercutio’s foolish action, “Romeo and Juliet” starts to be tragic.

He goes into a very long speech about ‘Queen Mab’, how she gives them dreams about love and how her chariot is a hazelnut shell. The whole speech is filled with funny sentences and anecdotes. It gives Romeo and all of his friends a lighter mood before they attend the supper. Mercutio is important to this story because he has the ability to make everybody laugh no matter how dire the situation is. The numerous depressing events are lightened by his humor. Mercutio is also significant because of his amazing loyalty to Romeo. He is not related to Romeo in any way, but he acts like a big brother. He is quick to defend him when Tybalt (a Capulet) talks about Romeo in a negative way and calls him a villain in front of him. “O calm dishonourable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away. (draws his sword) Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?”(Shakespeare 3.1.72-75). Tybalt says one word about Romeo and Mercutio is enraged, with his sword, ready to fight. He argues back at Tybalt, saying his words are vile, which he feels very strongly about because he ready to kill him. He realizes that Romeo keeps protesting and doesn't want

The first two acts of Romeo and Juliet are comedic in nature: sexual humor, lovers kept apart by a feud, and much wordplay. This period ends, however, with Mercutio’s death, the first death of the play. This is especially important not just because it tells of events to come, but also because Mercutio is from neither the Capulet nor Montague households, but from the house of the Prince. Therefore, his death is not just the first death of the play, but an innocent death, only connected to the feud because of his friendships with Romeo and Benvolio. Following the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt, the enmity and tension of the two houses climaxes. With Mercutio’s innocent death, the tragic part of the play begins: brash, ill-advised actions on the parts of the protagonists eventually lead to their downfall. Both due to acting as a turning point, and an influence on Romeo, Mercutio leaves a lasting mark on the play, changing its course and leading to its eventual

The playwright uses him to show the reader that the protagonist is not as perfect as one can imagine. He is a character who plays a crucial role in bringing out the traits in Romeo by his dramatic use of words. At one point, he thinks Romeo should not get ahead with Juliet, but Romeo ignores him. In fact, Romeo describes Mercutio as a man who likes hearing himself talk more than he will stand. This shows that Romeo is a man who is blind in love, and nothing can make him shift his focus on Juliet.

“Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford No better term than this: thou art a villain.” said Tybalt. Me, a villain? How dare he call me that name? Does he know about me and beautiful Juliet? He can’t know. These are the only things that blow through my mind. I respond as if he knows nothing.

Mercutio is a funny character who is made to entertain the audience with his sarcasm, wit, and banter. In all of his scenes he is never very serious, almost always making jokes, even in his final moments as he is dying he continues to make puns. He also has a feisty, hotheaded side which is shown when he challenges Tybalt to a duel. Mercutio is very much the antithesis of Romeo. Romeo is a sweet, passionate romantic which contrasts Mercutio’s sarcastic personality and cynical views on love.

His tone is very sarcastic, full of humor and not serious at all, but can get very serious like when talking to Capulets. Mercutio jokes around a lot with his friends and loves to have fun. When interacting with the Capulets, he is very hateful and wants to kill them. Loving and compassionate towards Montagues but taunts and makes fun of Capulets. The other shows this in the play when he throws insults at the Capulets and badly wants to kill Tybalt. He shows love for

Mercutio tries to persuade Romeo to set his lovelorn sorrow aside over Rosaline and to come along to the Capulet feast. Romeo replies that he is despondent because of a dream, Mercutio then launches a lengthy, playful depiction of Queen Mab, the fairy who apparently brings dreams to sleeping humans.

Mercutio is a funny, dirty, out of control, and well some would kind of compare him to Romeo, but Juliet will call him wimpy. He is a minor character in this play but personality has such a disproportionate impact that maybe he has to die or he would take over the play. In this play he is needing Romeo to dance and basically the first thing he says is “Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down”. In other words-the best way to cure a broken heart is to have sex.