The Dramatic Effectiveness of Act III Scene I of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare uses Mercutio fighting for Romeo to prove that love causes people to act rashly. Mercutio, throughout the play is a loyal friend to Romeo. He knows that after the party at the Capulet’s, Tybalt is unpleased with Romeo and even challenges him. Mercutio and Benvolio are discussing the conflict between Tybalt and Romeo when Mercutio describes Tybalt as this, “More than prince of cats...the very butcher of a silk button,” (Shakespeare 2.4.20,24). Mercutio uses “prince of cats” to describe Tybalt as a good swordsman. Cats are nimble and quick, and according to Mercutio,

One of the reasons Mercutio is most responsible for the tragedies in this play is that he is the one who convinces Romeo to go to the party at the Capulets. This is what started the chain of events that led up to the deaths of himself, Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt and Mrs. Montague. Mercutio tells Romeo that he is a lover. Borrow Cupids wings and soar with them above a common bound”

First, Romeo’s kind and calm personalities act as an advantage for many of the possible problems he could have had, such as Capulet hatred towards him and his increase in violence. After Romeo was depressed because he liked Rosaline and she didn’t like him back, his cousin Benvolio helped Romeo sneak into a Capulet party so he could get over Rosaline and pick another woman that he might want. As Romeo was describing how Juliet looked to his cousin, Tybalt, Capulet’s nephew, figured out that Romeo was at the party by his voice. He then confronted Capulet and asked him if he could kill him, but surprisingly Capulet lets him stay at the party and calls Romeo a gentleman and a good man (Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 1 Line 64). Capulet could have captured him or even killed him, but he did not. Capulet stated that Romeo is a well-governed youth and that Romeo is a good man, which shows that Romeo isn’t a person who would cause a commotion and that he causes no threat to the Capulet family. Later on, as Mercutio, the prince's kinsman, is arguing and fighting with Tybalt about him being one of his villain Romeo’s friends, Romeo comes in and says, “Tybalt, the reason I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such greeting. Villain am I none.Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not” (Shakespeare Act 3 Scene 1 Line 58). As Tybalt wants to fight Romeo and bring in violence,

something make it a word and a blow’. Here we can see that he is

Moments before, Romeo thinks that he could never harm Tybalt, as he has married Juliet, Tybalt now his kin. Romeo states that he “love[s] [Tybalt] better than [Tybalt] canst devise” (3.1.70). But by the death of his dear friend, instead of his love for Tybalt, his heart now despises him. His anger is shown when “for Mercutio’s soul is but a little way above [their] heads,” as his hate is born towards Tybalt, whom he had just moments before loved, stating that “[his] name [he] tender as dearly” as his own (3.1.72-73,131-132). His hate turns murderous as he tells Tybalt that Mercutio is “staying for thine to keep him company” (3.1.133). As Romeo states that “thou or I, or both, must go with him” (3.1.134), the duel breaks out, leaving Tybalt slain, his kinsmen now his foe. The hate and revenge that Romeo felt caused love to turn to zeal for Tybalt's blood. His belief that he must not hurt his kinsmen but love him, the reminder that fights were not allowed by the prince, ended with the spilled blood of Mercutio. The death of his friend turned love to hate, the hate that killed

This causes tension as Tybalt and Mercutio become even more frustrated with Romeo. Mercutio draws his sword in order to defend Romeos reputation. He says “Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?” challenging him to a duel. A feeling of foreboding hangs in the air.

Next, in act three, scene one, after Romeo and Juliet are secretly married, Romeo watches his best friend, Mercutio, die at Tybalt's enraged hands. Tybalt is Juliet's faithful cousin who had gotten angry with Romeo because Romeo and his friends had gone to the Capulet Masquerade Ball without permission and had also gotten away with it. The movie had shown Mercutio collapsing on a flight of

Tybalt is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because he doesn't like Romeo and is always trying to start a fight with him. Tybalt states “ Romeo, the love i bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a villian.... Boy this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done to me; therefore turn and draw “ ( 145 ). In act 3 when Tybalt is trying to pick a fight again Romeo responds with patience and love but when Mercutio steps in everything starts heading downhill. Romeo tries to stop the fight which consequently leads to Mercutio's death. Romeo, full of rage kills Tybalt in return and this is what leads to his banishment. As a result of Tybalt's foolishness he is dead and Romeo has to now suffer the banishment. The banishment is the final straw for Romeo so when he hears Juliet is dead he already isn't thinking straight and doesn't have Friar to turn to this

This example only gives the audience a teasing taste for what is about to happen as a result of Tybalt’s short temper. Fast forwarding to act three, Tybalt’s impulsive behavior is far more drastic and impactful to the play this time around. At the town square of Verona, Tybalt and his compatriots run into Mercutio and Romeo. Still infuriated by Romeo’s presence at his family’s ball, Tybalt decides to vent his anger by challenging Romeo to battle him. When Romeo backs away, Mercutio steps in and fights with Tybalt. After a while of fighting, the distressed Romeo steps in to break it up, but, “Tybalt, reaching under Romeo’s arm, stabs Mercutio and flees” (3.1.82). Mercutio announces that, “I am hurt” (3.1.83), and eventually dies. After witnessing his friend be slaughtered, Romeo seeks revenge on Tybalt, and subsequently slays the murderer of his best friend. As a result of Romeo’s actions, the inamorato is banished to Mantua. When putting the pieces together, the audience watching the play can see how Tybalt, and not Romeo, is responsible for the banishment. Romeo was simply seeking to avenge the life of his friend, while Tybalt’s actions were a direct result of violent thinking. Tybalt’s choice to fight and kill one of the play’s main characters highlights the high degree of his vicious personality. Tybalt’s actions end up dooming the peaceful partnership of Romeo and Juliet and thus the outcome of the play takes a turn for the

“And but one word with one of us? couple it with something, make it a word and a blow.” [III, i, 37-38] Tybalt was not willing to fight mercutio if mercutio had not escalated tybalt's anger. Moreover, Mercutio could have avoided this situation if he had showed respect in return.This comes to show how mercutio had made impulsive decisions instead of making rational decisions. As a result, we can see Mercutio's death occurs due to his rash and impulsive decisions. Mercutio’s impulsive acts result in his own passing. When Romeo refuses to participate in a duel with Tybalt, Mercutio challenges Tybalt himself. Using words which are highly intimidating and threatening, Mercutio gives Tybalt no choice but to engage in a duel. The following violent words are exchanged between the two characters.

In Act 3, Mercutio and Benvolio are out walking in Verona. Benvolio asks Mercutio to go inside before an incident like before happens again with the Capulet. Mercutio tells him to stop criticizing others and that not all Capulet are going to want to start a fight. Tybalt then enters the scene. Tybalt approaches the two Montague men and asks to speak with one of them. Mercutio, not very happy with Tybalt speaking to them, starts to mess with him. Romeo enters next. Tybalt starts talking to Romeo and calls him a villain. Romeo tries to keep peace with Tybalt as he asks Romeo to draw his sword. Mercutio decides to fight Tybalt since Romeo does not want to. The two men fight. Romeo interferes and tries to stop the fight. In doing so, Tybalt was able to get under Romeo’s arm and stab Mercutio, killing him. Before passing, Mercutio curses both families and Tybalt runs off. Romeo wants revenge on Tybalt. When Tybalt comes back, Romeo draws his sword and the two of them fight. Romeo ends up killing Tybalt and Benvolio tells him to leave the scene before many people start to notice. The prince enters the scene. Benvolio explains what happened. He also explains that Romeo was trying to keep peace, but Lady Capulet thinks he is lying. Prince decides to exile Romeo from Verona instead of giving death as a punishment.

When Romeo and Juliet are trying to convince Friar Lawrence to marry them, Friar Lawrence states, “Come, come with me, and we will make short work, for, by our leaves, you shall not stay alone till Holy Church incorporate two in one” (II.vi.35-37). Friar Lawrence does not want to leave Romeo and Juliet alone, so he’s rushing the marriage. He is setting the path for the next step in their relationship. Their marriage sets the stage for and leads to very horrible events that take place in all of their lives. Juliet begins to care more about Romeo then her own family. She felt that since Romeo was her husband, she had to stand by him, no matter what. After their marriage, Romeo runs into Tybalt and tries to show his love for him. Since he married Juliet, they are related. Tybalt makes the spontaneous decision to start a fight with Mercutio, Tybalt exclaims,” I am for you”. Mercutio replies,” Come, sir, your passado. (they fight)” ( III. i. 78 and 80). In the middle of the day with no intention to fight, both Tybalt and Mercutio draw their swords and fight to the death. This fight, where Tybalt wins and he kills Mercutio,

Bad luck is also shown in act 3 scene 1 when Mercutio is killed under

relentlessly to get rid of Romeo and even goes as far to say, ‘tis he,

Mercutio, despite the circumstances displays his lighthearted nature. The actor should speak in a mocking voice, tauntingly circling Tybalt who should react with restrained anger, clenched fists and a hand on his sword. Mercutcio continues this, ignoring benvolios vain attempts at keeping the peace, until Romeo enters from the corner of the stage. With his entrance Tybalt finally breaks out of Mercutcios circle to face Romeo. He should say the line "here