Essay The Memorable Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio plays a very important role because of his impulsivity and loyalty to his friends. The first picture I used to illustrate Mercutio’s role in the story was a picture of a dog, because dogs are a very common symbol of loyalty, and the one of the main aspects of Mercutio’s personality is his loyalty to Romeo. In act three, Mercutio believes that Tybalt is insulting Romeo and attempts to defend his friend, leading to his own death. The second picture I chose was that of a smiling joker. I chose this because Mercutio is a very facetious character without a serious bone in his body. Most of his dialogue is joking around, for example, when he says “to hide her face, for the fan’s/ the fairer of the two”

*One of Sshakespeare's purpose is to show the effects of all types of violence. Mercutio is a character who has uncontrolled emotions, is rash and has a hot-blooded temper. It is his rashness and bad temper that causes not only his own death, but also Romeo and Juliet’s.

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.

A story about arranged marriage, death, and feuding families leaves little to no room for lightheartedness, but Mercutio embraces a humorous approach to bad situations. Even amidst Romeo’s sulking and sadness about his love life, Mercutio pokes fun and commands that “If love be rough with you, be rough with love; prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.” (I.iiii.27-28). Mercutio is telling Romeo to be equally as hurtful

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!

The relationship that Mercutio has with Romeo is sturdy in all areas except love. This opposition can clearly be seen when Montague talks about Romeo’s depression over Roseline. “And private in his chamber pens himself, shuts up his windows,

When Romeo is low-spirited, Mercutio is happy, positive, and ready to enjoy life. In the beginning of “Romeo and Juliet,” Romeo is depressed. Romeo’s father, Lord Montague asks Benvolio to find out what is upsetting his son. At this time, the Capulets, the family that the Montagues have been feuding with for a very long time, is throwing a party. Mercutio and Benvolio plan to take Romeo to the Capulets’ party to help him find happiness. Mercutio does his best to attempt and raise his friend’s spirits by saying “… gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.” Romeo responds “Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes with nimble soles; I have a soul of lead so stakes me to the ground I cannot move.” Then Mercutio says “You are a lover. Borrow Cupid’s wings and soar with them above a common bound.” (A1SIV) As Romeo states more reasons why he should not go to the party, Mercutio tells Romeo to

Mercutio can also portray the jester because he is humorous. He always steals the show, he doesn’t believe in true love and then mocks Romeo about it. These are just some examples. William Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet” Mercutio is humorous because he sais Tybalt is going to be dead with his “nine lives”:

In one if William Shakespeare's plays, "Romeo and Juliet", Mercutio, Romeo's best friend, makes a speech, the Queen Mab speech. According to Mercutio, Queen Mab is a tiny, mischievous fairy that rides around in an "empty hazelnut" as a chariot, drawn by a "team of little atomi" (I.IV. 59-69) and makes sleepers dream about good or bad things, for example, love. “Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love; On curtsies straight; o’er lawyer’ fingers, who straight dream of fees: o’er ladies’ lips, who straight on kisses dreams…” (I.IV.74-77)

Mercutio’s death works as a catalyst for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. From the moment that Mercutio is stabbed by Tybalt, the actual tragedy aspect of the play begins. Up to Mercutio’s death, the play follows a rather light-hearted, dramatized tone, but once his death plays out, the plot turns to focus on the misfortunes of the rest of the characters. Following Mercutio’s death, Romeo hints at the disasters to come by saying, “This day’s black fate on more days doth depend. This but begins the woe others must end (3.1.124-125)”. Moments after Mercutio’s death, Romeo is already aware of what troubles will arise. As Mercutio is held as Romeo’s stability, Romeo knows that something will begin from the end of Mercutio. As Mercutio’s death plays out, both Mercutio and Romeo are correct in the sense of their knowledge of Mercutio’s death being held as a catalyst, even if no one else does. If Romeo had died in the fight rather than Mercutio, the tragedy would not have happened, as Mercutio is more levelheaded than Romeo, and would have made sure the situation

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 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.

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

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

Mercutio is a relative of the prince and friend to Romeo. He is an eloquent man and becomes the center of attention whenever he appears in the play. It seems like he dominates Romeo with his teasing and irony. He mocks Romeo as he thinks he is too sentimental and tells him how foolish he is; he turns all of Romeo’s thought about love into sexual metaphors.