William Shakespeare 's Romeo And Juliet

In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the character Mercutio is a foil for Romeo. They are both young men who enjoy each other's company and meet their death in this tragedy. Romeo is an impulsive, hopelessly dramatic romantic who overreacts to most life events. While Mercutio is more realistic, grounded, carefree and serious, although he can be impulsive. With Mercutio being a foil for Romeo, it is easy to see Romeo's dramatic and tragic life story as compared to the more calmer tragic ending for Mercitio.

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.

To begin with, Mercutio is a good friend to Romeo in that he stands up for Romeo when in need. In Act III, Scene I, there is a scene in which Tybalt, Mercutio, and Romeo are conversing. In lines 59-60, Tybalt says, “Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a villain.” This

Whether it is crude humor or a witty remark, Mercutio amuses readers over the course of the play. Towards the beginning of the play,

Romeo’s lovesick moping for Rosaline sparks a need for a wild rant within Mercutio. Mercutio taunts and mocks Romeo, for his dream which tells him they should not crash the Capulet’s party. This, in the end, all falls back on the theme of fate. As a result, Mercutio’s rant persuades Romeo to attend the party because after all, dreams are ridiculous and not always truthful. Additionally, Mercutio is suggesting that, like Queen Mab, dreams (specifically Romeo’s) are petty and insignificant. All of this takes place in Act once Scene four. The purpose of this speech is to add comic relief amongst the tragic events, whilst foreshadowing what’s to come. Romeo is constructed as a juvenile character with a dreamy nature, who is romantic and lovesick , in comparison to his best friend, Mercutio, who takes on the role as a comedic, volatile, pessimistic and sharp-witted personality.

Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh: Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied; Cry but 'Ay me!' pronounce but 'love' and 'dove;' Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word… I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes, By her high forehead and her scarlet lip, By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh And the demesnes that there adjacent lie, That in thy likeness thou appear to us!" (Act 2, Scene 1) Benvolio warns Mercutio that if Romeo could hear, "thou wilt anger him." (Act 2, Scene 1) It is evident in this scene that Mercutio sees Romeo's "love" as fickle as he was droning on and on about his

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.

The ways that Romeo and Mercutio behave serve a purpose to point out one another's good and bad attributes.Tybalt, angry at Romeo for attending the Capulet party, demands Romeo fight him. Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt saying his love him instead. Outraged, Mercutio says.” ‘ O calm dishonourable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away, Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?’”(3.1.44-46). Romeo

He is quick to act before he thinks in Act III, Scene I when he announces “I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I,” (Shakespeare 426). Unlike Benvolio, Mercutio does not back down when Tybalt challenges him to fight. Mercutio has a sense of humor and often makes fun of Romeo when he is in love and heartbroken. He shows his comedic side when he jokes about Romeo being a mad lover, and teases him about not being over Rosaline (Shakespeare

In literature, characters may inhabit exaggerated characteristics, whether physically or behaviorally. In Shakespeare’s writing of Romeo and Juliet, he uses this with all characters. In particular with Mercutio and his overly exaggerated behavior. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses Mercutio’s jest towards Benvolio and insults to Tybalt and the Capulet name in order to reveal Mercutio as a careless and hotheaded character.

Although Mercutio is just a secondary character, he is known to be the entertainer of the show. He only appears in four scenes, but his character sets an impact on the play. Mercutio portrayed positive character traits in Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet,” such as being humorous, loyal, and brave, which in turn causes many different outputs in the play.

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

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare mixes humor and seriousness through characters like Mercutio, whose personality contrasted with Romeo’s, which helps create a larger impact for tragedies, more intense dramatic irony and can lighten the mood in some instances. Mercutio can be described as larger than life and silly, which brings out a different side of Romeo and impacts the entire play. Throughout the play Mercutio expressed his true opinion on things like love and dreams, which often contrasted with Romeo’s beliefs. These things brought out different sides of each other. Mercutio was an anti romantic and mocked Romeos thoughts often.

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.

American humorist Erma Bombeck once said, “There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.” This is especially true in William Shakespeare’s works. Even his tragedies have aspects of humor and comic relief in them! A wonderful example of this is in his famous Elizabethan tragedy Romeo and Juliet. While some may view this play as being simply a dark tale of young love, scenes of comic relief are actually plentiful and come before, after, and even during scenes of the more tragic and serious variety. These scenes do not only add emotional levity but also give the reader a chance to connect with the characters and Shakespeare a chance to show off his wit and love for clever wordplay. Without these