Placing the Blame
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet truly becomes a tragedy once Mercutio, Romeo’s close friend, is killed by the hand of Tybalt. Multiple claims could be made regarding who is responsible for Mercutio’s death, but he himself is ultimately to blame. Once Tybalt approaches him, Mercutio begins to instigate. The heat at the time of this scene was hardly bearable, making matters worse as Mercutio quickly becomes irritable. He made insulting comments and aggravating remarks, pushing Tybalt to the point of fighting. However, Romeo enters the scene and attempts to end the fighting completely by acting calmly even after being called a villain. Mercutio is utterly disgusted by Romeo not standing up for himself, for he says, “O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away” (3.1.76-77). By saying this, he shows that he feel as if Romeo is afraid
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Some may argue that it was not his fault that he was killed, for the prolonged feud between the two households, Montague and Capulet, could be considered the reason for the fight and death. In being rivals for so long, the households grew to violently despise the other. This led to Tybalt's desire to duel with Romeo, for he hated him for no reason except his last name. If the households were not enemies, neither would Tybalt and Romeo. Mercutio, right before his death, said, “A plague o’ both your houses! I am sped,” (3.1.95) showing that he blames the households for his death. Yet, if he would have just accepted Romeo’s desire to be at peace with Tybalt, he would have still been alive. Just because the feud produced hatred between the opposing families does not mean that Mercutio had to be a victim of it. He could have avoided his fate by making less impulsive decisions, proving that the only one who is undoubtedly responsible for his death is Mercutio