Mercutio Essay

What is a true friendship? Romeo from the play Romeo and Juliet, by Shakespeare, has several people he can truly call his friend. Mercutio, someone who can make him laugh; Benvolio, someone who can listen and empathize with his problems; and Friar Lawrence, someone who can give advice and help in a time of need. Qualities Mercutio has is his humor and ability to make others laugh. When heading to the Capulet’s feast Romeo expresses that he feels nervous as he had a bad dream, so Mercutio says, “And so did I [dreamt a dream]...dreamers often lie.” (1.4.52). This is a pun, lie, as in the position you are in as you sleep; and lie, when you tell the untruth; meaning that dreams often don’t reflect reality. Mercutio uses a joke to ease Romeo's worries and lighten the mood.

Romeo, after not seeing them since the party, finally meets up with Mercutio and Benvolio, where they make jokes at each other. Mercutio comments, “Why, isn’t this better than groaning for love?” (2.4.91). Mercutio points out that Romeo is laughing instead of sulking in his room about Rosaline. This demonstrates how Romeo is a lot happier with his friends and Mercutio. All in all, Mercutio offers great companionship to Romeo, and it can be easily understood why Romeo values their friendship greatly. Benvolio is a very kind-hearted individual who listens and empathizes with Romeo’s plight. At the beginning of the play, a conversation between Romeo and Benvolio reveals that the reason that Romeo has been distant lately was, because of love troubles. Romeo asks why Benvolio doesn’t laugh at him, to which Benvolio replies, “No, coz, I rather weep” (1.1.176). He could brush off Romeo’s feelings and not think another thought of it, but Benvolio is instead saddened by the mere fact his friend is sad, so we can conclude that he has a great deal of