Mercutio Essay

The play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, set in Verona in the thirteenth century, follows the two characters Romeo and Juliet, star-crossed lovers born into two warring families: the Montague and the Capulets. It follows the progression of their relationship leading up to their unfortunate but necessary death. While the play primarily revolves around the lovers, the tragedy of the story begins with the death of a prominent secondary character, Mercutio. Mercutio, a close friend of Romeo who appears four times in the play, is known for his wit, humor, and liveliness. He serves as a distraction from the intense love, as he brings comedy to the play. Although Mercutio initially appears to be a lively, elated character, each time he appears his exuberant facade fades to

Mercutio only delivers this section of the speech to entertain; he uses magical language, and his charming, likable characteristics shine through. While his fairytale is lighthearted and playful as he describes the fairy queen, he uses darker imagery as well, describing her with insect imagery, hinting at some of Mercutio’s more undesirable qualities. Although his goal is to be playful, his esoteric knowledge marks him as an outsider. As playful as he begins, however, Mercutio’s speech becomes more critical as he continues. While the second section of the Queen Mab speech still has a magical and clairvoyant feel, it has an undertone of contempt. Mercutio talks of the different dreams that Mab brings, but his tone shifts from whimsical to serious. He delves into a scathing critique of the power structure of the world. His critique of lawyers is evident when he states, “O’er lawyers’ fingers, who dream on fees” (1.4.78). Mercutio highlights that those in positions of power prioritize their wealth and personal gain over their work and passion. His thoughts highlight his unique perspective on the