While not being a pivotal character in the beginning stages of the play, Mercutio's role takes a turn during the street brawl between the Montagues and the Capulets. When Tybalt, a Capulet, challenges Romeo to a duel, Mercutio steps in to challenge Tybalt to a duel because Romeo isn't. To anger Tybalt into fighting him, Mercutio provokes him, “O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! / Alla staccato carries it away. /
Mercutio sees Romeo’s refusal to fight Tybalt as an act of weakness, and refuses to standby while Tybalt continues to insult Romeo. Mercutio then decides to step in and he begins to fight Tybalt himself. Romeo steps between him, and Tybalt stabs Mercutio underneath Romeo’s arm, which results in Mercutio’s death.
The simmering brawl to protect their families pride between Tybalt and Mercutio, directly precipitates the chain of tragic events that lead to Romeo’s exile and the lovers’ death. Both Mercutio and Tybalt can be seen as complete mirror images of one another as they both are troublemakers, indignant, and both are loyal; Tybalt to protect his family and Mercutio to protect Romeo. William Shakespeare deliberately set up a character foil between Tybalt’s indignant and hotheadedness, and Romeo’s desire for peace and forgiveness to reinforce his point that hatred only leads to division and death. This is evident when Mercutio and Tybalt encounter in Act 3, Scene 1. Mercutio provokes
However, with this known to him, he requested that Tybalt “…pluck (his) sword out of his pilcher by the ears…”. This shows us that Mercutio was dashing and reckless, and loyal to his good friend, Romeo. However, Mercutio is soon left squabbling about how he “… (was) sped…” Through this, Shakespeare tells us that Mercutio’s character was foolish, and people like him wouldn’t lead a simple life. However, although the death of Mercutio was a big event in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the biggest turn of events was the death of
Mercutio decided to do this seeing that Tybalt came to challenge Romeo and he felt obligated to stand up on behalf of his friend. Instead of fighting in defense of Romeo, Mercutio could have used words to stand up for Romeo rather than fighting. By taking time to think about the best way to defend his friend, Mercutio could have prevented the pain that came from his death.
Even after Romeo's efforts to calm things down and make peace, Mercutio keeps on fighting, ignoring Romeo's attempts to stop him because he wants to stand up for his friend’s honor. This stubbornness from Mercutio leads to him being killed by Tybalt. Romeo, feeling furious and hurt by Mercutio's death, decides to take revenge on Tybalt by killing him. This connects their loyalty with the theme of conflict in the play because it is their allegiance to each other that causes their tragic
The scene could have went a different way with a different outcome, but instead there was an element of choice that led to Mercutio’s death. A key point in the chapter was when Tybalt insulted Romeo by saying, “thou art a villain” (II.i.63). When Shakespeare uses insults, people expect a retaliation attack or insult, but Romeo didn’t say anything. Tybalt knew what he said would trigger either Romeo or Mercutio and would ultimately cause a fight. What Tybalt said should’ve triggered Romeo to fight him, but instead he backed down which forced Mercutio to step up and defend Romeo.
Good Mercutio! ROMEO tries to break up the fight/ Tybalt stabs MERCUTIO under Romeo’s arm.”(3.1 81-85) This quote demonstrates that Romeo acts without thinking beforehand as if it weren’t for him trying to get in the way of the duel between Tybalt and Mercutio, Mercutio would have stood a better chance against Tybalt. If Mercutio would have won the duel Romeo would not have killed Tybalt in revenge and thus would not be banished from Verona causing him to be taken away from Juliet.
This is his way of telling Romeo to enjoy the Capulet party, and to look for new love prospects. Mercutio's encouragement attempts to lighten Romeo's mood and to not let him fall back into depression. Another example of Mercutio's love for Romeo is his willingness to fight on behalf of Romeo, resulting in his and Tybalt's unfortunate deaths. Despite Tybalt’s claim to have no dispute with Mercutio, he still intervenes to protect Romeo. Mercutio defends him because he knows Tybalt is a strong fighter and views Romeo as emotionally vulnerable.
Although, the consequences might be death, since they were threatened by Prince in the previous scene if they started another brawl. Shakespeare characterizes Mercutio as very childlike and violent through the use of tone and conflict, in Act 3 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare makes Mercutio seem like free spirited person, not knowing what to expect out of him next. With this in mind, the way Mercutio expresses himself tells it all. For example, when Mercutio explains how Benvolio has two sides to him, as well, he over exaggerates like a child would do to a parent.
In this speech we are also able to question his sanity. Mercutio was also a character that had a lot of honour for the Montague house, he was very noble towards Romeo in his final appearance in act 3 scene 1. Mercutio had a very comic personality and this was evident
Once Mercutio sees Tybalt he starts making fun of Tybalt, which results in a fight that Romeo tries to stop, now here he does have some thoughts since he knows what will happen if anyone fights or dies from the family conflict and he also just wants to stop the violence, but he doesn’t think it all the way through since he is trying to intervene in a fight between 2 grown men wielding swords and only have hate for each other, the result of this is Mercutio dying because Romeo got in the way and as revenge Romeo killing Tybalt. “This day’s black fate on more days doth depend; This but begins the woe others must end ''. (Shakespeare Act 3. Scene 1. line 125)
Firstly, the death of Mercutio is caused by the love he has for Romeo, and the love that Romeo has for Mercutio. Mercutio has love for Romeo that he would even fight for Romeo when other people insults him. For example, “Tybalt you rat-catcher, let’s fight!.” (III,i)
Tybalt tells Romeo to fight him, but since Romeo is now married to Juliet, he says that he can’t. To this, Mercutio responds with,“O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!”(3.1.74), and then proceeds to fight Tybalt on Romeo’s behalf in defense of the Montague name. It’s clear through Mercutio’s rage felt diction towards Romeo such as “dishonorable” and “vile” that he believes Romeo’s efforts to make peace are acts of betrayal to his own family. Because of Mercutio’s brash actions in the act of defending his family’s honor, he ends up being injured and killed by Tybalt, all because he felt so much hate that he couldn’t stand down like Romeo had. Mercutio’s death made Romeo blindly angry to the point where he killed Tybalt, who was technically a part of his family.
Mercutio is deliberately provocative and tries to start a fight with Tybalt. Romeo comes in and Tybalt insults him by calling him a villain, but Romeo shows no response since he is now related to him. Mercutio on the other hand, is aggravated at the fact that Romeo is being placid and isn’t willing to fight
