Lawrence Elliston English 1 Honors, Period 8. Ms. Harrison May 3rd, 2024 How do the relationship dynamics between Romeo and Mercutio help highlight the themes of conflict and loyalty in Romeo and Juliet? In the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the relationship between Romeo and Mercutio helps us understand how the themes of conflict and loyalty are shown. The friendship between them is like a guide into the complicated web of allegiances and the uneasiness of the different families that defines the world of Verona. Their bond helps us understand the deeper meaning behind Romeo and Juliet's struggles and loyalties. Romeo and Juliet is a famous play about two teenagers called Romeo and Juliet who come from families that are sworn enemies of each other. They fall deeply in love but face many problems because of their families being enemies. Even after all their efforts to be …show more content…
For example, when Mercutio makes fun of Romeo when he says he feels sick from his love for Rosaline. This irritates Romeo because he understands that Mercutio knows that Romeo’s love is not real and so he feels frustrated (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize). In the main fight scene when Mercutio provokes the fight with Tybalt, the reason is that he doesn’t want his friend to be mocked and humiliated in front of everyone, “O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!....Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?” (Act 3 scene 1). 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