Tybalt Capulet Character Analysis

In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt Capulet threatens Benvolio Montague during a brawl in the streets of Verona, Italy: “‘What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?/ Turn thee, Benvolio. Look upon thy death’” (1.1.56-57). Romeo and Juliet was a play written in the mid-1590s, and it involved two, as the play stated, “star crossed lovers” (Prologue.6), Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, from feuding families that eventually took their lives to be together. One crucial character in the play was Tybalt, a teenager of the house of Capulet and Juliet’s cousin. His experience with a sword could not be matched, and he was very prideful. Romeo killed Tybalt in 3.1. Even though Tybalt was directly killed by Romeo in Act 3 of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, there are numerous other elements that indirectly led to his downfall, including Romeo and Juliet’s secrets, the ancient grudge, and Tybalt’s pride.

One reason Tybalt died was because of Romeo and Juliet’s secrets. In 3.1, Romeo told him, “The reason that I have to love thee/ Doth much excuse the appertaining rage/ To such a greeting. Villain am I none./ Therefore, farewell. I see thou know’st me not” (33-36). When he said this, he was

Tybalt could have made different decisions that would have led to a better outcome. He and Mercutio might not have died, Romeo would not have been banished, Juliet would not have needed Friar Lawrence’s impetuous plan, and Romeo and Juliet would not have died. Furthermore, if Tybalt had not let his dignity get the best of him, the disastrous results of the duel would not have occurred. However, Shakespeare did want a tragedy, so that is what he wrote. As Prince Escalus of Verona said, “For never was there a story of more woe/ Than this of Juliet and her Romeo”