1. Which single character is most responsible for driving the plot of Romeo and Juliet? Do you consider this character also to be the protagonist of the play? Why or why not?
As suggested by the play’s name, “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare features two lovers named Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Although they are considered the protagonists of the story, it is apparent that they do not, in fact, drive the plot.
Romeo first met Juliet at the Capulet’s masquerade, an occasion that he was not invited to nor interested in. The love sparked at the couples’ first sight ignited the rest of the story; however, it was clear that it was not Romeo’s intention to attend the Montague family’s ball. Benvolio, Romeo’s cousin, initially proposed
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It was a trigger for the families’ hatred towards each other to escalate to a level higher than ever presented in the play, thus making it even more unlikely for Romeo and Juliet’s love to become a reality. Although it is debatable whether Mercutio’s death was accidental or intentional, it is clear that the conflict between him and Tybalt was initiated by Mercutio’s taunting and mocking of Tybalt, including threats to take “one of [Tybalt’s] nine lives” (3.1.76-77). Without Mercutio’s eagerness to duel with Tybalt the murder would have never happened in the first place as it was Tybalt’s intention to duel Romeo, not Mercutio. Romeo’s delineation and presentation of “calm, dishonourable, vile submission” (3.1.72) insulted Mercutio’s pride enough to challenge Tybalt to a sword fight, resulting in Mercutio’s death; this in turn became the motif behind Romeo’s murder of Tybalt in the same scene.
From both instances it is clear that Romeo’s actions were driven by one person: Mercutio. Through the character’s introduction to his death, Mercutio has always been the one to push Romeo through the most important parts of the plot that eventually led to the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet, the protagonists of the