Romeo and Juliet – Mercutio

Romeo compares himself to Mercutio, shows he is lively Has ‘dancing shoes with nimble soles’ (Romeo has ‘a soul of lead’)
He is talkative ‘peace, Mercutio, peace. Thou talk’st of nothing’
He mocks and teases people. – Tybalt calls Tybalt ‘King of Cats’ and ‘rat-catcher’
Jokes with Romeo to try and cheer him up before the Capulet Party ‘You are a lover, borrow Cupid’s wings’ although Romeo ‘too sore enpierced with his shaft’
Mercutio is not very romantic, and believes love is a physical pursuit. He gives advice to Romeo ‘If love be rough with you, be rough with love’
Mercutio makes puns – witty character ‘Dreamers often lie’ – mean lying down/telling a lie
Tries to cheer up Romeo with a speech about Queen Mab Shows Mercutio is Flamboyant, expressive and creative
Mercutio’s dialogue is full of wordplay – witty charactor ‘Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man’ – grave= serious/where dead people buried
Mercutio’s words as he dies – warns the audience that there will be more suffering for Capulets and Montagues. He is right as Romeo kills Tybalt because Tybalt killed Mercutio ‘A plague o’ both your houses’ (x3)
Provocative to Benvolio ‘Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat’
Mercutio Provokes Tybalt. Dislikes his self-importance ‘One word with one of us?..make it a word and a blow’
Furious at Romeo when he backs down from fighting with Tybalt ‘Dishonourable, vile submission’
Mercutio describes Tybalt – shows how aggressive Tybalt is and always fights ‘Courageous captain of compliments: he fights as you sing prick-song’
Mercutio notices that Juliet has made a positive effect on Romeo and he is pleased he is happy ‘Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo’
Mercutio can be rude – insults the Nurse ‘her fan’s the fairer face’ and calls her ‘ancient lady’
Similarily between Tybalt and Romeo quick-tempered and ready to fight at the slightest provocation
he is amused when he hears about Tybalt’s challenge to Romeo because he things Romeo’s experience of conflict is limited to the world of love therefore thinks that Tybalt will easily overcome him. “And is he such a man to encounter Tybalt?”
Mercutio shows his loyalty and courage when he takes up Tybalt’s challenge instead of Romeo, who backed down from the fight, to defend his friend’s name. ‘Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?’
August 27, 2019