Role of Mercutio Character in Romeo and Juliet

Analyse the role of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Act three scene one

Mercutio is a close friend and companion of Romeo's. He enjoys joking with Romeo and seeks Romeo's attention. Shakespeare included Mercutio in 'Romeo and Juliet' as he entertains the audience with his eccentric and witty speeches. Throughout the pain, love and suffering Mercutio provides a humorous break from the emotional tragedy. Mercutio is a catalyst in the play: he convinces Romeo to go to the Capulet's party, where he meets Juliet; Mercutio's death sets off the chain of events leading to Romeo's banishment, and turns the play into a tragedy.

Mercutio also reveals some of Romeo's character and thoughts when they speak. Mercutio is not a typical young man of the sixteenth century, he is unique and complex. He is disrespectful of his elders and women, and does not believe in 'courtly love.'

An audience would like Mercutio. He is witty and comical- entertaining the audience. They would enjoy his dynamic, flamboyant, dramatic, strong character and would be shocked by his disgust for dreams and disrespect for Juliet's nurse.

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The audience would be astonished by Mercutio's intelligence and ability to manipulate attention to him. They would admire his faithfulness towards Romeo; his bravery and courage and the amount of energy he puts into the things he says and does.

Mercutio sounds a bit like Mercurial, unpredictably changeable. Mercutio changes his moods a great deal throughout the play. At times he is playful- making banter with Romeo and Benvolio; other times he is rude and impertinent- as he was to the nurse; and sometimes he is startlingly angry- as in his queen Mab speech.

Mercutio sounds like Mercury, the messenger God with a lot of spirit. He presents the message that dreams are bad and also introduces a lot of views Shakespeare probably had- such as misogyny. Mercury is also a metal. It is the only metal that is a liquid, so is unique and memorable. Mercutio is unique and memorable in the play.

In Act three scene one, it is obvious that Mercutio is in the mood for a fight as he insists on staying in the public place where he will surely meet the Capulets. Moreover he speaks of quarrelling when he talks. This shows the audience that Mercutio is dramatic, and enjoys fighting. Benvolio wants to leave because he realises that if they meet the Capulets they 'shall not 'scape a brawl'. Mercutio next accuses Benvolio of being 'as hot as a Jack' when clearly Benvolio is a pacifist so less likely to start a fight. Mercutio is being playful; he is bored and enjoys 'playing' with Benvolio. The row illustrates the fact that Mercutio does not like Benvolio being a pacifist; he does not think it is honourable. Mercutio also has this ridiculous quarrel because he is determined to have a fight. He is time wasting to make sure he meets the Capulets.

Mercutio may want to have a fight because the weather is hot and so he becomes irritable easily. He may be angry at Romeo for leaving him to go with the nurse, and at the nurse for taking Romeo away from him- he wants to take it out on someone. This shows the audience that Mercutio is quick tempered. Mercutio uses puns when speaking with Benvolio, this shows that Mercutio is good at using words to engage people and enjoys being clever with words. Mercutio shows his distaste for the Capulets when he says scornfully 'by my heel, here come the Capulets.' Mercutio does not like the Capulets because they do not like Romeo. This shows that Mercutio is a good friend and devoted to Romeo.

In act three scene one Benvolio predicts Mercutio's death when he says 'An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter'. The audience would be stunned by this astounding prophecy. They would be worried for Mercutio's safety and hope that he will not fight. Some may not believe that such an entertaining character would not be 'killed off' so would not be so worried. They would hope that Mercutio does not die as he is a likeable character.

When Tybalt arrives he is polite and courteous towards Mercutio using words like 'sir' and 'you'. Tybalt clearly has no problem with Mercutio and does not wish to fight with him. Mercutio persists in teasing and mocking Tybalt, making fun of his fencing lessons, saying he will make him 'dance'. This shows that Mercutio does not like Tybalt's fencing lessons, and that fighting should come naturally. He is furthermore entertained by annoying Tybalt.

Mercutio takes whatever Tybalt says as an insult when he does not mean it to be. An example of this is: in reply to consort'st' from Tybalt Mercutio acts as though he thinks Tybalt is implying that Mercutio and Romeo are 'minstrels'. This shows that Mercutio is good at acting and can hide his feelings easily.

Mercutio shows he is not taking Tybalt seriously as in reply to Tybalt's formal 'you' he uses 'thou'. Mercutio talks in prose also showing that he is not taking him seriously until he uses the word 'zounds' now showing he is taking the conversation more seriously- bringing religion into it, which was very important in Shakespeare's time. Mercutio is provoking Tybalt. He may just dislike Tybalt or might be angry and in the mood for a fight, Tybalt is a perfect person to fight with. It may also be because he knows Tybalt will fight Romeo and there is a very good chance Romeo will lose- he is distracting Tybalt from Romeo. This shows that Mercutio is devoted to Romeo and protective of him.

Later Mercutio becomes even more dangerous and serious, putting all his attention on the conversation with Tybalt, and the tension builds. Mercutio uses blank tone and uses the very confident 'I will not budge for no man's pleasure'. This shows the audience that Mercutio has a very strong, confident character that is very dramatic and possibly a bit stubborn- he wants to have a fight and will make sure he gets one.

When Romeo arrives Tybalt ignores Mercutio. Mercutio insists on gaining Tybalt's attention and uses imaginative, sharp and powerful language, perhaps too sharp. He takes 'his man' to means that Romeo is Tybalt's servant and claims that Romeo will not wear his 'livery'. The audience will wonder why Mercutio is still bothering with Tybalt, even though Romeo has arrived. It may be another one of Mercutio's fights for attention, or the fact that he is angry. It may again be Mercutio revealing his protective side of Romeo. This shows that Mercutio's character is complex; it is not always obvious why he does and says the things he does.

Tybalt starts to become annoyed at Mercutio using the informal 'thou'. This shows that Mercutio is good at changing other people's moods, as well as his own. Dramatic irony is used as the audience knows that Romeo is married to Juliet and a majority of the characters on the stage don't, the tension builds and the audience becomes unsettled.

When Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt because he 'loves' him Mercutio is outraged and cries 'O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!' Mercutio feels rejecting a fight is dishonourable (it has already been established that honour is very important to Mercutio, even though Romeo's safety is also). Mercutio is embarrassed and ashamed of Romeo and turns his embarrassment into anger when he exclaims. Mercutio is also annoyed that after defending Romeo, he still refuses to fight. Mercutio is upset that Romeo has a secret and has 'love' for Tybalt when Mercutio thought he did not like him.

Mercutio asks Tybalt, 'you rat-catcher, will you walk?' He is being antagonistic. Tybalt does not want to fight Mercutio, he realises that Mercutio is a born fighter and a good one. He is worried he might lose. This shows that Mercutio Tybalt thinks he is a good fighter. Moreover Mercutio personifies his sword as he says 'sword out of his pitcher by the ears?' which also shows he is at home with his sword.

Tybalt is traditional so accepts the fight. Mercutio replies using 'passado'. Even though he is being serious, he still wants to entertain. Mercutio is fatally wounded by Tybalt when Romeo steps in the middle of them. When Mercutio is dying he takes an unusual tone. He shocks the audience when he shouts 'a plague on both your houses!' The plague was a horrific curse to wish onto someone, so it showed the audience how livid Mercutio was and also that he was badly hurt. It is strange how Mercutio blames both Romeo and Tybalt as Romeo did not mean to cause his death. It shows that Mercutio is a realist and knows that Romeo was partly to blame for his decease. Mercutio also realises that the Montague and Capulet's feud caused his death and now realises the scale of the argument. He realises the damage fighting is capable of doing.

Mercutio is embarrassed that Tybalt was not hurt and even in his last hours worries about his pride. He is also shocked that he was beaten Benvolio and Romeo do not realise how badly Mercutio is hurt as he is usually a 'drama queen'. Mercutio himself does not admit how much he is hurt and calls it a 'scratch'. Mercutio still entertains the audience, using puns such as 'grave man'. This also shows that Mercutio realises that he is going to die. He blames Romeo and retorts 'why the devil did you come between us?' This shows that Mercutio does not believe in fate and that he is shattered by Romeo helping Tybalt and not him.

Mercutio asks Benvolio to help him and turns away from Romeo. This shows how enraged he is with Romeo. He says 'a plague on both your houses' three times, which is a magic number associated with mystical, supernatural things. This is surprising because Mercutio is a realist and has never been associated with these things before. Mercutio ends with 'your houses!' which stresses the importance of the 'plague quote'.

When Mercutio dies the attributes of comedy die with him. From now on the play becomes a tragedy. This demonstrates how Mercutio is all that is entertaining and carefree in the play. The audience would be sad to see him go. He was exciting because he was different and a bit 'bad' unlike other characters e.g. Benvolio. They would become angry with Lord Montague and Lord Capulet because their feud caused such a fun character to die.

A modern audience would respond differently from a Shakespearean one. They would not be used to the aspect of 'courtly love' so would not relate to it. Disrespect for elders and women is much more common in modern England so a modern audience would not feel the intensity of Mercutio being so shocking. Also the plague is not experienced at all in modern England so it would not seem so daunting or horrific, at least not as profoundly as Shakespeare might have liked.