The Importance of Mercutio's Role in Romeo and Juliet

The Importance of Mercutio's Role in Romeo and Juliet

In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', each character plays a specific

role. Mercutio, is essential to the play he is the 'Prince's kinsman',

but more importantly, he is Romeo's best friend and confidant

.Although Mercutio is Romeo's closest friend he is very jealous of

Romeo when Romeo is with other people. Mercutio brings humour and wit

to the play which engages the audience. Mercutio is a typical young

man of that period in the way that he is an honourable aristocrat,

very independent and is free but on the other hand he isn't because he

speaks badly about women and often refers to them as being fruit

'poperin pear'. The audience love the character Mercutio because he is

humorous and often uses wordplay which interests the audience. Another

reason is because Mercutio's character stands out from the rest and he

is always living his life on the edge and always looking for something

new and exciting to do and he is constantly playing on words, using

two or more meanings.

There are two main reasons Mercutio's character is important to 'Romeo

and Juliet'. First of all, Mercutio convinces Romeo to attend the

feast at the Capulet's house, where he met Juliet. Romeo was very

reluctant to go to the feast and even expressed a feeling that he had

about what the night may bring 'I had a dream'. However, after

Mercutio advises Romeo, Romeo decides to go. It is merely because of

Mercutio's persuasions that Romeo attends the feast.

The second reason why Mercutio's character is essential is that it is

Mercutio's death that sets off the chain of events that leads to

Romeo's banishment wh...

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...e, o' both your houses!' it makes the audience

feel sympathy for Mercutio and makes the scene more emotional.

Mercutio's character is a very likeable one; he is humorous and

engages the audience no matter what his actions are. A modern audience

wouldn't particularly react any different to the audience in

Shakespeare's time although the women nowadays may dislike Mercutio's

character due to the bad language that he uses whilst referring to

them.

In conclusion, Mercutio's character is obviously very superior and

essential for the humour of this play. He represents independence,

youth, and freedom, and makes the story line a lot more interesting.

The character of Mercutio achieves the effect that Shakespeare

intended which was that he would bring a different interest into the

play due to the character of Mercutio.