Romeo and Juliet is a famous tragedy written by Shakespeare. The plot is based on an Italian tale but Shakespeare makes it more dramatic by developing specific characters, such as the Nurse and Mercutio. The plot is set in Verona in the sixteenth century. The Montagues and the Capulets are two distinguished families in Verona; however, they see each other as enemies. They are fighting all the time. Romeo and Juliet, who respectively are Montague and Capulet, fall in love at their first sight. In the end, two star-crossed lovers are dead. The Montagues and the Capulets reconciled by their children’s death and end the feud which has lasted generations.
Mercutio is a fictional character, who does not appear in the original version and Shakespeare adds into the play. Mercutio is neither a Montague nor a Capulet. Because he is Romeo’s friend, he stands on the Montague’s side. In fact, Mercutio simply appears in four scenes in Romeo and Juliet, in other words, he is not the main character in the play. Nevertheless, I think he is an attractive and memorable character in the play. Actually, Mercutio’s name is related to the word “mercurial,” meaning “having an unpredictable and fast changing mood,” an accurate description of Mercutio’s personality. Moreover, he also plays a vital
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It is difficult for the audience to ignore this attractive role. His functions are entertaining the audience and being a turning-point figure. To begin with, he always says jests and puns to make the whole play livelier and the audience will burst out laughing at his words and funny actions. Next, his appearance is crucial to link the plots. He convinces Romeo to attend the Capulets’ ball and that is the place where he first meets Juliet. In addition, Mercutio’s death turns the atmosphere of the play. From now on, Romeo and Juliet becomes a tragedy. It is a success that Shakespeare adds this fantastic role to Romeo and
Thought the play, these lovers go through many obstacles that range from arranging a wedding and finding a time to meet to Juliet trying to get out of marrying Paris. The entire time fate is tossing them around. Romeo realizes this after he kills Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, in a brawl. At first, Romeo does not want to fight because Romeo and Juliet are already married at this time and he knows that they are cousins. Tybalt asks for a brawl from Romeo but Mercutio fights instead. Mercutio gets killed by Tybalt and that is what makes Romeo mad and fight Tybalt.
He is often up and happy, which immediately turns to serious brooding. The best example of this comes at his death. He has been stabbed through by Tybalt’s cruel blade and the killer has flown. All his fellows gather around laughing when Mercutio yells that he is injured. After sending for a surgeon he stumbles about saying, “No, ‘tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door; but ‘tis enough, twill serve: ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered I warrant for this world. A plague o’ both your houses! Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat to scratch a man to death” (III.i.94-99). In this quote Mercutio seems to go from cracking jokes and making puns to all seriousness, screaming plague upon the quarrel between the two houses. This was very serious considering the plague was running rampant at that time, killing thousands of people. To wish plague on someone is to wish the most feared thing of their age on them and their family. This is not the only example of such emotional instability as he often ranges from very high to very low, creating quite the dramatic and loud character. Mercutio’s characteristics are wide and varied, making him into an extremely complex, extremely prominent character. Shakespeare places this persona of varying emotions who may not be thinking exactly what he seems to be into the story of Romeo and Juliet, a stage full of such
The most famous foil character in ''Romeo and Juliet'' is Mercutio. He is known for his sharp wit and quick, often ribald, humor and is considered a foil to Romeo. He lacks Romeo's effusive romance, his adoration and almost courtly approach to the idea of love. He often urges Romeo to just find a woman to sleep with and stop worrying about the ephemeral, yet all consuming, love Romeo is desperate to achieve. Mercutio warns Romeo to be skeptical of love and not to rush ahead, but Romeo is all rush, no
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a love story based in Verona in the 1500s. Romeo and Juliet’s families have been in a feud for years, despite that they still fall in love. Romeo and Juliet hide their love from their families and this destroys them in the end. Romeo is protagonist and tragic hero in this play. He is an passionate and impulsive character that makes him perfect for his part.
Shakespeare strongly establishes Mercutio’s desire to prove himself as strong through his unwillingness to back down, his carelessness to danger, and his need to be seen. Shakespeare displays Mercutio as a stubborn character when he refuses to leave even when Benvolio urges him to because the conversation was becoming heated. This is best shown when Mercutio says “I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I.” (1, 1, 58) He uses his persistence to prove himself as though he is stronger than all of the Capulets who were getting angry. Even when the sense to leave the scene is presented by Benvolio, Mercutio abandons his better thinking and stands his ground.
Mercutio is one of the most unique characters in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. His language is always powerful and imaginative. The Nurse is a very important character in the play because as her title suggests, she is. a Nurse for the Capulet family. She is also a surrogate mother to Juliet.
Shakespeare has no doubt created some of the most dynamic and interesting characters in written history, and in Romeo and Juliet there were several memorable ones. Aside from the hero and heroine, the voluble and witty Mercutio is as memorable a character as is found in all of Shakespeare's plays. He acts as a significant character in terms of plot advancement; but more importantly, Mercutio himself is a fascinating man in many aspects.
Mercutio is a multi complex character in Williams Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet written in 1595. He's described as witty, cynical, loyal and misogynistic, although only a secondary character and appearing in only four scenes Mercutio is known for overshadowing Romeo in the play with his puns and witty dialogue. This comedic foil to Romeo is neither a Montague or a Capulet and lives outside the realms of the conflict however it's this tragic friendship that sets in Mercutio's role as a catalyst for the play turning from comedic to tragic .
Character Analysis of Mercutio Mercutio is always bursting with energy and his speeches are full of extravert ideas. He is very extravagant and wild. All the attention is drawn to him, he brings out the humor in most situations. Shakespeare uses Mercutio to divert the attention to him and to enlighten the scenes causing it to be taken light heartedly. Mercutio is Romeo’s best friend, he is very loyal to him and neutral to the feud .
During the story “Romeo and Juliet”, written by William Shakespeare, the character, Mercutio, plays a role that impacts the story completely. Mercutio is a very good friend of Romeo’s and Benvolio’s. Mercutio has many characteristics which William Shakespeare defines and delivers a deeper understanding as the story continues. Mercutio is a kinsman therefore he is neither a Capulet nor Montague. In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio makes up a lot of the funny atmosphere which makes the story more engaging. Mercutio makes many jokes and because of these jokes his outgoing and amusing personality begins to show. Mercutio is a tall man with blonde hair. He is decent at sword fighting and when he talks he tends to use hand gestures which send a stronger message when he talks. As Romeo’s best friend, Mercutio remains loyal to him throughout the story and is also benevolent as he even fought Tybalt in Romeo’s name. Mercutio is a reckless person. When his mind is set on something he will complete it and no one can stop him from completing it. During the scene when Mercutio expresses his outrage towards Tybalt, Romeo intervenes the fight and tries to stop it, Mercutio continues to fight and in the end Mercutio meets his end. Even after Mercutio is stabbed he insisted that it was”a scratch, a scratch” (Act III, Scene I, Line 89) this shows how tough he is. It was foolish of him but he wanted to show how tough he was to Romeo. Mercutio is also very supportive. He has a kind side which he only shows to Romeo. When Romeo was heartbroken because of Rosaline Mercutio encouraged Romeo by telling him “gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.” (Act I, Scene IV,...
Most people who have read or seen the play Romeo and Juliet would say that the more important characters in the play are Romeo, Juliet, Friar Lawrence, and the Nurse. Nobody talks about Romeo’s best friend, Mercutio. Even though they are foils, Romeo and Mercutio Mercutio provides comic relief, and he serves as a serious and key character in the play. Without the important character Mercutio, the play of Romeo and Juliet would be a whole different story.
Mercutio, though a minor character, had and enormous impact on the outcome of the play. Before the Capulet Ball, Romeo had been debating whether to go or not. Mercutio persuaded him to go by giving a big speech to him about a dream he had. This makes him partially responsible because the Ball is where Romeo first met Juliet. Mercutio also caused Romeo to be banished from Verona. Mercutio got in a fight with Tybalt and ended up dead. His death enraged Romeo enough to make him kill Tybalt in revenge. When the Prince saw what happened, he sent Romeo into exile. Romeo's banishment to Mantua made it near impossible for Romeo and Juliet to see each other. Mercutio was to blame, though only partially for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Would you die to protect your best friend? Well, Mercutio did. He died for his friend Romeo, one of the two main characters of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Mercutio is just a supporting character, but he has many clear traits about him. Mercutio is witty, brave, and a true friend.
Facets of a character help reveal the character’s inner self along with what they believe should happen. Within Romeo and Juliet, there are various uses of facets to help the audience learn things about different sets of characters and their views on society. In the play “Romeo and Juliet” Shakespeare helps express the use of a conversation between Mercutio and Benvolio to reveal different sets of facets of the character Mercutio through the uses of similes, imagery, and personification to help portray this. While using these, it also allows the character to express themselves.
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy- but it did not have to be. Romeo and Juliet is the tragic story of two star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, who are the son and daughter of two feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Written by the famed playwright Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet takes place in the 14-15 century in the cities of Verona and Mantua, cities in northern Italy. After a series of events that involves Romeo getting banished from Verona and Juliet getting forced to marry a count, Paris, they kill themselves. It has been argued for centuries about who is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.