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Romeo and juliet romeo character critical analysis
Literary analysis of romeo and juliet
Romeo and juliet character analysis essay
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As a famous author once said, “You don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.” To clarify, it isn’t necessary to engage in every conflict that is encountered. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt is a truculent and unsympathetic man who tends to take the quarrel between the Capulets and Montagues a step too far. He soon is challenged with a fight he cannot beat. In this tragic play, Tybalt’s tragic flaw of aggressiveness guides him towards a bitter end. Often, the worst qualities lead to the worst outcome. Tybalt tends to use force as his way of talking, which often backfires and has negative results. When Tybalt is first introduced into the play, he is immediately caught in-between the family dispute. His sentiment …show more content…
towards the Montagues is promptly exposed, as he says, “What, drown, and talk of peace? I hate that word As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee, coward!” (1.1.66-68). Even as Benvolio suggests peace, Tybalt refuses to back down without a fight and further provokes the situation. Additionally, Tybalt often has extremely negative reactions towards anyone he believes is a foe. In his mind, there is a tall wall between the families. Anyone who crosses that wall is only met with rage. Tybalt says, “This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. What! Dares the slave Come hither, covered with an antic face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now, by the stock and honor of my kin, To strike him dead I hold it not a sin” (1.5.53-58). Unrightfully, Tybalt’s fury is often directed towards the wrong situation. This causes him to get involved in unnecessary brawls. Ironically, Tybalt’s very nature is his downfall. An unforgiving spirit can poison one's own heart with bitterness.
Tybalt’s loyalty towards the family dispute intoxicates him with a quarrelsome nature. After recognizing Romeo at the Capulet Ball, Tybalt persistently rejects his uncle’s remonstrance to stay serene. Even after being restrained by his Uncle Capulet, he vows vengeance on Romeo in the future as he says, “Patience perforce with willful choler meeting Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. I will withdraw; but this intrusion shall Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall” (1.5.88-90). Tybalt tends to take each and every “insult” towards his family and himself to heart, without even contemplating their true meaning. Furthermore, Tybalt’s aggravating behavior develops into a clear factor leading to his downfall. When Mercutio is found dead as a result of Tybalt, Romeo confronts him directly with a duel to the death. Rather than trying to discuss and come to a harmonious solution, Tybalt further inflamed the already belligerent environment. He does this by saying, “Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence” (3.1.128-129). Tybalt’s relentless threatening behavior never fails to make an already hostile environment even worse. His cruel character is perpetual no matter what the
situation.
Romeo senses tensions are high with Tybalt, so he states, “I do protest I never injured thee but love thee better than thou canst devise.” (Lines 65-66 Act Three, Scene One). Romeo is trying to diffuse the situation because he realizes that Tybalt is his love's cousin. Mercutio is surprised by Romeo’s behavior, so he decides to fight Tybalt himself. Mercutio’s decision to fight Tybalt leads to his own death. Romeo is angered by the death of Mercutio and states, “Now, Tybalt, take the “villain" back again/ That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio’s soul.” (Lines 123-124 of Act Three, Scene One). Romeo is indicating that Tybalt is the villain now, because he slayed Mercutio. Romeo forgets about his attempt to befriend the Capulets and slays Tybalt. Romeo, murderer of Tybalt, solely focuses on Juliet and states “Ha, banishment? Be merciful, say “death"/For exile hath more terror in his look.” (Lines 12-13 of Act Three, Scene Three). Romeo does not care about Tybalt’s life, but only cares for the way it affects his relationship with Juliet. Romeo’s mother dies out of grief because of his banishment. Romeo’s recklessness in loving Juliet has led to the death of three
In the Shakespearean play, Romeo & Juliet, aggression is represented in different ways by the different characters in the play. Tybalt, Romeo, Benvolio, and the others all have their own way of dealing with hate and anger. Some do nothing but hate while others can’t stand to see even the smallest of quarrels take place.
He is prepared to duel, as he believes it is in “honor of my kin, / to strike him dead I hold not a sin” (I.v.58-59). His vicious behavior towards the Montague’s is due to the prolonged feud and not because of a dishonorable act directed towards him. Evidently, Tybalt respects Lord Capulet and the family name. When he goes to inform the Montague’s intrusion, Lord Capulet dismisses the enemy’s presence, ordering Tybalt to “be patient, take no note of him” (I.v.71). Despite Lord Capulet’s calm approach towards the appearance of Romeo, Tybalt`s mind is clouded with hatred and only views Romeo as a threat. Tybalt’s angered reaction at the sight of Romeo, as well as his impulsive decision to warn Lord Capulet in hopes of getting rid of the enemy, is due to the ongoing feud between the Montague’s and Capulet’s and not because of any harm directly caused by
Tybalt says that Romeo is a villain, a trouble maker. He states that he will not stand for
When asked by Benvolio to make peace in the streets, Tybalt bluntly responds,” talk of peace, I hate the word. As I hate hell all Montagues.” This is the attitude of Tybalt throughout the play. He believes he is doing all for the best and uses violence as his tool. He gets angry at the ball with Romeo being there, “villain as a guest,” and believes it best to defend his family’s honor by later taking revenge. When Tybalt finds Romeo, he thinks it best to fight him and when he ends up killing Mercutio he believes he has done his duty by causing Romeo the same hurt he has brought Tybalt, “the injuries that thou hast done me.”
Tybalt is like many other young men his age and is immature. This can be seen in almost every action he makes. One can see his immaturity when he makes impulsive decisions, like when he wrote a letter to Romeo challenging him to a duel. Another immature thing that he does is when he sees a Montague, he automatically sees him/her as a evil villain because of the ancient feud. Tybalt states, “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe,/ A villain that is hither come in spite/ To scorn at our solemnity this night.” (1.5.69-71). He sees Romeo when at the party and instantly abandons any sense maturity or reason and assumes that that man is a villian, not knowing who he is or having any knowledge about him other than his name. His childish behavior can be seen through out
Romeo, enraged at the killing of one of his dearest friends, challenges Tybalt to a fight for revenge, saying:
As already shown, both Romeo and Juliet are horrified to discover that they were family enemies. Despite of this, they both choose to devote their love for eachother. Given this point, it is unrequited love that brings Romeo and Juliet together. But this also means that they would have to get over the fact that their families hate each other. This eventually leads them to forgiving the rival family for all the hateful acts that have occurred against one another. This is not the only forgiveness that is experienced in this play. Tybalt is a Montague with a fiery attitude. After catching Romeo at a party he was not supposed to be at, Tybalt had it out for Romeo. Just after Romeo and Juliet’s wedding, Tybalt comes looking for him wanting to fight. Romeo does not want to fight because he now loves Tybalt since he is family to him, but neither Tybalt or anyone else knows this reason. Quickly Mercutio steps in and tells Tybalt that he will fight him in honour of Romeo. Sadly this leads to the death of Mercutio. Romeo is angry and in need of revenge, which creates an intense fight between Tybalt and Romeo. Romeo wins this battle, killing Tybalt. He leaves in a hurry, only to discover that he would be banished from Verona. The death of Tybalt is absolutely devastating to Juliet. Her cousin was murdered by her husband. But she did not hesitate to forgive Romeo, she did so right away. She knew that Romeo had a reason for this incident and decides to
Seething with anger, before Tybalt decides to slay Romeo, Lord Capulet confronts Tybalt and tells him that there’s no need to ruin the festivities for a fight. Disgusted by his weakness, Tybalt angrily hissed back to the Lord, “It fits when such a villain is a guest. I’ll not endure him!” (1.2.75-76), and leaves the party in frustration. Tybalt only understands that if he slew any Montague that steps his path, he’ll be content with killing all them off instead of letting the Lord Capulet’s weakness get in the way about being hostile towards his enemies. With this intention in his mind, being a violent and headstrong man, Tybalt has to restrain himself and then loses the opportunity to slay Romeo. Therefore, he’s angry and will not rest until Romeo is slain. Thus, Tybalt’s motivation shown that, in order to quell the pain and suffering the Capulet’s has suffered, he’ll end the feud between the two families and would not stop until the deed has been
Tybalt uses gentle expressions such as ‘love’ only to sharply accuse Romeo if a villain. Although somewhat insignificant, this sentence structure adds to the cruelty that Tybalt portrays. Romeo does not want to fight and explains reasons as to why, however Tybalt will not accept that he is not fighting someone and Mercutio gives Tybalt the perfect reason and opportunity to start a fight. Shakespeare seems to want the audience to sees Tybalt’s urge to pick fights as a big reason for the tragedy.
In Act 1 Scene 5 Tybalt makes a comment of, “It fits when such a villain is a guest. I'll not endure him” (Shakespeare 527). This shows his inability to accept anyone as they are rather than how he sees them personally. Then again on the same page he also exclaims, “Tis he, that villain Romeo.” Again Tybalt goes onto claim everyone as villain as he sees fit. He has a shortness of temper that can be seen quite easily with just these two quotes from the play.
Tybalt was known to be a hothead. If he hadn’t grown to the point of anger where he disobeyed Lord Capulet’s orders, he may have prevented five deaths. When Tybalt let his anger get the best of him and he slayed Mercutio, Romeo retaliated over the death of his best friend. As punishment for this act, Romeo was banished, and Juliet was distraught. Leading to the potion Juliet took to prevent her marriage with Paris, the poison Romeo took to die with her, and the dagger Juliet plunged into her heart. If Tybalt wouldn’t have started these arguments or been so prideful, he wouldn’t have killed Mercutio, he would still be alive himself, Paris would not have died, Romeo would not have drank the poison, and therefore Juliet would not be
Tybalt is Romeo's rival, and his grudge against Romeo and the Montagues is the reason why the two lovers' story ends in tragedy. He plays a very crucial and important role in the story as it's the main antagonist. His actions and arrogant and aggressive personality are some the reasons why this story ends in suffering, grief, and tragedy.
One way that Tybalt might have changed the outcome of the play is by not killing Mercutio. Tybalt wanted to duel with Romeo but Romeo refused so Mercutio accepted, “Alive, in triumph! And Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire eyed fury be my conduct now. 3.1. 118-120. As a result of Tybalt killing Mercutio, Romeo killed Tybalt, and was banished, so he was unable to run away with Juliet. If Tybalt was friends with Romeo then there never would have been a duel, Tybalt would still be alive, and Romeo would never have been banished. Another way that Tybalt might have changed the outcome of the play is by minding his own business. Tybalt wanted to start fights with almost any montague he could, especially Romeo. “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, a villain that is hither come in spite.” 1.5.3. As a result of Tybalt always putting himself in other people’s business, he ended up dueling Mercutio, which got Mercutio killed, which also angered Romeo who then killed Tybalt. If Tybalt would have just minded his own business then Mercutio and Tybalt would still be alive and Romeo would not have been banished. A third way that Tybalt would have changed the outcome of the play is by not hating Romeo. Tybalt wanted to attack Romeo every chance he got. “Tis he, that villain Romeo.” 1.5. 63. As a result of Tybalt wanting to attack Romeo, he went to duel him but ended up dueling and slaying
Tybalt’s ineptitude to understanding the boundaries of what degree he can express his anger result in his immediate downfall. Tybalt first demonstrates an excessive amount of violence when he encounters Mercutio. Out on a public street, Tybalt and Mercutio confront each other and spark an argument, in which Tybalt remarks, “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries/ That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw” (3.1.63-64). This quote clearly supports the fact that Tybalt’s tolerance towards others only last for a short period of time, before he feels the urge to challenge that person to a duel. Tybalt exclaims that injuries are no excuse, showing that he can’t differentiate between insulting, as Mercutio was doing, and posing violent