In the play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare criticizes the rash decision-making of the characters through the disastrous consequences of Romeo’s and Mercutio’s impulsive actions as well as the tragic unforeseen series of events that occurred during Juliet and Friar Lawrence's ill-fated plan due to their rushed preparation, emphasizing the dangers of impetuosity. Shakespeare wants his audience to realize that allowing strong emotions to drive rash decisions and failing to prepare for possible eventualities will cause unfortunate outcomes. Shakespeare uses the characters Romeo and Mercutio to convey that impulsive actions driven by strong emotions cause life-altering consequences. When Tybalt insults Mercutio by calling …show more content…
Mercutio, hyper-sensitive to Tybalt’s emasculating insult, transposes Tybalt’s imagery and labels his sword a fiddler’s bow “that shall make [Tybalt] dance,” challenging Tybalt to a duel. This rash decision, driven by his humiliation, ultimately leads to the tragic death of Mercutio himself. Similarly, immediately following Mercutio’s death, Romeo, in a state of grief-induced rage, seethes, “and fire-eyed fury [will] be my conduct. Either thou or I, or both, must go with [Mercutio]” (3.1.129-134). Romeo’s irrational anger leads to him choosing to unjustly resolve what he sees as the wrongful murder of Mercutio by forcing his own or Tybalt’s death. This impulsive decision, however, not only results in Tybalt’s death but also ends up in the unfortunate banishment of Romeo. In summary, Shakespeare illustrates to his audience that the tragic consequences befall Mercutio and Romeo due to their irrational decisions to let strong emotions, stirred by insults, and the blinding rage of grief drive ill-fated choices. Shakespeare also utilizes Juliet and Friar Lawrence’s plan of running away with Romeo to help reveal how rash decision making can lead to a lack of preparation and cause unforeseen
Romeo did not think ahead when his rage consumed him and as a result of this, he could not openly admit his marriage to the public and his family. Before Tybalt killed Mercutio, Romeo stated to Tybalt “I do protest I never injured thee. But love thee better than thou canst devise.” This means, at first, Romeo said to Tybalt that he loved him for an unknown reason but after hearing the news that Mercutio and Tybalt fought and Mercutio had passed away, his rationality was forgotten. Before commencing another fight, Romeo says “And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!” This means that he has forgotten about his “love” for Tybalt and instead decides to fight him to the death without any consideration for his marriage’s future. This clearly shows his impetuosity and sudden changes of heart within the play dn this same concept of overreacting when angry can be related t to.An example of how this shown ina modern say setting is overreacting when faced with diiffficult news, this can be taken in may eays but most commonly with anger or frustration. This concept is often feared when breaking hard news and is still extremely relevant today and
In “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, two very young people fall in love but cannot be with each other because of the feud in between their families. The feud ends when Romeo and Juliet both kill themselves because of heartbreak over the other. The minor characters Mercutio, Tybalt, and Friar Lawrence serve as foils to Romeo, to help support the theme of patience.
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
Mercutio's prankster personality plus Tybalt's hatred of all Montagues instigates the common end to three very different characters. Romeo does not wish to draw a sword, and therefore becomes the peacemaker. "Gentlemen, for shame! Forbear this outrage!" (III, i, 82). Under Romeo's peacekeeping arm, Tybalt thrusts his rapier, and Mercutio curses both Montagues and Capulets. "I am hurt. A plague a both houses! I am sped" (III, i, 86-88). To Mercutio, destiny is not the cause of his death, but rather specific people brought about his fatality. His behavior is static as he teases while being carried away by
Tragedies are dramas based on human sufferings, where often many characters or events can be blamed for. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the two forbidden lovers’ deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. Romeo and Juliet’s heartbreaking fate can be attributed to Mercutio’s disobedient behavior, Friar Lawrence, and the Capulet’s party.
(CLOSING STATEMENTS) With his audacious nature, Romeo kills Tybalt in a challenge and later kills himself, which causes significant problems in the plot. Unfortunately, as a result of Romeo’s actions, Juliet stabs herself with his dagger because she no longer wants to live in a world without him. Along with Romeo, Mercutio is another character who makes poor decisions based on his overdramatic personality and tendency to disagree with Benvolio's way of thinking. These two choices cause characters around Mercutio to not take him seriously, and for this reason, he later dies in the play. Although Mercutio’s actions impact the storyline, Friar Laurence’s choices primarily cause the play to become such a tragedy. For instance, his poor decisions to marry Romeo and Juliet and flee Juliet’s tomb eventually cause the couple’s love for one another to become inseparable, and they take their lives at the end of the plot. (CLINCHER) As the readers delve deeper into Romeo and Juliet and unravel what went wrong, they will begin to realize that the decisions made by the characters created catastrophic
...ic face, / To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? / Now by the stock and honour of my kin, / To strike him dead I hold it not a sin." ( , , 53-58). Tybalt's attitude toward the boy he calls to get his sword is very unkind. He shows no respect to his peers and he is often found ordering people or provoking them to fights. His loyalty towards Also, Tybalt wants to go to the lengths of frightening the guests to go fight with a Montague. This shows how unsympathetic Tybalt is to people even though, his actions are not necessary. In Tybalt's place, Mercutio would have let it go or at least called him aside and then fight with him. Mercutio is a very loyal friend especially to Romeo where Tybalt treats the boy like trash. In the end, Mercutio and Tybalt have diverse families and personalities where Mercutio is the typical nice guy and Tybalt is the typical bad guy.
Consequently, both authors portray strong fidelity as a necessity for platonic love, which in turn can motivate revenge. In the play, Shakespeare employs a stage direction to have Mercutio fight Tybalt, after Tybalt had initially challenged Romeo into a duel. Romeo is unwilling to be engaged in battle, and in response, Mercutio gives Tybalt his desired fight. Mercutio’s willingness to fight in place of Romeo exhibits the strong influence of his platonic love for Romeo. In the film’s version of the event, close-ups are used to spotlight the fatal stabbing wound that Tybalt inflicts on Mercutio. The wound signals the death of Mercutio and serves as a symbol of his willingness to die for Romeo. The powerful nature of platonic love has evidently compelled Mercutio to fight Tybalt and perish as a consequence. In the play, after Mercutio’s death, Romeo uses hyperbole in the line “fire-eyed fury be my conduct now”. This use of figurative language strongly suggests Romeo’s desire to translate his rage over the death of Mercutio into potential revenge. The powerful, enduring nature of platonic love has markedly fuelled Romeo’s desire for vengeance. In the film, during the fight scene between Romeo and Tybalt, Luhrmann uses close-ups and slow-motion effects to encapsulate Romeo’s raging facial expressions. His uncontrolled emotions are further heightened by a shaking handheld
The excerpt shows how even Mercutio recognizes the feud between the Montagues and Capulets being destructive, and how it is now gotten so out of hand he has been dragged into it. Mercutio tries to open Romeo’s eyes on how if this feud continues there will be a demise for both families; but by Romeo choosing to ignore this advice and killing Tybalt he is setting himself up for his failure/downfall. Thus, Romeo is shown as a tragic hero because his demise is partly his fault and not an accident.
Tybalt (a capulet) is very enraged by Romeo’s appearance at a family party, where he meets Juliet. He approaches Romeo’s friend Mercutio, asking him details of Romeo’s location. When Romeo enters the scene, he is threatened by Tybalt, who tries to stab him. Instead of stabbing Romeo, he stabs his friend Mercutio, which makes Romeo furious. Tybalt had come to challenge Romeo, and now he was prepared. The duel is commenced, and it is Tybalt, the better swordsman, who falls. In the heat of the moment, even Romeo, who is blindly in love with Juliet, is overcome with his emotions, which he uses to kill Tybalt. As if the consequences of Tybalt's murder are not enough, Romeo is permanently exiled from Verona. Killing Tybalt was not a smart move for Romeo to make, but it was a choice that didn’t include his rational thinking because of the
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 led to the death of Mercutio.
Romeo’s poor choices lead him and Juliet to their deaths. Romeo gets blinded by his emotions and does not think about the consequences of his actions. At the beginning of act three, Mercutio and Tybalt duel, but Mercutio ends up getting hurt and dies. As Romeo is in Mantua, his man Balthasar informs him of Juliet’s death.
Mercutio was a loyal young man who always said what he admired to say in a manner that was sometimes serious yet comical, which in spite cost him his life. Throughout the play, Mercutio provided many examples of how he was loyal to his friends and how his words were truthful and comical to people who were around him. Mercutio’s attitude of this loyal and comical effect always lasted throughout he play even when the was dying and asking for help, which never happened to come in time before Romeo, Benvolio, and many others actually found out what he was really talking about.
(draws his sword) Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?”(Shakespeare, 3. 1. 44-46). This is when Mercutio drew his sword to fight Tybalt. As Mercutio and Tybalt are fighting Romeo tries to stop Mercutio because he knows that he can’t stop Tybalt. As Romeo is talking to Mercutio Tybalt goes under Romeo’s arm and stabs Mercutio. Mercutio then curses both houses while he is
Next, Mercutio, Romeo’s friend, and Benvolio are mocking the Capulets’ in a public place. Tybalt enters the scene and Mercutio is made fun of by Tybalt. Benvolio warns Tybalt and Mercutio to move the fight to a private place. They ignore Benvolio and fight each other regardless of Benvolio’s thoughts. Romeo tries to stop the fight and gets in between Tybalt and Mercutio but, Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo’s arm. Mercutio booms, “ I am hurt. / A plague o’ both your houses! I am sped” (III.i.89-90). This proves that because Tybalt has killed Mercutio, a member of the house of escalus has died. The Prince has lost a relative, Mercutio, and it was right after he told Benvolio and Tybalt that the next fight will result in torture. This also proves that Tybalt killing Mercutio has not solved anything because now, the Prince and Romeo are both mad. Furthermore, Tybalt, after killing Mercutio, enters the scene once again. Another fight occurs between Romeo and Tybalt. Tybalt dies by Romeo’s sword. The Prince of Verona and members of the Capulet and Montague family enter. The head of the Montague family states, “Not Romeo, Prince; he was Mercutio’s friend; /.../ The life of Tybalt” (III.i.189,191). The Prince replies, “And for that offence / Immediately we do exile him hence” (III.i.192-193). Indeed, Romeo, due to killing Tybalt, has now been exiled and cannot come to Verona to visit Juliet, putting her in distress.. At the same time, The killing of Tybalt does not help Romeo or the families. The families of Verona are furious of the events taking place. As a result, Violence is creating a mess that is getting harder to clean