Mercutio's Friendship

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Friendship is not tested by whether one friend in the relationship can make a better joke but rather tested by whether the friend is there when they are in need. In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, two lovers hide their love from their families. In the play, Mercutio, a member of the Prince’s household, makes jokes and gives advice to Romeo , a member of the Montague household. Although Mercutio gives guidance to Romeo about love, Romeo doesn’t believe it to be good enough to make a real friendship. Additionally, Mercutio, who appeared to be friendly and protective of Romeo, assumed many ideas of Romeo, showing that their friendship wasn’t truly stable and real. This eventually leads to more anger between the Prince, Montagues …show more content…

When Mercutio gives advice to Romeo that he can find other girls and he can love again, Romeo replies, “I am too sore enpierced with his shaft/ To soar with his light feathers; and so bound/ I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe./Under love’s burden do I sink (1.4.20-23). Since Romeo is able to respond to Mercutio word-by-word, he is very witty and quick to come up with a response. If other people heard a conversation between Mercutio and Romeo they would think that they were really close friends as they Romeo always knows a way to counter Mercutio’s advice, no matter how smart it …show more content…

When Romeo comes back from Juliet’s house, Mercutio just assumes that he was out having fun with other girls. Mercutio says, “Dido a dowdy, Cleopatra a gypsy, Helen and Hero hild-/ings and harlots, Thisbe a gray eye or so, but not to the/ purpose. Signor Romeo, bon jour! There’s a French salutation to your French slop. You gave us the counterfeit/ fairly last night” (2.4.41-45). By saying to Romeo that he “gave us the conunterfeit fairly last night”, Mercutio demonstrates that he doesn’t trust Romeo and assumes that Romeo tricked them and fooled him, even without actually asking him. By questioning Romeo, Mercutio shows that he isn’t a good friend to Romeo. Mercutio also shows that real friends don’t question each other’s motives and assume the worst about each

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