Romeo And Juliet Mercutio Character Traits

Character Analysis: Mercutio

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio, a supporting character, is an Italian man with a realistic outlook on life who proves himself to be a humorous, yet attentive friend with gregarious tendencies. While he is not the most amiable of companions, Mercutio’s actions demonstrate the underlying good intentions he harbors for his loved ones. Looking beyond the well-meaning but crass comments and absence of proper empathy, Mercutio’s benevolent nature is apparent. Although his method of social interaction relies heavily on his opinions, which in turn rely on the amount of his experience and wisdom, Mercutio tries to lend a helping hand in his own way.

Mercutio’s opinionated way of thinking greatly influences how he speaks about certain subjects. Not one to reserve his tongue, Mercutio’s

pragmatic views prevent his from fully sympathizing with Romeo’s unrequited infatuation with Rosaline. Unlike Romeo, Mercutio is not one to be described as a visionary, rather a pragmatist who is amused by Romeo’s lovesick demeanor. In Mercutio’s words he says,
“If love be rough with [Romeo], be rough with love. Prick love for pricking and [Romeo] beat love down,” (1:4 27-28).
Mercutio is not one to succumb easily to the pressures of romance, a trait exemplified by his bemusement at Romeo’s sorrowful lamenting about his unreturned affections for Rosaline. To let one’s delusions become one’s main motivator is nothing short of ludicrous to Mercutio, shown by his statement where he admits, “True, [Mercutio] talk of dreams; which are the children of an idle brain, begot of nothing but vain fantasy; which is as thin of substance as the air, and more inconsistent than the wind...” (1:4 96-100). Though his views of romance and reality might differ from the views of his close friends, Mercutio stays true to his status as Romeo’s close friend.
Although much more of a realist than an idealist, Mercutio is known for cracking a few jokes here and there, especially at the expense of his friends.

Ever the joker, Mercutio also finds ways to incorporate his jokes into a form of sympathy by trying to distract Romeo from his hopeless crush with humor, “ You are a lover. Borrow Cupid’s wings and soar with them above a common bound” (1:4 17-18). Mercutio lightly pokes fun at Romeo’s love for Rosaline and calls him Cupid, encouraging him to rise up against the restrictions pinning him down, which would be his unrequited love. Mercutio is also not above making jokes at his own expense for the sake of cheering up his friend, “What care I what curious eye doth quote deformities? Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me” (1:4 30-32). Mercutio is claiming he does not care who looks upon him and references to his bush-like eyebrows, a message for Romeo to be comfortable in who he is and his own abilities instead of worrying if he is good enough for Rosaline. While Mercutio enjoys being the cause of more than a few laughs, he uses his comedic skill to benefit his friends as well as poke fun at

them.
To be humorous and a social butterfly were expected skills for someone of Mercutio’s rank. As a blood relative to Prince Escalus and Count Paris, as well as having the ability to socialize with both the Capulet and Montague houses, Mercutio has a plethora of favorable social opportunities. Mercutio has the ability to capture the attention of others, retelling stories using vivid descriptions and well detailed puns, as well as going so in depth that he becomes swept away by his wayward imagination, such as when he told the story of Queen Mab.
“O. then I see Queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes in shape no bigger than an agate stone...because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are. Sometimes she gallops o’er a courtier’s nose…” (1:4 54-55, 76-77). This social charm of his makes him an excellent wordsmith, an ability he uses often for the amusement of himself and to better the moods of his friends. Mercutio is not without his flaws, yet he manages to take what one would consider a fatale personality flaw and use it to become closer and more supportive of his friends.