“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?” (Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America). Steinbeck beautifully illustrates why in every relationship there must be balance between individuals. Shakespeare emphasizes this opposition in relationships in Romeo and Juliet using the characters of Romeo and Mercutio. He teaches the reader that friendship is a balanced connection between two or more living things that can completely contradict each other through Romeo and Mercutio's relationship.
Romeo and Mercutio display two very different views of the world with Romeo leaving it to fate and Mercutio believe that people control their own future, despite this they remain friends. Romeo speaks of dreams as
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truth tellings after his night with Juliet, but Mercutio refutes his point, “... talk[ing] of dreams,/ Which are children of an idle brain,/ Begot[ing] of nothing but vain fantasy,/ Which is as thin of a substance as the air,” (Shakespeare 1.4.103-106). Romeo and Mercutio perspectives are completely conflicting; Romeo describes dreams as telling “things true” albeit, Mercutio views dreams as “vain fantasy” and nothing but “air” (1.4. 57 and 106). The pair still remain confidants despite their conflicting opinions, because they are friends. Then after Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo states that, “... this day’s black fate on more days doth depend” and that he is, “Fortune's fool!” (3.1.124 and 142). Romeo romanticizes every situation representing the world’s dreamers, whereas Mercutio observes his surroundings as they are without imagination. Romeo and Mercutio display great loyalty to each other, despite their differences.
Mercutio and Tybalt enter into a brawl over honor when Tybalt insults Romeo, speaking of Romeo as “a villain” and warning him that his actions, “...shall not excuse the injuries,” (3.1.62 and 67). Accordingly, Mercutio’s response is to stand up for Romeo describing Tybalt as of, “...dishonorable,[and] vile submission” and challenging Tybalt to a duel, baiting him, saying all he would like to do is take, “...nothing but one of [Tybalt’s]/ nine lives, that [he means] to make bold withal,” (3.1.78-79). Mercutio’s willingness to die on behalf of Romeo’s honor shows a great amount of fidelity to Romeo, which sadly leads to Mercutio's downfall. Promptly after Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo directly threatens him, giving Tybalt, “ the villain back again,” saying, “Either thou or I, or both, must go with [Mercutio]” (3.1.130 and 134). Romeo would still die for Mercutio, despite Mercutio’s persistent blaming of Romeo for his death, repeating, “ A plague o’ both your houses!” and saying, “I was hurt under your/arm.” (3.1.103/104,107-108). Romeo’s dedication to him and Mercutio’s friendship presents immense loyalty, undeterred by their
unlikeness. Shakespeare's comparison of personalities and examination of the difficulties of friendship teaches the reader that friends can be polar opposites. Mercutio and Romeo display great contrast throughout the play, yet the pair remain friends, thus teaching the reader that each relationship is unique and has it’s own ups and downs. In life, one must know how to navigate through and overlook the slight differences in relations. Shakespeare's lessons of friendship and loyalty still ring true today and offer valuable advice to readers of all ages.
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
Mercutio can be blamed for Romeo and Juliet’s peril because he initiated the fight with Tybalt and forced Romeo to go to the Capulet’s party. At the beginning of the play, Romeo gets invited to the Capulet’s party by a servant, unless he was a Montague. At first, Romeo did not want to go, but Mercutio eventually convinced him under the pretext that Rosaline, Romeo’s love, was going to be there. The next day, Tybalt, a Capulet, went looking for Romeo because he knew that Romeo was at the Capulet party. Instead, he stumbled upon Mercutio and Benvolio and asked them where he could find Romeo. However, Mercutio did not want to tell him and insisted on having a duel. Tybalt killed Mercutio during the fight, and Romeo kills Tybalt because he has the need to avenge his friend. Unfortunately, Prince Escalus punished Romeo by banishing him from Verona. This made Romeo and Juliet’s love
Mercutio: Menî–¸ eyes were made to look, and let them gaze. I will not budge for no manî–¸ pleasure, I. This is just a small sampling of crime and violence versus peace and law. Later in this scene, Mercutio challenges Tybalt in a duel, then when Mercutio is slain, Romeo goes on to challenge Tybalt, killing him. If Mercutio, Tybalt and Romeo would have listened to Benvolio, the fights would have not occurred, and the outcome of the play would be changed. An example of love versus hate occurs through the relationship Romeo and Juliet and the hate between their families.
Romeo was very loyal to his friends and family, and it is possible that Mercutio thought that Romeo would help him fight off Tybalt (since he was unaware of Romeo and Juliet’s secret marriage that somewhat united Romeo and Tybalt). However, this argument is easily deemed invalid. Romeo was not in the town square when the fight had first began, so Mercutio expecting his help in the fight would be a far-fetched idea. A person who is not present cannot help or hinder the situation at hand. In addition, Romeo tried to break up the fight when he said, “Gentlemen, for shame forbear this outrage! Tybalt! Mercutio! The Prince expressly hath forbid this bandying in Verona streets. Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!” (Shakespeare 121). Romeo tried to stop the fight and therefore gave Mercutio more time before death, albeit minimal. The blame cannot be placed on Romeo since he did all that he could to stop the fight from
...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.
Of all the things that occur in Romeo and Juliet, the death of Tybalt is one of the most climatic parts of the story. Yet, this all started from another killing of a different person, Mercutio. Mercutio, a relative of the Prince and friend of Romeo, and Tybalt, nephew to Lady Capulet and Mercutio’s arch enemy, were in a heated conversion when Romeo walked in after getting married to Juliet and saw what was going on. Tybalt and Mercutio began to fight and Romeo tried to come in between them to stop the whole thing. Unfortunately, as Tybalt was under Romeo’s arms, he stabbed Mercutio and he died soon after. In all the rage, Romeo was furious that his friend was dead and starts to fight with Tybalt. Eventually, Romeo slays Tybalt and he falls to the floor and dies. Romeo runs away in agony before the Prince soon arrives at the scene of the fight with all the other citizens that were awakened by this fray to see what happened. Although Romeo is guilty of homicide, he is charged for manslaughter as he unlawfully killed a person in the heat of passion while defending Mercutio’s honor.
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
Such lines can be seen between Tybalt and Romeo before they fight when Tybalt says “Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford, No better term than this: thou art a villain” (III, i, 61-62). After Mercutio’s death, Romeo responds saying “Now, Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again” (130). These lines spark a fencing duel between Tybalt and Romeo that is ultimately won by Romeo. All in all, These lines cause the death of first Mercutio for defending Romeo’s name, and then cause the death of Romeo when he defends his own name. Romeo is adamant that Tybalt take “villain” back, and when he does not, Romeo takes matters into his own hands, fighting Tybalt.
After Tybalt killed Mercutio and Romeo challenges him to a duel, Romeo demands, “That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul/ Is but a little way above our heads/ Staying for thine to keep him company/ Either thou or I, or both, must go with him” (Shakespeare Act III scene i, lines 119-123). This quote shows how Romeo’s downfall is partly his fault because he is defying the prince’s command to no longer fight with the Capulets by challenging Tybalt. Since Romeo is aware that he is defying the prince and fighting anyway it is proven he is contributing to his own demise or downfall. When Mercutio is wounded after fighting Tybalt , he cries, “I am hurt/ A plague o’ both your houses!” (Shakespeare Act III scene i, lines 84-85). 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 in 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 a tragic hero because his demise is partly his fault and not an
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare has many contrasting characters, but the most prominent are Romeo and Mercutio. Romeo is a hopeless romantic, while Mercutio believes that love is a strictly physical ordeal. Mercutio has a strong sense of misogyny, while Romeo believes that monogamy and equal partnership reign true. Romeo and Mercutio contrast each other by their distinct personalities and beliefs, as well as their attitudes towards women and life.
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 denies the fate of Mercutio who fought against Tybalt and lost, so he challenges Tybalt to fight in defense of his honor. His sense of honor would not allow himself to ignore the death of Mercutio. It mandated his absurd behavior to take Tybalt’s life which even further separated the Montague and Capulet family. Moreover, Romeo still decides to marry Juliet after he takes Tybalt’s life. His sense of honor leads him to find Father Lawrence who will marry both Juliet
It was a hot summer day in the town square of Verona when the two households came face to face, both feeling and showing their emnity. In the play of Romeo and Juliet, written by Shakespeare, Tybalt wishes to fight Romeo and since Romeo is refusing to battle him, Mercutio steps up and takes Romeo's place. Benvolio is, like always, begging and pleading for them to keep the peace. All through the tale, Romeo's best friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, try to help Romeo with their own particular methods. Surprisingly, there are no characters that differ from each other more than Benvolio and Mercutio. Although Benvolio and Mercutio are alike because they are both very loyal to Romeo, they are different because Benvolio is calm, level-headed, and honest and Mercutio tends to be a sarcastic, wild person who follows his emotions more than his common sense.