The Role of Tybalt in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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The Role of Tybalt in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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The Shakespearean play, 'Romeo and Juliet', is a tale of two houses,

separated by a feud: on one side are the Montagues and on the other

side are the Capulets. This "ancient grudge" (Prologue) is the key

background plot to the play, and provides the reason for the adversity

of Romeo and Juliet's love for each other.

When the members of the different houses come into contact, there

always appears to be friction, fuelled by the feud; in this Tybalt

plays a major role. He is a Capulet, so the friction only occurs with

Montagues, namely Romeo, Benvolio and a friend of the Montagues,

Mercutio. He is referred to by Mercutio (Act 2 Scene 4) as, "the

courageous captain of compliments"; Shakespeare uses alliteration to

emphasise his description of the high standard of duelling ability

gifted to Tybalt. Tybalt himself is very boastful of his own skill at

duelling, as he regularly speaks of duelling, and would not do so if

he had no chance of winning. In Act 3 Scene 1, Tybalt searches for

Romeo following Romeo's appearance at the party in disguise. However,

he finds Mercutio first and when Romeo appears and declines the

challenge, Tybalt is satisfied to accept Mercutio's challenge. This

view is also supported by the way Tybalt speaks condescendingly to

others in the play, e.g. in conversation with Romeo (Act 3, Scene 1)

,"Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries".

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