When we study the tragedy of romeo and juliet, written by william shakespeare, the plays obvious messages of fate and love become apparent. Shakespeares romeo and juliet act 3 tybalt kills mercutio. Mercutio states that benvolio is secretly hoping for a fight, or any other chance to use his sword. At this point shakespeare uses mercutio shock the viewer by tybalt killing mercutio and make their mood towards tybalt the same as mercutio, because even though the fight was brought on by mercutio it was never meant to be a fight to the death and during the fight mercutio often makes witty pun as they fight bring in a slight comic mood in to. Mercutio is an antiromantic character who, like juliet s nurse, regards love as an exclusively physical pursuit. Romeo claims that dreams can be real or true because they reflect reality, while mercutio argues that they lie. The second way mercutio s character is important to the plot is mercutio s death that sets off a series of events that leads to romeos banishment.
Mercutio s queen mab speech introduces us to an important aspect of his character. Y ou could say mercutios death is the start, or a catalyst for the future deaths of the play. Character analysis of mercutio essay 606 words bartleby. Thou talkst of nothing, romeo says to mercutio in order to force mercutio to end the queen mab speech 1. He says this speech just after receiving a fatal wound from tybalt, a capulet and enemy of the montague. Mercutio character analysis essay example for students 785. Well begin by reading the full text of mercutio s famous queen mab speech from romeo and juliet mercutio begins. It is only because of mercutio s persuasions that romeo decides to attend the ball. Character analysis mercutio mercutio, the witty skeptic, is a foil for romeo, the young petrarchan lover. All the attention is drawn to him, he brings out the humor in most situations. Romeo and juliet at a glance play summary about romeo and juliet. Mercutio about the speech romeo and juliet is a play full of contrasts.
Mercutio is quick with words and is one of the plays most skilled masters of puns and. Emma torrance analyses the characters of benvolio, mercutio and tybalt. Wild, frenetic, easygoing, and funloving, mercutios manic energy, rambling stories, and razorsharp wit masks a much darker core. The fight which breaks out between the capulets and montagues in act 3, scene 1 is central to the plot of romeo and juliet. The two lovers thought their love would conquer all and that it would somehow be strong enough to survive the legacy of the families. Tybalt under romeos arm stabs mercutio, and flies with his. Up until this very point, romeo has been looked at like an innocent young boy and william knows that. Mercutio character analysis essay example for students. Mercutio monologues from romeo and juliet thoughtco. Mercutio mocks romeos vision of love and the poetic devices he uses to express his emotions.
In the same scene mercutio makes a speech about the way he feels about love. Act 3 scene 1 mercutios death by alex garner on prezi. Mercutio s quickness to fight rivals tybalt s hotheaded rage, and mercutio often involves himself in brawls that shouldnt concern him, always fighting on behalf of the montagues. Mercutio, the witty skeptic, is a foil for romeo, the young petrarchan lover. In what is usually referred to as the queen mab speech, mercutio teases and scolds the young lover believing in silly dreams. His monologue about queen mab, delivered while the montague men head to the capulet feast, is a defining moment for his character. Tybalt, mercutio, the prince expressly hath forbidden bandying in verona streets. Mercutio character analysis in romeo and juliet litcharts. By the end of the speech, romeo walks in, and mercutio begins to chastise the young man.
Mercutio s curse is because he blames the feud between the capulets and the montagues for his death and he. All speeches lines for mercutio in romeo and juliet. Though he constantly puns, jokes, and teasessometimes in fun, sometimes with bitternessmercutio is not a mere jester or prankster. Mab is the queen of the fairies, a figure deeply rooted in english folklore. With his wild words, mercutio punctures the romantic. Throughout the play mercutio makes fun of romeos fantasy of perfect romantic love, which invites the audience to question the seriousness and maturity of romeos feelings for juliet. He discourses in an obscure but passionate manner, working himself up. When once such fight with tybalt ends with tybalt fatally stabbing mercutio, he attempts to play the wound off as a scratchbut as he succumbs to his wounds, he rails against the forces that have. This is where mercutio starts spinning his tale about queen mab. Mercutios queen mab speech introduces us to an important aspect of his character. Analyze mercutios dying remarks in act 3, scene 1 of romeo. She is the fairies midwife, and she comes in shape no bigger than an agate stone on the forefinger of.
Mercutios death is the pivotal point in the play, turning the play right around to certain tragedy. A sidebyside translation of act 1, scene 4 of romeo and juliet from the original shakespeare into modern english. Wild, frenetic, easygoing, and funloving, mercutio s manic energy, rambling stories, and razorsharp wit masks a much darker core. Also his speech intensifies the feeling of the stupidity of the feud. He only realises the futility of it all when its too late. Mercutio s line is, put simply, a curse on both the capulet and the montague families. Act 3 scene 1 mercutio s death why might shakespeare have decided to place this scene directly after the events of act 2 does it match up to the typical structure. It is about two people in love who commit suicide when their feuding families prevent them from being together. Here is shakespeares original text of the queen mab speech. Through fanciful description, humorous puns, and mockery, mercutio is making the point. Character analysis of mercutio mercutio is always bursting with energy and his speeches are full of extravert ideas. Juliet learns of tybalts death and romeos banishment and is distraught over. A character that contains a lot of these extremes is romeos best friend mercutio. In fact, some shakespearean scholars have argued that it was added to the script during the printing of the second quarto and was not, therefore, a part of the play as it was originally written.
His speech goes on to claim that they reflect the individuals desires and passions. Mercutios death is sudden, and makes death a dark reality for several characters causing a domino effect of tragic fate that ultimately takes the lives of tybalt, paris, romeo, juliet, and lady montague. He is a cynical realist who finds dreams and fantasies ridiculous. Because of the clever, witty and complex speeches shakespeare. The second way mercutios character is important to the plot is mercutios death that sets off a series of events that leads to romeos banishment. Choose to be either mercutio or benvolio act out lines 1 34. Before his death mercutio utters a pun about death. Mercutio is one of the plays most dynamic and complex characters. Benvolio, mercutio, and mercutios page are out walking around verona, but benvolio begs mercutio to lead them home. It is only because of mercutios persuasions that romeo decides to attend the ball.
Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh, speak but one rhyme and i am satisfied. Analyze mercutios dying remarks in act 3, scene 1 of. Mercutio grabs everyones attention with this famous, gradually hottempered monologue. This pun explains death and impression because grave can mean that he is dead or that he is going to be a sight to see. Mercutios death scene is famous because of its brutality. Mercutio is among the most memorable characters in the storycertainly, hes the most charismatic and outspoken. There is no better way to take some ones innocence than to have him be responsible for his best friends death. On merciitios death hallam remarks, it seems to have been necessary to keep down the other characters that they might not overpower the principal one. During the course of the play romeo faces several challenges and experiences that force him to grow up, and we see that by the time of his death he has matured significantly.
For example, when queen mab visits lovers, they dream of love, lawyers. Through the queen mab speech mercutio degrades women, yet captivates the audience in talking nonsense creates humour. Shakespeare uses mercutio to divert the attention to him and to. This death is the cause of why romeo kills tybalt, then why romeo is banished and then resulting in paris, romeo and juliet eventually dying. I will devote a separate section in the essay to the analysis of each of these three dramatic. Get an answer for analyze mercutio s dying remarks in act 3, scene 1 of romeo and juliet. Mercutio, as entertaining as he is, can be seen as offering an alternative vision of the grand tragedy that is romeo and juliet. Mercutio agrees, saying that dreams are the children of an idle brain 1. True to character, the hotheaded mercutio starts a quarrel the instant tybalt requests a word with him, by responding, make it a word and a blow. Romeo steps in to stop the speech and calm mercutio down.
How does shakespeare use mercutio in act 3 scene 1. He fights as you sing pricksong, keeps time, distance, and proportion. His namewhich recalls the adjective mercurial, meaning volatile. Mercutios death creates sympathy for romeos enraged, emotional reaction in. Mercutio s death is the catalyst for the tragic turn the play takes from this point onward. As well as using mercutio to steer the direction of the play, shakespeare uses him to insert comedy in to the play. Mercutio speech subject is a crossword puzzle clue. Mercutios speech, while building tension for romeos first meeting with juliet at the. It is a hot day, he says, and on such days mad blood often stirsin other words, people get worked up more easily. However, after mercutio teases romeo a little, romeo decides to go. Nov 16, 2011 introduction to mercutio s queen mab speech. Nov 27, 2018 dr aidan, phd in shakespeare, provides you with the 4 key themes in romeo and juliet that will help you to unlock the play and strengthen your understanding of the key themes. Tybalt at first ignores mercutio s insults because, ironically again, hes saving his blade for.
Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. Mercutio mens eyes were made to look, and let them gaze. Mercutio s death is the turning point of romeo and juliet. Mercutios queen mab speech mercutios speech about queen mab in act i, scene iv, seems to have nothing to do with romeo and juliet whatsoever. In act 2 scene1, the theme of true love is conveyed when romeo has seen beloved juliet he climbs onto the capulets wall, whilst mercutio and benvolio call out for romeo, mercutio mocks romeos infatuation for. Mercutio tells romeo during act i, scene 4 of romeo and juliet, which is a wellknown play by william shakespeare that most ninth graders study. Mercutio responds with a long speech about queen mab of the fairies, who visits peoples dreams.
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