In the tragic story by William Shakespeare known as Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio, a close friend of Romeo, displays the tragic flaw of insolence through his disrespectful comments. When Romeo was hesitant to go to the Capulet Party because of a dream that foreshadowed his death, Mercutio was quick to dismiss it and mocked his friend. He classified dreams as “the children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain fantasy” (Shakespeare ACT I Scene 4). By saying this, Mercutio implies that Romeo’s dream shows that he is dumb because he believes his dream might come true even though dreams are not reality. Mercutio’s words show his rude and disrespectful behavior because he is mocking and taunting Romeo who is sharing something he believes to be
From the very start Romeo and Mercutio were side by side, this means that Mercutio had a great effect on Romeo's decisions, starting with the night Romeo met Juliet, which in the end leads to his unforgettable death. The night of the Capulets ball Mercutio convinces Romeo to go, to help with the grieving of his loss of love over Rosalie. “Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance”(shakespeare, pg 389) This line in turn leads to what eventually becomes the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo then meets, and falls in love with the Capulet daughter, Juliet.
This quote is spoken by Romeo after he kills Tybalt in revenge for Mercutio’s death. This quote also highlights the fact that Tybalt does not show any regret or remorse for his role in Mercutio’s death, despite the consequences of his actions. Tybalt’s lack of remorse only adds to his responsibility for Mercutio’s death, as he demonstrates a disregard for the lives of others and a willingness to engage in violent behavior. Tybalt is responsible for Mercutio’s death in Shakespear’s play “The Tragedy Of Romeo And Juliet.” Tybalt takes offense to Romeo’s presence at the Capulet party and challenges him to a fight, despite attempts by Mercutio to claim the situation.
To start things off, let us look at how Mercutio’s actions and advice led Romeo to be abhorred by almost everyone in Verona. At the Capulets’ party, Romeo infuriates Tybalt, after Tybalt discovers that a Montague (Romeo) is at the Capulet’s feast. Mercutio was there, and in fact, he led Romeo to be disliked by Tybalt. Mercutio told Romeo he should find love and pursue it even if it does not work out for him.
There are many characters in Romeo and Juliet that are interesting in personality and actions, but Romeo and Mercutio have a special bond to each other. They are foils in the play, meaning their two personalities and actions offset each other. When Romeo is sad and heartbroken, Mercutio is there to joke and tease Romeo about his terrible love life. When Romeo is complaining about how love is, “Too rough, too rude, too boist’rous,” (Act 1, IV) Mercutio replies with a joking statement of, “If love be rough with you, be rough with love; Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.” (Act 1, IV)This small retort shows that the characters are nearly opposites, but could not be foils if they were not alike in many ways.
Mercutios relationship with Romeo is a foil because their beliefs are extremely controversial with each other's. Fates, dreams and love are few of the thoughts where they disagree, and there opinions on each matter were shown a myriad throughout the play , this is shown to be true when Romeo states, "In bed asleep, while they do dreams come true" (1.4, lns 52). This quote supports my answer because Romeo is stating that your dream are prophecies where Mercutio, "...nothing but fantasy" (1.4, lns 98) believes that they mean nothing and are just childish thought. Another quote from the text that supports my answer is between Romeo and Mercutio, "And, to sink in it, should you burden love- too great oppression for a tender thing" (1.4, lns 23-24)
Mercutio quickly calls him out, claiming “dreamers often lie” (I.4.56) and dreams are “nothing but vain fantasy” (I.4.105-107). Mercutio suggests his beliefs are skeptical and dreams do not show fate, aren’t genuine, and don’t pertain to the real world. Finally, Romeo, who sulks over love, is told by Mercutio to “borrow Cupid’s wings” and “soar with them above a common bound” (I.4.17-18). Mercutio tries to get Romeo over love, and Romeo responds negatively, saying he is too sore to fly due to the shot of Cupid’s arrow. This displays Mercutio’s optimistic and Romeo’s pessimistic personalities.
Mercutio is different from Romeo because he does not believe in love and makes fun of Romeo and falling in love so heavily all the time. When Romeo describes his love for Rosaline using a rose with thorns as a metaphor. Mercutio laughs and says ”If love be rough with you, be rough with love; Prick love for pricking and you beat love down”(I.4.27-28). In another scenario of Romeo and Mercutio’s foils is when Romeo tells his friends about a dream he had about the party and is expecting a disastrous outcome of the party. Mercutio makes fun of Romeo because he does not believe that dreams can become visions of impending danger.
Mercutio is making light of Romeo’s deep depressing love for Rosaline, he’s mocking love and making it a joke. This creates an emphasis on Romeo’s utter affixation with love. Mercutio’s playfulness and ability to make a serious subject humorous and reasonable bring out the deep, dark, and depressing side of Romeo, who is completely the opposite when it comes to love. Romeo does not see love as a joke and we see him fall into a depression, Mercutio only makes this sadness more apparent as he talks so jokingly of love. Shakespeare uses Mercutio to lighten Romeo’s depression and make it more
Romeo’s humor is very lack-luster and Romeo himself is more sensitive, so he doesn't crack a lot of jokes, while Mercutio on the other hand loves to have a good laugh and makes a lot of jokes himself. Mercutio is a very optimistic man, but will definitely fight someone if it is anywhere near needed. Differently, Romeo is very against violence and tries to stop any fights that build up. Finally, Mercutio does not understand Romeo’s love for others, and how much he lets it affect him. Even though the two are so different, Romeo and Mercutio still manage to be best friends throughout the play.
Throughout the whole play both Romeo and Mercutio were there for each other when in need of a friend or even just some comforting words. Mercutio always seems to say the right things to put Romeo back on track and in focus. While Romeo was relentlessly weeping over his unrequited love for Rosaline, Mercutio, with his wise and caring words said, “‘Why is not this not better than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable.
In the play, Romeo says, “You’re this poor and wretched and still afraid to die? Your cheeks are thin because of hunger. I can see in your eyes that you’re starving. Anyone can see that you’re a beggar” (Shakespeare) As Romeo was insulting this man it can be seen how he was acting out and truly not thinking on what he was actually about to do.
Mercutio says that dreams mean nothing, and pressures him into going to the party anyways. Romeo agrees, and begins the chain of events that lead to his and Juliet’s deaths. He shows how reluctant he is to go by stating,
Romeo allows his thirst for revenge to cloud his logical reasoning when he kills Tybalt who has just murdered Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend. Mercutio defends Romeo against Tybalt’s insults with comebacks and later his sword. As Romeo attempts to intervene, Mercutio is stabbed by Tybalt and Romeo is enraged. Once he finds out from Benvolio that the wound had killed him, Romeo,”Who had but newly entertained revenge,” (III.i.173), kills Tybalt and flees the scene. Romeo declined to
Dreams can be an escape from reality, but dreamers must guard themselves against becoming trapped in that fantasy. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is the tragic love story of two lovers who are fated to doom. Mercutio’s “Queen Mab” speech explores the idea of how dreams can be deceiving which relates to Romeo and Juliet’s deceptive love for one another. By examining Shakespeare’s use of diction and imagery, the motif of dreams becomes evident. In the exposition, Shakespeare operates the use of imagery in Mercutio’s “Queen Mab” speech.
After all, Romeo was young, he had the rest of his life to find love. Earlier in the play is another example of Romeo reacting without through thought, “Alive in triumph—and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now. Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul Is but a little way above our heads...”(III.i.84-91). If Romeo recalled what the Prince stated after the servants fight [for know on, fighters will be killed or