Mercutio is one of the most distinctive characters in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”. His language is always powerful and creative. He represents many different things in the play and holds an important role. Both of these categories will be explored later, among other things. First of all, Mercutio is Romeo’s friend. He is neither a Montague, nor a Capulet. Therefore, he has not been born into a feud and really has no side. However, his friendship with Romeo does make him connected with the Montague s.
Mercutio’s character stands out from the rest because of his energy in everything he does and says. He is very fun loving and has a true love for life. He is living his life on the edge and always looking for something new and exciting to do. He is constantly playing on words, using two or more meanings. Romeo once describes him as, “A gentlemen who loves to hear himself talk. ” As displayed in his Queen Mab speech in Act I Scene iv, he is very imaginative. He describes in dear detail everything about a little world he has imagined.
He creates this tiny society, which he uses to explain how we get our dreams. In that same scene, Mercutio reveals to the audience how he believes one should chase after what is desired. He tells Romeo to not be afraid to take charge saying: “If love be rough with you, then be rough with love. ” Mercutio teases Romeo, in Act I Scene iv: “Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover! Appear though in the likeness of a sigh. ” This shows how Mercutio simply cannot understand Romeo’s love for Juliet, and that he sees his love as simply confused emotions.
Mercutio is free and does not understand how someone could want or need anyone or anything else in his life to fulfil it. He is not interested in being dependent on anyone. There are two main reasons Mercutio’s character is important to the actual plot of “Romeo & Juliet”. First of all, Mercutio convinces Romeo to go to the party at the Capulet’s house, where he met Juliet. Romeo was very unwilling to go to the party and even told them that he is scared about what the night may bring. However, after Mercutio teases Romeo a little, Romeo decides to go.
It is only because of Mercutio’s persuasions that Romeo decides to attend the ball. 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 Romeo’s banishment. First, Tybalt murders Mercutio. Than Romeo is so angry by this that he kills Tybalt. As a result, Romeo is banished from Verona and therefore from seeing Juliet. During the first scene of Act III, Mercutio is being his regular, intelligent side. He is very sharp in his language, but perhaps too sharp.
He on purpose annoys Tybalt, by doing things like purposely mistaking meanings of words, like in Act III Scene I, Tybalt begins addressing Mercutio about the relationship between Romeo and Juliet and Romeo takes the word ‘consort’ as related to playing music, instead of being friends with Romeo. Instances like this simply make the argument more and more worked up, until Mercutio takes Tybalt’s final blow, while Romeo is standing between them actually trying to stop the fight. Short Description: Mercutio: Kinsman to the Prince. His ideas of love are similar to the Nurse’s.
He is a hot-tempered man and jumps into battle with Tybalt when Romeo refuses. Tybalt extremely wounds him and Mercutio blames his death on the feud between the two families. Mercutio’s death is a major event in this play. When Tybalt kills Mercutio, the comedy of the play die with him. From now on, this play becomes a Tragedy. This demonstrates how Mercutio is a strong image of all that is childlike and cheerful in this play. Mercutio does not change dramatically in this play.
The only slight change a reader may see is when he is about to die, he yells: “A plague on both your houses! This may be pointed out as a change because Mercutio has never been so serious before. He has never said any disagreement of the relationship between the Montagues and the Capulets. Now, he seems to understand the damage the fighting is capable of doing, unfortunately, it was too late for him. In conclusion, Mercutio’s character is obviously very difficult and vital to the plot of this play. He represents freedom and makes the story line a lot more interesting. He is in fact an important character to this play and its success.
