Mercutio is a not a Montague or Capulet but is the kinsmen of the prince and has been presented as Romeo

Mercutio is a not a Montague or Capulet but is the kinsmen of the prince and has been

presented as Romeo’s best friend in the play and often their conversations have a lot of

puns which makes their relationship very close. Mercutio loves to have a good laugh and

is loyal and a good friend with humour and his name is linked to the God of Mercury

which symbolises his role as both a messenger.

At the start of the play when Romeo is feeling depressed and not in a good mood because

of his unrequited love for Rosaline, it is Mercutio that suggests they should all gate-crash

the Capulets party this is not a good idea as Montagues and Capulets are rivals and

because of the love he has for Rosaline and does not believe the love he has for her is

genuine. “That dreamers often lie” Mercutio responds to Romeo after he has told him of

his dream about Rosaline and here Mercutio is seen as Witty!

‘If love be rough with you, be rough with love this passage which consists repetition tells

us that Mercutio believes that love can be controlled and it can be hurtful and can cause

pain so you must take control over love here he is being immature and criticises Romeo

who believes dreams show the future despite that he is telling him that if loves hurt him

he should hurt it back and defeat it.

At the beginning of the play all 3 young men Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio go to to the

Capulet party which they shouldn’t have as they’re Montagues and it creates suspense

and Capulets are not allowed to fall in love and Mercutio is held to be responsible here the

reason for that is if he didn’t take Romeo party then he would have not fell in love with

Juliet which could have not caused deaths throughout the play. The audience sees his

reckless side and irrepressible behaviour so Mercutio’s reaction is to make fun of his best

friend and he’s someone who mocks love and is skeptic as he says ‘Romeo, Humors!

Madman! Passion! Lover! He is seen as cynical; and perhaps dosen’t believe true love.

Another quotation which shows the humour side of Mercutio ‘And an old hare hoar, is

very good meat in tent’ Mercutio is always making crude jokes about sex and can’t resist

punning and twisting people’s words which he quite often does a lot throughout the play.

When Mercutio hears about the letter Tybalt has sent challenging Romeo he is very

‘’Will you pluck your sword out of his pitcher by the ears? Make haste.’’ This shows

Mercutio fighting Tybalt instead of Romeo.

There’s dramatic irony as Romeo avoids to fight because he’s now related to Tybalt but

Mercutio see’s Romeo as a coward and is being arrogant.

As Mercutio takes on Tybalt , he gets stabbed which has the audience shocked as

Mercutio says it’s only ‘a scratch’ but in the end was loyal to his best friend but wishes a ‘’

a plague o’ both your houses’’ and blames both feuds for his death and is angry and

wishes both the families to suffer like he did. Shakespere presented Mercutio as a lively

funny character and caused a sorrowful scene when he dies.