Who is to blame?
Act III, Scene 1: Notes on Mercutio and Tybalt
Using the following notes, please write a paragraph on the role of Mercutio and Tybalt. Start with the big picture and focus on Shakespeare’s narrative devices and word choice/puns etc.
The continued brawling between clan members such as Tybalt and Mercutio directly leads to Romeo’s exile. BOTH Mercutio (Montagues) and Tybalt (Capulet) are troublemakers. Shakespeare constructs the two figures as mirror images of their different families. Both and Mercutio incite hatred and inflame the tension between the two clans. Both bear a grudge against each other. They both use words and phrases to deliberately offend each other.
- Mercutio is just as provocative as Tybalt. When they meet in Act III, Mercutio states that “I care not” that Tybalt is coming and that they must prevent a fight. His language and his words are very inflammatory. In response to Tybalt he states “a word and a blow”. He deliberately misunderstands/ misinterprets Tybalt’s words, “consortst” as an insult. Tybalt deliberately uses the word “consort’st” because of its double meaning. As a result, Mercutio interprets this offensively. He is the one who draws his “fiddlestick” or sword first and prompts a fight. He refuses to listen to reason from either Benvolio or Romeo. He also refers to Romeo’s words of peace as “vile submission”.
- Likewise, Mercutio hates Tybalt and provokes him to a fight when he asks if Tybalt, the “Good King of Cats”, is a coward, “Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk” (3.1)
- Tybalt is also very provocative and greets Romeo with the phrase “here comes my man”.
- Tybalt has a grudge against Romeo from the time he comes to the ball. He is stubborn, hot-tempered and provocative. Tybalt says he hates “peace” as he hates “hell, all Montagues, and thee.” He says to Romeo, “thou art a villain”, which refers to the fact that he is intended as an insult and refers to a man of inferior birth, as a peasant. He tells Romeo, “turn and draw”.
- He also feels slighted that Lord Capulet seems to protect Romeo and state that he is a “virtuous” and “well-govern’d youth” with a good reputation. This seems to fuel Tybalt’s sense of inferiority, and, feeling
- slighted and aggrieved, he is constantly looking for an outlet to vent his anger on Romeo.
- He derails R’s attempts to mediate between the clans. He exacerbates and aggravates the tension between the clans. He refers to Romeo as his “man” which is a pun on servant; it is demeaning. He states that he cannot excuse the “injuries that thou hast done me”.
- He refuses to take Romeo seriously, when he states that he “loves thee better than thou canst devise”. He goes against the Prince’s orders when he provokes the brawl and kills Mercutio, thus provoking Romeo. He is so hot-tempered that he takes advantage of Romeo’s attempts to restrain Mercutio and stabs him. He recklessly and impulsively stabs Mercutio thus leading to a chain of action that leads to the death of both Romeo and Juliet.
- When Romeo kills Tybalt, Romeo must flee. Because of his fiery nature, he becomes the catalyst for the ensuring tragic events. He lacks Romeo’s charitable attitude and peaceable nature.
- Both Tybalt and Mercutio play a major role in Romeo’s downfall. They refuse to settle for peace. They deliberately use inflammatory words. They both want to fight.
A (HALF) PARAGRAPH ON ROMEO’S ROLE
How does Romeo contribute to the tragedy but in an inadvertent, unwitting way? Shakespeare shows in critical scenes that Romeo’s language often undermines or contradicts his best intentions. Is this fate? Think about the circumstances that lead to his exile, despite his attempts to conciliate with Tybalt. His actions/language work against themselves. They inflame rather than overcome the toxic situation. Examine Romeo’s words / language / tone undermines his best intentions.
Key passages: love/hate/fate: Act 1/5/95
Please write a short analysis of the first meeting of Romeo and Juliet. Include references to the sonnet; symbolism etc.
Shakespeare
- uses religious imagery to depict the exalted nature of their love and to set up a comparison with other types of love in the play.
- gives Juliet equal right of reply in their first sonnets to set the scene for a relationship forged on mutual attraction.
- deliberately challenges the subordinate role of the female in conventional sonnets of the time to depict Juliet as an equal partner who is not typically silent. (reflects the desire to give her a substantial voice and a presence. Why?)
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