Romeo and Juliet
...nough to clear his conscience of their death. “This by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave come hither, cover’d with an antic face, to fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin.” (Romeo and Juliet, Act I. Scene iv. Lines 54-58) Mercutio was very impulsive and immature. Though, he was not a Montague he still hated Capulets because they were the enemies of his best friend Romeo. He was not the type of character that would just attack someone. First, he would instigate the fight by teasing and agitating his victim. He would let them bring the fight to him instead of him taking it to them. “O calm, dishonourable submission! Alla stoccata carries it away. Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?” (Romeo and Juliet, Act III. Scene ii. Lines 72-74) In both cases Mercutio and Tybalt were spreading the hatred and violence that Romeo and Juliet were struggling to overcome. The frustration this caused was a large factor in the death of the two lovers. Another main influence in the death of Romeo and Juliet was the final “showdown” between Tybalt, Mercutio and Romeo. The gruesome outcome of this brawl could have easily been avoided by calm and rational thinking. Instead, Tybalt and Mercutio’s irrational and impulsive behaviour caused tempers to rise and the fight to break out. The brawl began with Tybalt seeking revenge for Romeo’s intrusion at the Capulet Party. He made I clear that he wasn’t going to settle for anything less than Romeo’s life. “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.” (Romeo and Juliet, Act III. Scene i. Line 65-66) However, Mercutio also played an active role in this brawl. Throughout, the scene he mocked and taunted Tybalt. He purposely misunderstood Tybalt to embarrass him. “Consort! what, dost that make us minstrels? An thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords. Here’s my fiddle-stick; here’s that shall make you dance. ’Zounds, consort!” (Romeo and Juliet, Act III. Scene i. Line 45-48) Though, neither Romeo nor Juliet died during this fight, it was a large factor in their suicides. The death of Romeo’s best friend and murdering Tybalt himself, was enough to traumatize the poor lover. Juliet also suffered severe emotional damage when she discovered that her husband and true love had just murdered her cousin. Both Mercutio and Tybalt played an essential role in this scene. It is certain, that without either one of these character’s involvement in the argument, there would not have been a fight. Many people believe that after Mercutio and Tybalt died they no longer had any influence over the events that followed. This may be true. However, the implications of their actions leading to death still played an active role in the decisions and actions of the young lovers. The death of Mercutio and Tybalt was as much their own fault as it was each other’s. If Mercutio had tried to resolve the personal feud between Tybalt and Romeo instead of jumping in and getting himself killed; Romeo would no...