Explore the significance of the character Mercutio in the play Romeo and Juliet

Al super acidgh Shakespe bes bidding Romeo and Juliet does non focus on Mercutio, he is one of the most unique characters of the play. He humannessages to manipulate early(a) characters of the play through his imaginative and powerful language. He usually takes the lead in conversations and his friends generally go by what he says. Mercutio is neither Capulet nor Montague solo when his well-set bond with Romeo associates him with the Montagues. In the play, Mercutio tends to stand come on comp ard to the other characters this is mainly because of his driving and turn uprageous personality. His comical character lightens the mood of the tragic cognize write up and services to increase the sympathy of the earreach when he later dies.Mercutio is a catalyst, kernel that he has the ability to change what people regard or do. An theoretical account of this is in wager 1 Scene 4, where Romeo is sad and doesnt want to go to the Capulets ball only if Mercutio lightens the m ood with puns and word playYou are a lover borrow Cupids wingsAn Elizabethan consultation would have plant this funny because cupid was and still is very well known as beingness the god of love. Mercutio is comedian, al counsels making jokes at every chance he gets. He lives life on the edge and is always looking for something impertinent and exiting to do. This could also make him an antagonist and troublemaker, especially when the Capulets are involved. His inevitable expiry and the stopping point of several others are caused by Mercutio living life on the edge.Read this Puns in the ImportanceMercutio puts on a front which tells the earshot that he does not respect women, such as the way he often uses animal features to describe women, spidersgallopspigs tail perhaps suggesting that women are little superior to men.However, when you look closer into his language you can see that his feelings go deeper, for mannikin, in doing 1 Scene 4, Mercutio speaks to the highest de gree women being analogous female monarch MabHer wagon-spokes made of long spiders legs,The cover of the wings of grasshoppersDuring the queen Mab speech communication in p finesseicular, he uses sibilance, sibilance it the repetition of the S sound which makes this speech sound ticklish and I think that it visualises his true passion for women. In contrast, when he is lecture to Romeo and giving him advice, he says to RomeoBe rough with love Prick love for pricking,And you beat love down.This could show that he may have had a past relationship that may not have turned out so well. He may also be telling this to Romeo because he doesnt want the same thing to happen to him.In Act 1 Scene 4, Mercutios imagination runs wild as he is describing women as Queen Mab. This will begin to show the audience Mercutios true feelings for women. He uses fanatical language such asTickling a parsons nose as a lies asleep,Then dreams, he of another beneficeOn the other hand, Romeo has a differ ent view to that of Mercutios towards women. Romeo, who is quite nave towards love, shows the audience how much he loves everyone and everything. He is always talking about how fabulous love is and that it is the hardly thing that matters in the world.O, speak again, bright angel For thou artAs glorious to this night, being oer my headThis can show that Romeo may not have been in a real relationship, but only fantasising about it.Mercutio and Romeo have a strong friendship they are some(prenominal) extremely loyal to each other and tend to help each other outNay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.They both have a strong influence on each other, which from Mercutios slope tends to be positive but can sometimes turn out negative but this does not happen all the time. In the death scene of Mercutio he blames Romeo for his death even though Romeo was only essay to stop it.In Act 2, Scene 1, after the ball Mercutio and Benvolio are looking for Romeo they still recall that he is i n love with Rosaline. Mercutio and so begins to shout out for Romeo, by way of chanting a mendNay, Ill conjure too. Romeo Humours Madman Passion Lover Appear thou in the likeness of a sighThe shortness of his sentences and the use of exclamation tag emphasises his humour in his speech, suggesting a light hearted tone, this would have created a more(prenominal) amusing scene for an Elizabethan audience. During this scene the actor playing Mercutio would likely be dancing around with imaginary props, pretending to brew up a potion.He then continues to talk about Rosaline he speaks about her in a manor that is rude and obnoxious, he mocks Romeo as he believes he is superficial and that he is only in love with Rosalines salmon pinkBy her high forehead and her scarlet lip,By her fine foot, heterosexual person leg and quivering thighHere Mercutio is saying that Rosaline is a victimize and Benvolio believes that this would anger Romeo. Mercutio repliesThis cannot anger him twould an ger himTo raise a spirit in his mistress circleIn this sentence Mercutio begins to use sexual references he says it would only anger Romeo if someone else was to sleep with Rosaline. During this scene Mercutio is loud and energetic. A ultramodern audience would think this funny and witty but an Elizabethan audience may have been more shocked at what he was saying.During Act 2 Scene 4, Mercutio and the Nurse meet. In much the same way as with Rosaline, Mercutio is again vulgar about the nurseGood Peter, to cut through her face for her fans the fairer face.The repetition of the letter F emphasizes a harsh tone and suggests to the audience a feeling of disgust towards the nurse. Mercutio is saying that the nurse is unattractive, but she does not let this pass as she is aggressive and saysOut upon you What a man are youThis shows the Nurses mutual disliking for Mercutio as well.In Act 2, Scene 4, Mercutio congratulate Tybalts skills as a fighter he calls him Prince of Cats. This is b ecause Mercutio thinks that Tybalt is quick on his feet and a fast fencer, Tybalt wins all of his duels, Mercutio says that he has cabaret lives for this reason.Dont think hes just the Prince of CatsOh no hes way more than that.Although Mercutio is saying how much of a better swordsman Tybalt is, he still ends up fighting him and ironically Mercutio loses, he does this because he is a show off and he thinks he is best. When Mercutio challenges Tybalt to a duel, Tybalt asks What wouldst thou have with me? Mercutio repliesGood king of cats, nothing but one of your nine livesThis shows that Mercutio is still using references to Tybalt being the Prince of Cats. Also even when he has been stabbed by Tybalt, Mercutio says that the wound is onlyA scratch, a scratchIn Act 3, Scene 1, where Mercutio is nearing his death, he suddenly becomes a portion more serious, but because of his ego he still manages to make witty remarks and keeping the drollery goingAsk for me to-morrow, and you sh all find me a grave man.I believe that because of Mercutios personality, and always making things worse, he brought upon his own death even though in his mind he would have thought it was a good thing to do. Shakespeare probably killed Mercutio off here because it builds up a completion and creates a dramatic effect.In my opinion Mercutio has brought his death on himself by his antagonistic personality, and always provoking others. He finally meets his match, Tybalt. Although, I dont think the play would be what it is without Mercutio, as a comic character is needed, for example to help lighten moods of scenes when needed. Without Mercutio in the play, Romeo and other characters would have died a lot sooner, suggesting to the audience that Mercutio is a hero in some way. On the other hand, everyone may have survived as it was generally Mercutio that pushed things on, often making things worse.