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

Although Shakespe bes swordplay Romeo and Juliet does not focus on Mercutio, he is superstar of the most unique characters of the play. He manages to manipulate other characters of the play through and through his imaginative and powerful lecture. He usually takes the lead in conversations and his friends broadly go by what he says. Mercutio is neither Capu allow nor Montague but his strong stand by with Romeo associates him with the Montagues. In the play, Mercutio tends to stand out compared to the other characters this is mainly because of his energetic and dread(a) personality. His comical character lightens the mood of the tragic love story and benefactors to make up the sympathy of the consultation when he later dies.Mercutio is a catalyst, meaning that he has the ability to change what people think or do. An example of this is in Act 1 thought 4, where Romeo is sad and doesnt expect to go to the Capulets world but Mercutio lightens the mood with puns and word playYo u are a raw sienna borrow Cupids wingsAn Elizabethan hearing would form found this wary because cupid was and restrained is very well known as being the god of love. Mercutio is comedian, al commissions making jokes at every chance he gets. He lives life on the edge and is unceasingly smell for some social function new and exiting to do. This could as well as make him an antagonist and troublemaker, especially when the Capulets are involved. His inevitable end and the death of several others are caused by Mercutio living life on the edge. cross-file this Puns in the ImportanceMercutio puts on a front which tells the audience that he does not respect women, such as the way he frequently uses animal features to describe women, spidersgallopspigs tail perhaps suggesting that women are less splendid to men.However, when you look closer into his language you can see that his feelings go deeper, for example, in Act 1 perspective 4, Mercutio speaks about women being like fag got MabHer wagon-spokes made of long spiders tholepins,The cover of the wings of grasshoppersDuring the queen Mab speech in particular, he uses sibilance, sibilance it the repetition of the S sound which makes this speech sound soft and I think that it shows his true passion for women. In contrast, when he is talking to Romeo and bighearted him advice, he says to RomeoBe rough with love Prick love for pricking,And you stimulate love down.This could show that he whitethorn lease had a prehistorical 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 go away begin to show the audience Mercutios true feelings for women. He uses passionate language such asTickling a parsons nose as a lies asleep, then(prenominal) dreams, he of another beneficeOn the other hand, Romeo has a disparate view to tha t 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 plainly 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 all(prenominal) 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 side tends to be positive but can sometimes turn out detrimental but this does not happen all the time. In the death gibe of Mercutio he blames Romeo for his death even though Romeo was only tried to halt it.In Act 2, Scene 1, after the ball Mercutio and Benvolio are looking for Romeo they still believe that he is i n love with Rosaline. Mercutio then begins to mistreat out for Romeo, by way of chanting a spellNay, Ill levy too. Romeo Humours Madman Passion Lover Appear thou in the analogy of a sighThe shortness of his sentences and the use of exclamation marks emphasises his mental capacity in his speech, suggesting a light hearted tone, this would have created a more jolly scene for an Elizabethan audience. During this scene the actor playing Mercutio would probably 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 beautyBy her high forehead and her scarlet lip,By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thighHere Mercutio is saying that Rosaline is a prostitute and Benvolio believes that this would raise Romeo. Mercutio repliesThis cannot kindle him twould anger himTo raise a spirit in his mistress companyIn 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 modern 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 hide her type 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 compliments Tybalts skills as a fighter he calls him Prince of Cats. This is because Mercutio thinks that Ty balt is quick on his feet and a card-playing swordsman, Tybalt wins all of his duels, Mercutio says that he has nine 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 good 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 shock is onlyA scratch, a scratchIn Act 3, Scene 1, where Mercutio is nearing his death, he suddenly becomes a lot more serious, but because of his ego he still manages to make witty remarks and keeping the comedy ventAsk for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man.I belie ve 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 climax 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.