A Character Study on Mercutio - Romeo And Juliet

Authors Avatar

Kay Bromley

A Character Study on Mercutio.

“Romeo And Juliet”

William Shakespeare wrote “Romeo and Juliet” in the “Elizabethan” Period. It is about two lovers who commit suicide when their feuding families prevent them from being together. There are many characters, each keeping the same plot but with different roles. One of these characters is Mercutio; he is the best friend of Romeo Montague and kin of the Prince Escalus. He is neither Montague, nor Capulet. Therefore, he has not been born into a feud and really has no side. However, his friendship with Romeo associates him with the Montagues.

He is always living his life on the edge and always looking for something new and exciting to do. He is constantly playing on words, using two or more meanings. Romeo once describes him as,

"A gentlemen…who loves to hear himself talk."

 As displayed in his Queen Mab speech in Act I Scene IV, he is very imaginative. Mercutio believes that you should chase after what you yearn for.

Join now!

"If love be rough with you, then be rough with love."

Mercutio teases Romeo, in Act I Scene IV:

"Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover! Appear though in the likeness of a sigh."

This demonstrates how he misunderstands Romeo’s love for the Capulet, Juliet. Mercutio is a generally free and independent character and doesn’t realize how anyone can be so dependant or want a person so much. Mercutio wants to live his life on the spur of the moment. He is not interested in being dependent on anyone.

Mercutio’s character is vital to the main plot ...

This is a preview of the whole essay