To be a virtuous and well-governed youth” Act1 scene5 Lines 66-67
Capulet, unlike his nephew dose not see a problem with Romeo attending the party as he
believes he is a honourable man. But then Tybalt begins to contradict Capulet, questioning his
judgement. Capulet acts very dismissive towards Tybalt leaving him to feel piqued and
speculating that Romeo has come to cause trouble.
“ It fits when such a villain is our guest” Act 1 Scene 5 line73
Romeo in fact had not come on any account to cause trouble he merely wanted to
Rosaline who was said to be attending the party. Capulet treats Tybalt like a son in the play but
when he steps out of line in questioning his Judgement he reacts in outrage;
“You are a princox” Act 1 scene 5 line 85
Describing and insulting Tybalt as a cock and arrogant youngster, Capulet puts him back
in his place within the family. So by doing this Tybalt agrees not to cause a fight but in his
soliloquy he speaks out his revenge;
“Patience performance with whitful choler meeting
makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting:
I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
Now seaming sweet, covert to bitt’rest gall”. Exit
Act1 scene5 Lines 88-92
This is a key part of the play showing Tybalt's volatile temper and how although he had to retreat
from fighting he will hold the grudge on to bring up on a later date. These lines cleverly used by
Shakespeare to hint to the audience of what is to come. His actions throughout this scene seam to
suggest that he is a catalyst for tragedy through his indignant attitude and family honour.
Although we do not see Tybalt in Act 2 Scene 4 his actions and characteristics are
discussed by Benvoloi and Mercutio outside Capulets Mansion. This line below is spoken by Benvolio;
“Tybalt, kinsman to old Capulet,
Hath sent a letter to his father’s house”. Act 2 Scene 4 Lines 6-7
From these lines Shakespeare tells us that Tybalt (though a letter) has kept his promise of
revenge by challenging Romeo to a fight. The idea that Tybalt wants to fight again when he
knows another conflict between the two households could be grebes. This shows the audience
again his pugnacious nature and hold he holds a bitter grudge towards Romeo’s appearance and
the party, strengthening the argument that Tybalt is a Catalyst for tragedy. As he has gone behind
his uncles back and against all the warnings he has been given, he still wants to fight showing that
he has no respect for those in power above him.
Tybalt’s last entrance, is where the play reaches its climax, his desire to seek revenge on
Romeo not only causes his death but the death of Mercutio. Firstly I am going to look at the
whole of Act three scene one and see how the atmosphere and tension is built up.
The scene is set in Verona, a public place Mercutio, Benvolio and his men enter in the scene
first, Benvolio says to Mercutio lets retire and go away for here as he know that there is to be
trouble. This comes all to soon as the Capulets arrive with a negative response form Benvolio.
“By my head. Here comes the Capulets” Act 3 Scene 1 Line 29
However Mercutio is responds quite arrogantly that he doesn’t care if the Capulets have arrived.
But unlike the vindictive attitude that we have seen before of Tybalt he asks them very polite
referring them to Gentlemen if he could have a quiet word. But Mercutio replies with a witty
response that he may have a word and a blow. But Tyblat attitude changes one he snatches an
view of his prized prey Romeo.
“Well peace be with you , sir here comes my man” Act 3 Scene 1Line 49
Romeo innocently enters not knowing of what Tyblat’s motives, has no interest in
fighting even whilst he receives repeated insults:
“ Thou art a villain” Act 3 Scene 1Line 54
Romeo who contrast to Tyblat has respect for the commandments given by his farther
and those of the Prince . Also he doesn’t want to fight due to his love for Juliet and that
he wants to keep the peace for Tybalt is part of his family by marriage.
“Therefor farewell, I see thou knowest me not” Act 3 Scene 1Line 58
This action enrages Tybalt more as Romeo will not fight him so therefore Tybalt cannot
complete his revenge on the Montague house.
“ Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
That hast done to me, therefor turn and draw” Act 3 Scene 1Lines 59-60
Mercutio , unlike Romeo is yearning to fight Tybalt, he see him as a threat to the
Montague reputation and the fact that Romeo does not want to fight has bemused him so. He also
wants to show his man hood he begins to throw abuse and insults at Tyblat in order to provoke
him to fight.
“ Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk” Act 3 Scene 1Line 68
Here Mercutio ask Tybalt to walk implying that he wants to fight as in the line a above
the stage direction tells us that Mercutio has drawn his rapier. But even by this lone of verbal
abuse Tybalt keeps his composure until he can no longer take it, after the long verse by
Mercutio. This abuse on Tybalt’s name is a step to far as Tybalt’s honour is a stake.
“ I am for you” Act 3 Scene 1Line 75
Romeo after hearing that Tybalt has accepted Mercutio fight tells him to put up his
sword. He calls on his good friend Benvolio to stop the fight. He is outraged by what is
happening, as he knows of what the Prince’s consequences of another fight would be. Tybalt had
no intention when arrived at the public place to fight Mercutio and valiantly tried to avoid this.
However he failed and as the fight progressed Tybalt seized his moment and thrust his sword
under Romeo’s arm into Mercutio. As soon as realising this Tybalt cowardly in shock of what he
had just done fled from the scene if fear of what he has just done. Mercutio is dying as he speaks
his final word on the plague which has come above both houses , an asks why Romeo interfered
as by doing he caused his death. Romeo reply sincerely that he thought that he was doing the best
in trying to stop the fight. By killing Mercutio, Romeo now wants to seek revenge Tybalt as he
feels aggrieved, and so when Tybalt he enters the scene moments later, the duel is upon them.
“ Either thou or I or both must go with him” Romeo Act 3 Scene 1Line120
Here Romeo speaks of how at least one of them must die toady as Mercutio his very
friend had been killed by the hands of new cousin.
The last lines Tyblat speaks in the play are those of hatred and wickedness:
“ Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him here,
Shalt with him hence.” Act 3 Scene 1Lines 121-122
He may had felt guilty for what he had done but he feels couldn’t not possible show this
as he may be perceived weakened by the incident and would lose his hierarchy of power in the
towns people eyes.
There is not much description about the fight on Tybalt’s account but we learn that
Tybalt falls, thus Implying that he is killed by Romeo. Benvolio calls to Romeo to flee as he
knows that Romeo will be in a lot of trouble .
In this scene we learn about allot about Tybalt’s character, we see how he is calculating
by arranging the meeting with Romeo where he intends to take his revenge. We see that
he is committed as he has held onto the grudge for Romeo’s uninvited entrance to the Capulets
house party until today. Control is one the new characteristics we see that Tybalt has as he
behaves politely to Mercutio and Benvolio when he enters the scene be as he has no problem
with them , to start with. He does not at first react to the snide comments Mercutio makes about
him , but he is human like every one and has a point when he can take no more. This is shown on
line75 when he draws his sword against Mercutio. In this scene like in all the scene Tybalt has
been in we see his pugnacious character and conceited attitude towards the Montague people.
From Tybalt’s blood the catalyst has been placed in the solution and from know the end
looks near. Romeo by killing Tybalt in some way has written the date for his own death, as the
consequences had been highlighted many weeks ago about another incident between the two
feuding families . Although Romeo would have believed he acted on good ground in fighting
Tybalt after slaying his friend he should restricted himself and let the police of Verona decide the
fate of Tybalt. If he had done this then the plot would be very different but that is not the story
Shakespeare wanted to tell.
After the death of Tybalt and the fleeing of Romeo, Benvolio is left to deal with
informing the Prince and the Officers who arrive shortly to look for Tybalt after hearing of the
murder of Mercutio. Benvolio explains in his long passage that Tybalt who lies dead before them
has murdered Mercutio and so Romeo took it upon himself to slay the slayer. He goes on to say
of how Romeo was a peacemaker but Tybalt :
“ Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts” Act 3 Scene 1Line 149
I think that this is a excellent view on Tybalt and has shown that he is deaf to peace on a
number of occasions firstly in Act 1 Scene 1 in the town and then at the Capulet party
where he tried to ignore his uncles commands and finally in Act 3 scene 1 when he
ignore Romeo’s attempts for peace. Benvolio also describes his fiery anger “unruly
spleen” which has been noted throughout he play by many Characters overall I believe Benvolio
description is quite accurate from his fiery temper to his unwillingness to peace and the fact that
Benvolio risked his life and what he just said shows that he is truthful character to be trusted.
The audience reaction for this scene has been cleverly selected by the writer himself he
wants you to feel for the characters and show how not just one is to blame as they all decided
there fate. Let me explain some audience members may feel that the blame should go to Tybalt
as he planned this meeting to seek his revenge on dear Romeo but he behaved politely and civil to
Benvolio and Mercutio and therefor seamed to be adequate for the situation. However the death
of Mercutio is shared by three people Tyblat , Mercutio and Romeo. This is due to it was Tybalt
who killed Mercutio but the fight began dur to the taunting by Mercutio . The death of Mercutio
also involves Romeo as although he was trying to make the peace he stood in the way leaving
Mercutio unable to protect himself from an attack. Following on from the death Romeo know
wants to seek his revenge for killing his dear friend and so when Tybalt eagerly arrives again to
duel it a shared fault of Tybalt’s death. Overall, the opinion Shakespeare gives the audience to
believe on Tybalt that he is mostly to blame for this scene and he out come is going to cause
many problems one of these was the exile of Romeo form his fair city.
This scene shows the audience of who Tybalt’s bitter grudge cost him his life again
highlighting his lack of ability to solve problems verbally and not physically. With reference to
the question Tybalt does deserve to have the title a catalyst for tragedy as his over-eagerness to
fight lost his life. If only he had followed his Uncles and the Prince’s orders he would still be
alive at the end of the scene. But it is the story of tragedy and this is just the begging of what
Tybalt catalyst is going to cause.
Tybalt’s influence continues even after his death and dramatically affect the course the
play will following, we see how Juliet grieves in Act 3 Scene 2:
“ Is Romeo slaughtered? And is Tybalt dead?
My dearest cousin and my dearer lord?” Act3 Scene2Lline 65-66
This lines shows how she valued her cousin Tybalt but the tears she sheds are not for him
but for her husband Romeo. These tears cause her father who mistakes them for Tybalt to hasten
the marriage between Paris and Juliet, resulting in her taking the Poisson in-order to remove
herself from the marriage to the man she does not love.
Shakespeare uses this scene to portray another image of how Tybalt is viewed my his
fellow characters. He was a highly thought of member of the Capulet house and will be dearly
missed. However the death for Tybalt contributed substantially to the death of Paris who was
murdered by Romeo and the two tragic suicides of Romeo and Juliet .I do believe it is quite just
to describe him as a catalyst as the death of Tybalt lead to Romeo being banished for the tear for
Romeo to be mistaken and the marriage between Juliet and Paris quickened leading for Juliet to
take the sleeping pills and for Romeo to return and kill Paris and then to find his true love Juliet
and drink the poison and ten for Juliet to stab her self. It is in fact a web of causation as every
little innocent caused more hatred and strain between the two family until it the web collapsed .
As an actor of few lines to speak in the two films which I have studied, his influenced
viewed by the audience is strong and powerful. But both films depict a slightly different view on
Tybalt. The fist is set in the 16th century and by Franco Zeffirell and is the oldest of the two film
provided an look of how the film would be in the time represents in the play. We fist see Tybalt
in act 1 scene 1 in the town we immediately see that he is powerful and the main leader of his
group he is very belligerent to the other people which we learn are from the Montague household.
The next scene we see him in is at the Capulet household where a party is taking place all is well
until Tybalt spots and unwanted guest, we see of how he is proud of his family honour and his
aggressive side of how he order fir the servant to get his rapier overhearing this we see Capulet
putting Tybalt in his place as he doesn’t want any trouble in the Capulet . These two scenes I the
second film are directed quite differently. Made by Baz Luhrman and set in the Twenty first
century, he uses costume and make up to help project the image of evil and hatred. This is shown
at the party with is in costume. He dressed all in black a powerful and striking colour and on his
head he had devil horn and a tail on his behind and unlike in the first film and he is perceived as a
sexual image towards the audience. Both film show Tybalt as an aggressive character who has not
hear of the word peace. In both films he delivers his lines with meaning and power to show to the
people that he is here and that he ‘means business’. In answering to the question that do these
film show that he is a catalyst for tragedy I would have to say yes as the cause of event is
dramatically increased in speed and tension I the films although I believe Tybalt’s character is
shown more powerfully in the second film by Lurman as the use of violence is shown to better
effect to illustrate the anger and hatred of the people.
And so to conclude I believe after carefully studding the role of Tybalt in g the play as
well as in the two films that he was a catalyst for tragedy as without his there would have been no
tragedy and without him there wouldn’t have been an action pact story. I have come to believe
this as it is shown throughout his fiery temper which was noted by all the characters in the play
and his aggressive temperament and striving foe power, which lead to many street brawls in
Verona. Tybalt thought he was a man but in fact he was an impetuous youngster who lacked the
ability for self-control and the ability to listen to his older and accept there judgement and orders.
He lack of respect lead to his death as his was unable to keep the piece and resist temptation to
seek his revenge.
Although it nice to be proud of your family Tybalt took it too far and in my opinion he is
a catalyst for tragedy but like earlier when I highlighted in Act3 Scene1 that it was not just Tybalt
who caused the death of Mercutio I believe the death for the two star crossed lovers was helped
along by the following character Romeo as he killed Tybalt which lead to him commenting
suicide., Juliet for not telling her farther of her marriage to Romeo and also Mercutio who
provoked Tybalt but these three character should not take the main fault as there parts were
minor compared to that of Tybalt the catalyst for tragedy in Shakespeare play of Romeo and
Juliet.
By Carly Harrison 11U
