Mercutio is rude and bawdy, we know this when he says “’twould anger him to raise a spirit in his mistress’ circle”, he makes the audience laugh, and this would appeal particularly to the groundlings.
The next time we meet Mercutio is in act 2 scene 1, Mercutio makes a lot of sexual references when he is mocking Romeo with Benvolio about his love with Rosaline.
There is dramatic irony because he does not know that Romeo has forgotten about Rosaline and fallen in love with Juliet.
An example of Mercutio’s sexual speech is “O, that she were an open arse and thou were a poperin pear”, and “’twould anger him to raise a spirit in his mistress’s circle.” He gives the impression that he is jealous of Romeo and Rosaline because Mercutio has never loved or been loved by anyone. Mercutio may be jealous because Romeo spends his time moping over Rosaline and not with his friends.
When Romeo meets Mercutio after the party he has arranged his wedding, in act 2 scene 4, Mercutio is talking to Benvolio, as an audience we see a different side with Romeo and Mercutio is delighted to see Romeo happy.
Mercutio Starts joking to Romeo about what he got up to the previous night with Rosaline. Mercutio keeps talking about Romeo’s sexual activities and still has no idea he has fallen in love with Juliet.
Mercutio and Romeo join in a session of sexual banter; Romeo says “my pump is well flowered”. When Romeo says “my pump’ he is referring to his penis.
When the nurse arrives Mercutio is very rude to her and labels her as a bawd or prostitute, Mercutio is a typical young man and always talks about sex and sexual parts. This shows the audience that all Mercutio thinks about is sex.
The final time we see Mercutio, act 3 scene 1, he is on the street with Benvolio, when Tybalt and his followers arrive. It is hot day and Benvolio tries to persuade Mercutio to leave, but Tybalt starts insulting Mercutio, Tybalt asks Mercutio if he “consorts” with Romeo.
Romeo arrives; Tybalt sees him and challenges him to dual. When Romeo refuses to participate in a fight Mercutio is disgusted “O calm, dishonourable, vile submission”.
During the fight Romeo tries to come between Tybalt and Mercutio, “HOLD, TYBALT, GOOD MERCUTIO!”
Tybalt lunges forward stabs Mercutio ending in his death as he is dying He still makes puns he say he will be “a grave man” to Romeo. Before Mercutio dies he curses both the Capulet family and the Montague family, he says “a plague on both your houses”.
In Lurhman’s film he makes Mercutio’s death dramatic by playing intense music and a storm appears, the storm could have been due to Mercutio’s curse. Mercutio plagues both houses three times; some believe this is the cause of the tragic end to the play.
When Mercutio dies the play becomes more serious and the laughter and fun disappears.
The Shakespearean audience liked the action and insults but they would also feel sad as one of their favourite characters dies.
In conclusion I have noticed Mercutio make a great impression on the audience from the fist time he enters the stage. His rude banter would make the audience laugh and clever puns would appeal the upper class. His death is very dramatic because he blames both the Capulet and Montague family for his death. This leads to the tragic end to the play.
