Then mercutio retaliates against Benvolio saying that he is not one to criticise as can loose his temper and can be violent sometimes. He says “Thou art like one of these fellows that, when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the table and says ‘God send me no need of thee!’; and by the second cup drawers him on the drawer, when indeed there is no need.” He claims that Benvolio enters a pub believing that he will not need his sword but by the second drink he draws it on the barman. This conflict between Benvolio and Mercutio creates tension. Mercutio implies that Benvolio is a hypocrite, as he will quarrel over anything.
Shakespere also uses the weather to create tension; the day is hot and sunny and everybody is becoming restless. Benvolio warns mercutio of the fact that people become violent in the heat, but Mercutio ignores him. This creates tension as the audience anticipates what will happen.
Tension is also produced when Tybalt comes looking for Romeo and Romeo doesn’t want to duel. The audience await Tybalts reaction, which builds tension. Dramatic Irony is used because only the audience know about Romeo’s relationship with Juliet. At first when Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt insults him and keeps encouraging him to duel. “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me” taunts Tybalt. Romeo doesn’t argue back. Mercutio assumes Romeo is being cowardly and is ashamed and embarrassed by his friend. He says “O calm, dishonerable, vile submission!” after Romeo says he has to love Tybalt. This causes tension as Tybalt and Mercutio become even more frustrated with Romeo.
Mercutio draws his sword in order to defend Romeos reputation. He says “Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?” challenging him to a duel. A feeling of foreboding hangs in the air.
The fight carries on for a while getting more and more serious, the play fight turning into a real fight. This brings the threat of death with it because both men are swinging swords at each other, and you just know that if the fight doesn't get broken up one of them is going to get stabbed and possibly killed, so tension at this point is very high. Romeo, seeing how the fight is getting more intense jumps in and attempts to push Mercutio out of the way. This once again changes the mood. It makes you wonder whether the fight is going to carry on or be stopped.
Tension is greatly escalated when Mercutio gets stabbed. This makes you start to wonder whether he is going to die or not. To start with all of his friends think he's messing around pretending to be injured. This makes you frustrated because you know that he has been stabbed and he's dying. Eventually they realise that he's been stabbed and they call for a medic but it's to late, he's dead. This brings the threat of yet more violence because you realise that one of the montagues is going to want revenge on Tybalt for killing Mercutio.
When Mercutio exits the scene the mood changes because he was the energetic and interesting character in the play; now the mood is darker as Romeo grieves Mercutios death.
This scene was a turning point in the play because the previous scene was joyful however this scene was miserable and ended in death.
The Prince arrives with his attendants followed by Montagues and Capulets. Benvolio informs him that Tybalt killed Mercutio and, in turn, Romeo has slain the murderer. Lady Capulet breaks out over the death of her nephew and demands that Romeo be put to death. The Prince, paying no attention to her, asks for details of the affair from Benvolio. Benvolio states that Romeo was unwilling to fight and calls Tybalt the aggressor. Lady Capulet again demands the death of Romeo. Montague takes Romeo’s side saying that Romeo is justified in avenging the death of Mercutio, his friend. The Prince then announces his decision. Romeo is now an exile from Verona, and each of the families is heavily fined. He also states that if Romeo is found in the city, he will be immediately put to death.
