How important is Mercutio's contribution in Romeo and Juliet?

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How important is Mercutio’s contribution in Romeo and Juliet?

      In Romeo and Juliet I found that Mercutio is the most lively and interesting character in the play. His name means mercury which matches his personality perfectly. Mercury changes with heat and is very dangerous and unpredictable when unleashed. Mercutio is like this when his mood suddenly changes from mocking people to all out sword fights and joking around to evil, we see this in Act 1 when the Montague’s gate crash the Capulet’s party. Mercutio is necessary in this play as he keeps the audience focused and laughing through what he says. However he is also intelligent and witty. Besides Romeo and Juliet he is probably the most developed character. Also he is very capable of violence and not to be underestimated when it comes to personality and appearance. I will show with evidence that Mercutio is very important in this play.

       To Romeo, Mercutio is funny and a great friend for he is a childhood friend and a Montague and this is why they contrast with each other perfectly because they seem to have nothing in common but this is why they can help each other along through their life because, when Romeo is down in love Mercutio knows the cure and when Mercutio is in a fighting mood Romeo is sensible enough to see past the wrongs and pull Mercutio back when he is angry. Mercutio tells Romeo that sex is better than love and Romeo then cheers up whereas Romeo thinks opposite. Mercutio is vulgar and uses sexual puns which show that he speaks what he wants and so he speaks from the heart and this is why Romeo fits with him because Romeo shows affection from the heart. The major difference between them is that Mercutio is rude but eager and Romeo is polite, affectionate and patient so this shows that even though they are a good couple their personalities are almost completely different. Mercutio can be seen as the sort of person that is taught something and thinks it’s true until proven wrong whereas Romeo will find out for himself, for example the feud between the Capulet’s and the Montague’s interests Romeo in no ways at all, but Mercutio does hate the Capulet’s even though they have done nothing to him during his lifetime. This is also why Mercutio thinks Romeo has let the Montague’s down by not backing up Mercutio in the fight against Tybalt.

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To Romeo death is the final honour but to Mercutio death is nothing but a joke until it strikes.

       To prepare us for the tragic events of the play we have entertainment and comedy from each of the characters. When Mercutio meets the nurse he insults her and this gives laughter and comedy to this scene. The nurse is looking for Romeo and he is not there so she talks with Benvolio and Mercutio and this leaves her open for Mercutio to have a laugh from the insults of the nurse, she calls out for ...

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