Firstly, as I mentioned earlier, Mercutio’s main role in the play is to enhance the purity of Romeo’s love by contrast; “Romeo: Is love a tender thing? Is it too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like a thorn.” In reply Mercutio says “If love be rough with you, be rough with love…” (Act 1 Scene 4). He accomplishes this with his bawdy innuendo and the way he treats love, as if he were a thorn in his spine. All in all it is Mercutio’s destructive behaviour that urges Romeo to go to the ball to seek Rosaline. It is here that he discovers his one true love, Juliet, who he marries, and in the latter part of Mercutio’s death says that her love has made him soft; “O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, and in my temper soften’d bravery valour’s steel.” This shows that Romeo makes the accusation against his marriage with Juliet, and that her femininity has softened his valour, which means bravery. Unfortunately Tybalt notices Romeo when Romeo unveils his mask but is held back from confronting him. It is later that Romeo is faced by Tybalt, but it is Mercutio, because of his ignorant, choleric behaviour, fights on behalf of Romeo, and brings upon him, his own death. This takes its toll on the play and makes Romeo hell-bent on taking revenge, forgetting the fact of the matter that Tybalt and Juliet are actually related. An example of this ignorant yet boisterous behaviour is- “By my heel I care not… what does though make us minstrels… I will not budge for no man’s pleasure I” (Act 3 Scene 1). It is this vigorous attitude that results in Mercutio’s death. So what gives Mercutio a pivotal role to play is the fact that he plays an indirect part in uniting Romeo and Juliet and it is in his death that results in the change of theme for the play.
Furthermore, it is Mercutio’s mercurial and eloquent characteristics that allow an essential bond to occur between himself and Romeo, this relationship will result in Romeos banishment and therefore his ultimate fate. Mercutio further challenges Romeo regarding his supposed love struck attitude and it is solely his wit that earns his praise- ‘such as a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams’ (Act 2 Scene 4). Romeo appears unphased by Mercutio’s jests and has repartee for all Mercutio’s concerns. Mercutio never seems to grasp the fact Romeo is focused purely on love and succumbs to Romeos strength in the ‘wit contest’; “my wit faints… thy wit is a very bitter sweeting, it is almost a sharp source” (Act 2 Scene 4). This is vital in showing Romeo’s quicker mind and the latters recovery of himself as a whole self aware man, moreover it condemns Mercutio as a “broad goose”, an indecent cackler.
At best Mercutio is a prickler in the bubble of affection- Romeo’s infatuation for Rosaline, of Petrarchan love in general, of Tybalts new- fangled rapier play and of the nurse’s self importance. Mercutio great intellectual prowess allows him to ridicule Benvolio’s sensible idea; “Thou art one of these fellows, what when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword on the table… come, come thou art as hot a jack in thy mood as any in Italy” (Act 3 Scene 1) This shows how Mercutio’s impressive distinctiveness affect Benvolio as he accuses Benvolio of his own aggressiveness. Ultimately it is Mercutio’s intelligent side that urges Romeo into meeting Juliet, however his aggressive side over rules this when he ends up being killed by Tybalt. This makes his characteristics have a great affect on Romeo and therefore the play.
This play ultimately deals with ‘tragedy’ (when someone of importance and outstanding personal qualities falls to disaster through the congregation of personal failing and circumstances with which they cannot deal however it’s main function depends on specific themes to maintain its entertainment level and intensifying plot). The key themes of ‘fate and fortune’ and love rely primarily on Romeo and Juliet’s interactions, they also have great relevance to Mercutio, he challenges Romeo’s ideas, for instance when he used a hint of sarcasm to persuade Romeo to go to the ball- “you are a lover, borrow cupid’s wings…” (Act 1 Scene 4). This sarcasm is related to Romeo’s theory on love. Mercutio continues to try and lead Romeo away from his supposed naive attitude. Romeo does not waver from his preconceptions and never really takes Mercutio’s advice. Ultimately, it is the theme ‘death’ that unites Romeo and Mercutio’s sentimental rapport and is perhaps the key to Mercutio’s vitality, Mercutio will die because as he endeavors to protect Romeo’s name and consequently, although luck plays a large part, Romeo will die to. Mercutio’s last words- “They have made worms meat of me, I have it, and soundly, to your houses.” (Act 3 Scene 1). These words accenturate the drama that surrounds his death both now and later in the play. His words are dramatic irony as he blames the families’ feud for his death. We know that the outcome of the play is tragic and suspects that the families may unite as Mercutio platforms as he dies. This makes Mercutio a vital character as it is his death that changes the theme of the play and his character that incorporates the themes of comedy and entertainment.
Moreover, Shakespeare lived and wrote during the late 1500’s. Therefore the language elements of the character Mercutio consist mainly of the ‘Shakespearian era.’ His cynical and bawdy characteristics are evidently related to his language, as well as his comedial and entertaining values. These factors make Mercutio an essential character to the play. Undoubtedly Mercutio is one of the most intellectual characters Shakespeare has ever created. Mercutio simply uses this value to persuade and confound the other characters of the play. For example, when he persuades Romeo to go to the ball furthermore, a lot of Mercutio’s descriptions are wittily and slanderously untrue. The pivotal queen mab speech shows the full effect of Mercutio’s literary prowess in which he speaks of a midwife who ends up as an incubus. The speech itself is mainly about love and contains irony for Romeo as it allows him to foresee what will occur. Language wise Mercutio uses a lot of allegory and allusion to make the speech very affective further inclusions of allegory and innuendo can be found throughout the play- “Why that same pale hard-hearted wench” (Act 2 Scene 4) and then when he speaks of Tybalt; “Mercutio more than prince of cats… he fights as you sing pricksong… a very good whore.” (Act 2 Scene 4).
His language gives him a loud and very physical present in the play then Mercutio turns his language toward being a dirty jest or bawdy innuendo it brings more entertainment to the play and therefore further enhances his importance to the play. One of the greatest aspects though of Mercutio’s language are the inclusions of rhyming couplets and oxymorons. Examples of his rhyming couplets include:
“Romeo: in bed asleep while they do dream things true,
Mercutio: Oh then I see queen mab hath been with you”
(Act 1 Scene 4). The fact that Mercutio can use rhyming couplets added from another’s speech further augments his intellect and literary magnificence. Once more the use of oxymoron’s; “great oppression” (Act 1 Scene 4) and “bitter sweeting” (Act 2 scene 4) further enhance his literary genius. Overall Mercutio’s intellect from his language is essential as he using it to persuade Romeo into inadvertently meeting Juliet and for the inclusion of bringing about his own death. This factor further enhances Mercutio’s character and adds more drama to the play.
Ultimately, Mercutio is a born crowd pleaser, offering comedy and entertainment through his jokes and shrewd comments. His actions and language, which relate to his characteristics, get him involved in various situations. He is a clear contrast to Romeo, but his is an independent mind such that he wins our attention. We can see he offers us an attitude to love worth considering and, although always witty, his is not an empty wit. Mercutio always has a point to make and throughout the play, even in death Mercutio brings entertainment to the audience- “Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch… no tis not so deep as a well” (Act 3 Scene 1). This shows that Mercutio is still lively, even in death, which is very appealing to the audience. Furthermore the crowd agrees with the thrust of many of his jokes against Romeo early in the play; “Nay gentle Romeo, we must have you dance… you are a lover, borrow cupid’s wings and soar with them above a common bound” (Act 1 Scene 4). This is a good example of how Mercutio introduces comedy to the play. Moreover the first statement he says to the nurse is; “good peter to hide her face, for her fans the fairer face.” (Act 2 Scene 4) then later in the scene he goes on to treat the nurse as if she were the tout for a brothel. This shows Mercutio’s entertaining character which the audience admires very much. Mercutio has a vital dramatic value to the play and the fact that he is the only one who produces the entertainment and comedy makes his character vital to the play and to keep the audience entertained.
Mercutio has an essential part to play in the whole play despite the fact that Romeo and Juliet are the main characters. It is he who unites them both and his relationship with Romeo is vital to the play. Overall it is Mercutio’s characteristics, language, themes that he adds and appeal to the audience which makes him such an interesting character to watch. When Mercutio feels a false sense of honour, it will ironically contribute to the death of his friend. Merutio had seemed to turn the play into a comedy at times: but some can say that it is with his death that we know the play to be a tragedy. He is one of the greatest characters that Shakespeare has ever created and his character is essential to the whole play Romeo and Juliet.
