At the beginning of the scene Benvolio voices his concerns of conflict with the Capulets. This is foreshadowing because Benvolio is predicting correctly the confrontation, this unnerves the audience making the scene more dramatic.
“The day is hot, the Capels are abroad,
And if we meet we hall not scape a brawl”
When Benvolio says the day is hot he could also be talking about the moods of the Capulets, as we know that Tybalt is still fuming about Romeo’s appearance at the ball and is hot tempered and seeking revenge. This also links to the theme fate because it seems inevitable that there will be a conflict between the families at this point.
Mercutio rejects Benvolio’s suggestion to leave the streets, he playfully mocks Benvolio’s attempt to prevent an argument by characterising him as extremely quarrelsome.
“Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes”
This is ironic because later on in the play it is Mercutio that provokes Tybalt and encourages an argument.
“And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something, make it a word and a blow.”
Mercutio winds up Tybalt and when Romeo refuses to fight it is Mercutio that draws his sword on Tybalt. It is Mercutio’s false misguided sense of honour, which will ironically contribute to the death of Romeo.
Mercutio’s death is quite drawn out adding drama to the scene. We know this because Mercutio makes a final speech before his death. He jokes using puns and curses the feuding families.
“A plague a’ both your houses”
This is again foreshadowing as Romeo and Juliet both die meaning both families suffer the grief of loosing a loved member. Even in the face of death Mercutio is still witty. He assures Romeo that he is in good health but the pun he uses tells us something different.
“Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man”
The play on the word grave adds humour to the scene as grave can mean serious, he is saying that tomorrow you will find me being serious. The word grave is also associated with death. Mercutio also contradicts himself. He assures Romeo that he only has a scratch and then requests a surgeon.
“Ay ay a scratch, a scratch,” and “Go, villain, fetch a surgeon”
Mercutio’s death is significant because it sparks off Romeos actions which lead to him murdering Tybalt.
Throughout the play Romeos behaviour and emotions have been quite erratic. His infatuation with Rosaline that depresses him is soon replaced with the great happiness that comes from truly loving Juliet. At the beginning of the scene Romeo acts quite calmly and rationally, he refuses to fight with Tybalt.
“Villain am I none; therefore farewell, I see thou knowest me not.”
This shows that Romeo is very much in love with Juliet and is not willing to jeopardise his relationship with her. Romeo offers Tybalt a hand in friendship as he realises that his marriage to Juliet makes him and Tybalt related. Romeo’s actions change dramatically in the scene, at the death of Mercutio; Romeo looses his composure under pressure and reacts by slaying Tybalt without thinking of the consequences.
“Fire eyed fury be my conduct now”
The shock of loosing his best friend pushes Romeo back into volatile behaviour and he throws caution to the winds giving little thought for Juliet. It is understandable that Romeos loyalty is torn between making peace for his and Juliet’s sake and avenging the death of his friend, the choice he makes is a sign of his immaturity.
Benvolio acts a narrator for this scene; he predicts events that happen later in the play and keeps the audience informed of what is happening.
“Here come the furious Tybalt back again.”
His role as the peacemaker contrasts with Tybalt who is always angry and ready to fight. He is often overshadowed by the stronger characters Mercutio and Tybalt and the fact that he disappears after the scene shows that Shakespeare used him for dramatic effect.
In conclusion this scene is pivotal because it is the scene from which the play turns from love into tragedy. It is the unfortunate events including the death of two leading characters Mercutio and Tybalt and Romeos reactions to his friends death that mark the turning point. Shakespeare makes this scene dramatic with his use of foreshadowing, irony and humour. He also uses the Romeos temperamental character and Benvolio’s contrast with Tybalt to add drama to the scene. It is Romeos love for Juliet that allows him to keep his composure and it is his loyalty and strong friendship with Mercutio that makes him seek revenge. Violence, fate and love all appear in this scene in the feelings and actions of various characters. Although the tale of Romeo and Juliet is a sad one Shakespeare shows that the death of these star crossed lovers is the only way the families will finally accept reconciliation and is therefore not a complete tragedy.
