Shakespeare presents the character of Tybalt as being fiery, aggressive and hot- blooded. We get our first impressions of Tybalt in act 1 scene 1, when he first appears on stage causing an unnecessary outburst. “What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montague’s, and thee.” Tybalt is a stubborn character who is obsessed with the feuding between his family and the Montague’s.
Tybalt’s up-bringing between a feuds of dominant families within his city is the cause of his obsessiveness to loathe the Montague’s. Tybalt’s character speaks with a very aggressive and stubborn tone and an unnecessary rudeness whilst speaking.
Tybalt is used within the play as a foil for Romeo who is presented as an Sensitive, light-hearted character who does not participate within the feuds.
Shakespeare shows the difference between the two characters in act 1 scene 5 when Capulet argues with Tybalt at the ball. “And, to say truth, Verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well-govern’d youth.” This shows the difference between the characters because everyone says what a good and honoured man Romeo is where as Tybalt is the complete opposite who wants to make a scene by approaching Romeo at the ball to fight.
In act 3 scene 1 when Romeo and Tybalt first meet there is a clash of words as Tybalt who is astonished to see that Romeo, a Montague has dared to appear at his Father’s ball. “I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall.” There is no conflict during the scene as Tybalt is controlled by his father who will not let no further feud continue at his ball.
Tybalt decides to look for Romeo to confront him, this scene causes tension but also entertainment and excitement for the audience because they know that there will be a brawl when they finally meet.
Shakespeare has purposely made the play this way so his audience can feel suspense between the two characters but also the surprise of when Mercutio gets stabbed. Mercutio’s death is the most important part of the play, for a number of reasons. It shows the friendship that Romeo and Mercutio have for each other because he doesn’t tell Tybalt where Romeo is. The second is when Mercutio gets stabbed he mentions about “A plague o’both your houses!” Basically saying that the feud between both of them is pathetic and they should both be punished. This part of the play brings out a different side to Romeo and he acts the same as Tybalt being fiery, aggressive and hot-blooded. He wants his own back and this leads to the death of Tybalt.
Tybalt can only be blamed to a certain extent for Romeo and Juliet’s death because although he started many brawls and arguments, he had no control over their state of mind. However, the twos death can also be seen as his fault. If Tybalt was to leave the intrusion of Romeo at Capulet’s ball then Mercutio wouldn’t be dead. The death of Mercutio angered Romeo because Tybalt went to find Romeo and he was not there, therefore he feels like he should be the one dead. The anger over Mercutio’s death leads to Romeo going after Tybalt and killing him, resulting in the banishment of Romeo.
In Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt is crucial to developing the feuds. In every scene that Tybalt is in he is looking for a fight. Act 1 scene 1 ‘public brawl’, act 1 scene 5 ‘The ball’ and act 3 scene 1 ‘Mercutio and Tybalt’s death’ Tybalt uses violence or an aggressive tone towards the Montague’s. Tybalt has been raised with prejudice, and prejudice leads to the violence that he feel’s he must use to keep the pride of his family in the feud between the two families.
Throughout the play there are times shown when Tybalt has sense to not create a feud, in Act 1 scene 3 he approaches the Montague’s looking to confront Romeo.
Benvolio and Mercutio do not tell him the where abouts of Romeo and instead try to test his patience although at this point in time Tybalt is only looking for one person.
“Well, peace be with you, sir. Here comes my man.” Tybalt confronts Romeo revealing that he is infact ready for a duel but instead Romeo tries to reason with him because of the love that he has for Tybalt’s cousin; Juliet.
Tybalt’s angry and frustration is shown within this scene as he cannot accept the fact that Romeo will not participate in the feud.
Shakespeare uses Tybalt to show the difference between youth and age and shows this through the generation gap. The older generation use the younger generation to continue their will, for example Capulet is insisting that Juliet is to marry Paris against her own will. This is not attempted to be stopped as the elders would not have accepted the marriage of Romeo and Juliet because of the long fought feud between their families.
Tybalt is a key character throughout the play as he is the causes of most of the feuds within the play leading to deaths of Mercutio and himself, leading to the abolishment of Romeo from Verona. There is a strong feeling of revenge which is caused by Tybalt but presented through the character of Romeo.
