By my heel, I care not.
When Tybalt arrives, Mercutio taunts and teases him and really winds him up when Tybalt greets them. Mercutio says :-
And but one word with one of us? couple it with
something; make it a word and a blow.
Benvolio tries again to calm Mercutio down because they are in a public place and people can see them but Mercutio is not at all bothered. It makes the audience wonder what is going to happen next when he says:-
Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;
I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.
And the tension builds up.
Tybalt ignores Mercutio’s insults because he is looking for Romeo:-
Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man.
Romeo is the man he intends to fight and Tybalt accuses Romeo of being a villain:-
Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford
No better term than this,- thou art a villain..
Of the four people two are picking a quarrel – Mercutio and Tybalt, while the other two, Benvolio and Romeo, are trying to avoid one. Because of all the banter between them, the audiences keeps wondering who is going to win, and if there will be a fight.
Romeo, however, refuses to accept the challenge and will not fight, even though he feels insulted at being called a villain. He even tells Tybalt that he loves him and tries to make peace with him:-
I do protest, I never injured thee,
But love thee better than thou canst devise,
Till thou shalt know the reason of my love:
And so, good Capulet,--which name I tender
As dearly as my own,--be satisfied.
He has secretly married Juliet and sees Tybalt as a kinsman.
Mercutio gets angry that Romeo refuses to fight:-
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
Alla stoccata carries it away.
And draws his sword, challenging Tybalt.
Romeo again tries to make peace and persuades Benvolio to help him:-
Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.
Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage!
Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath
Forbidden bandying in Verona streets:
Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio!
but Tybalt has already drawn his sword. Romeo intervenes but Tybalt stabs Mercutio who falls. As he lies there, he curses both the Capulets and Montagues:-
I am hurt.
A plague o' both your houses! I am sped.
Romeo feels guilty and blames himself for Mercutio’s wound:-
This gentleman, the prince's near ally,
My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt
In my behalf; my reputation stain'd
He fears that his love for Juliet has weakened his courage :-
With Tybalt's slander,Tybalt, that an hour
Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate
And in my temper soften'd valour's steel!
When Benvolio tells Romeo that Mercutio is dead, Romeo vows to kill Tybalt:-
Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again,
That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul
Is but a little way above our heads,
Staying for thine to keep him company:
Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.
They fight and Tybalt is killed. Benvolio tells Romeo to escape before the Prince arrives, otherwise he will be condemned to death.
The Prince does arrive and wants to know what has happened so Benvolio tells him:-
There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,
That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.
He gives an exaggerated and biased account of what has happened, supporting Romeo and saying how he tried to prevent the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt. Because Tybalt would not see reason, Mercutio was killed and Romeo got his revenge by killing Tybalt:-
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.
Lady Capulet does not believe him and thinks he is defending Romeo. She accuses him of lying and demands Romeo’s death:-
I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give;
Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.
The tension increases as the Prince starts to speak. He is furious with Romeo that Tybalt has died and banishes him from Verona:-
Immediately we do exile him hence:
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses:
If Romeo is found, he will be killed. This leaves the audience on a knife-edge. The tension is building up and we are left at the end of this scene wondering if Romeo will be found and if he is, whether he will survive, and if he dies, how Juliet will react.
There is a lot of conflict in this scene, and the exciting but tragic fight,
adds to the tension. It also marks the mid-point of the play and we can see how
emotions lead to violence and how violence leads to death. The deaths in this
scene provide dramatic excitement and also prepare us for the later tragedy.
There is going to be even more tension and excitement throughout the play.