Romeo & Juliet Act 3 scene 1, is a key scene in the play. At the end of the scene, the outcome of the play has changed.

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Romeo & Juliet (Act3 Scene1)                Dionne Williams

        Act 3 scene 1, is a key scene in the play. At the end of the scene, the outcome of the play has changed.

        Italian summer afternoons are hot, and it I sensible to take a rest in the shade or even indoors. Benvolio points out to Mercutio that members of the Capulet family are about in the streets.

        “And if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl”

Benvolio tries to keep the peace and reminds the other characters of the princes words He also reminds us of the tension else where in the play with fighting between Capulet and Montague and the Prince’s threat.

        Mercutio insults Tybalt by calling him a “rat catcher” which implies, Tybalt comes from a poor family, insulting, as he is a nobleman.

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Mercutio responds with his usual good-natured humour, but his invention seems slower than usual; probably he too feels hot and rather tired. His energy is restored when Tyblat appears, in search of Romeo and determined to fight. Tybalt stops exchanging insults with Mercutio when Romeo arrives. Tybalt and Mercutio don’t understand why Romeo won’t fight when it was he who challenges him.

Mercutio is bored and tenses Benvolio suggesting Benvolio will argue over anything.

“Thou must quarrel with a man for coughing on the street.”

Tybalt then insults both Romeo and Mercutio when he says, “Mercutio, thou consortest”. Mercutio ...

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