What use does Shakespeare make of the character of Mercutio in the play Romeo and Juliet.(TM)
Romeo and Juliet Coursework 'Mercutio' What use does Shakespeare make of the character of Mercutio in the play 'Romeo and Juliet?' The Playwright William Shakespeare uses a variety of skills such as language, structure, as well as plot and character development in order to display the different themes and messages in the tragedy Romeo and Juliet. The character of Mercutio is significant as Shakespeare uses him as tool to enrich the play and to add humour, as well as a device to lead to development of plot and to appeal to the audience. The character of Mercutio is flavoursome, as he adds a comedic dimension to one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies. The character of Mercutio is presented as boisterous, reckless and free spirited; as well as flamboyant. He is the joker of the play, as his gags and puns are constant throughout his scenes. Mercutio is associated with this use of the 'double entendre', or puns with more than one meaning, which in his case were often smutty and sexual. There are several examples of this is when he tries to console Romeo about his unrequited love for Rosaline in scene 4, Act 1. Mercutio says: "Prick love for pricking and you beat love down." If we are to keep in mind, Mercutio's often crude nature, it appears that suggests to Romeo that in order for him to conquer love and cure him self of love he should have sex excessively. One
How does Shakespeare present the character of Mercutio and what role does he play in Romeo and Juliet?
How does Shakespeare present the character of Mercutio and what role does he play in Romeo and Juliet? In the famous Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet the character Mercutio is a close friend of Romeos and has an arrogant and cynical personality. He only features in the first part of the play but despite this his character plays a very key role through his loyalty to Romeo in setting up the rest of the story. His character is clearly very comic in the sense that he is constantly joking and using puns right up to his death. A key example that I feel expresses the comedy of his character is how he mocks Romeos sworn enemy Tybalt: Because there is a feud between the Montague (Romeos) and Capulet (Juliets) families Mercutio feels it is his duty as a friend to Romeo to side with the Montagues. Firstly in Act 2 scene 4 he insults Tybalts name as it is also a popular name for a cat. Mercutio: 'More than Prince of cats.' Also he insults the way in which Tybalt fights suggesting it is predictable and effeminate. 'He fights as you sing prick song, keeps the time distance and proportion; he rests his minim rests one, two, and the third in your bosom.' 'Ah the immortal 'passado,' the 'punto reverso,' the 'hay!' ' He is mocking the names of popular fencing moves. In Shakespearean times it was the comic side of Mercutios role that would have appealed to the lower class 'peasant'
How Does the Tone Of the Play change after The Death Of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet?
Hannah Barnes. Year 10 Coursework. How Does the Tone Of the Play change after The Death Of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet? The story Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy. Tragedy began in Greece in about 5th century B.C. In every tragedy an innocent Character/ Characters will be killed. The audience experience feelings of shock, horror, distress and sympathy. There is also always a certain point where the hero (Romeo in this case) realises that by his own mistake (fighting Tybalt and in result Mercutio killed.) without this there would not be a tragedy. The mood is always changed dramatically at a certain point; this excites the audience and gives more moral and meaning to the play. The mood is changed dramatically in Romeo and Juliet when Mercutio is killed. The whole tragedy hinges on one false step, which sets the tragic process in motion. This creates momentum, and from this point things start going wrong at a worrying pace. From the time Mercutio is killed Romeo is becoming more and more happy. At the start of the play Romeo feels there is nothing to live for, as then the person he thought he originally loved (Rosaline) did not love him. "This love that thou hast shown doth add more grief to too much of mine own" Romeo says this in act one scene one near the beginning of the play it explains that
How does the tone of the play change after the death of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet?
How does the tone of the play change after the death of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet? The mood of the play changes quite dramatically after the death of Mercutio. The reason why Shakespeare added the death of Mercutio was to make the audience feel sad about the death of Romeo's best friend. After he is killed in Act 3, scene 1 the tragedy then begins to gain momentum or pace. This adds to play and makes it far more interesting for an Elizabethan audience which the play was originally designed for. There are also a lot of references to fate during the play which also adds to the build up of tragedy. When we first meet Romeo he is miserable because he thinks he is in love with Rosalind but she does not love him back. (Act 1, Scene 1, line 162) ' 'Not having that which having makes them short.' 'In love?' 'Out-' 'Of Love?' 'Out of her favour where I am in love.' In the quotation it clearly shows Romeos grief saying how his love for Rosalind is making him feel short because she does not love him back, which is also written in the quotation. Romeo thinks that he is in love and it is making him miserable but when he goes to the Capulet's party his mood immediately changes when he sees Juliet. This also shows that he was not truly in love with Rosalind, but is now in love with Juliet, a Capulet. (Act 1, Scene 5, line 45) 'Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight,
How does Shakespeare dramatically present the importance of Act3 scene1 in which Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo kills Tybalt?
Romeo And Juliet English course work. How does Shakespeare dramatically present the importance of Act3 scene1 in which Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo kills Tybalt? Shakespeare made the previous scene (Act2 Scene6) a happy and joyful scene in which Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet. However, within this scene there are some warnings of something bad happening such as when Friar Lawrence says to them "these violent delights come to violent ends". He is saying everything should be taken in moderation including love or else something bad will almost certainly happen. One of the first things said in the scene by Benvolio is "if we meet we shall not scape a brawl". He is playing his normal role as peacekeeper trying to convince Mercutio to return home and prevent the possible fight. He is afraid of getting into a fight in the streets with the Capulets because of the prince's warning "if ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of peace". Shakespeare dramatically presents this scene by changing the tension from happy and joyful in the previous scene, to Benvolio worrying about getting into a fight. This brings the tension sharply up; when Mercutio starts being humorous such as when he replies to Benvolios "by my head hear come the Capulets" with "by my heel I care not". The tension is then lowered again. When Romeo does not react to Tybalts
The type of action that Shakespeare has uses with Mercutio is to make him stand out to the audience
Act 1 three scene one has three main key events. Mercutio is killed by Tybalt, Tybalt is killed by Romeo and then Romeo is banished from Verona by the prince. These events in turn lead to a chain of further disastrous events as the play progresses. Some might argue that Shakespeare wants his audience to blame Tybalt or Romeo for the death of Mercutio. In this essay I will explain why I believe that Mercutio is to blame for bringing upon his own death. In act three scene one Shakespeare language shows us that Mercutio Like fighting. At one stage in the play, Mercutio say's "And but a word with one of us? Couple it with something, make it a word and a blow." This shows us that Mercutio is interested in a fight; he also likes teasing Tybalt to try and make him snap. Another example where Mercutio wants a fight with Tybalt is in act three scene one, is where Mercutio says to Tybalt "Tybalt you rat catcher will you walk?" At this point Mercutio knows that Tybalt is about to snap but still pushes him further. Also at the beginning of act three scene one Benvolio knows that there will be a fight coming. "I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire: the day is hot, the capels are abroad, and if we meet, we shall not 'scape a brawl." Both Mercutio and Benvolio know that there will be a fight coming but Mercutio still carries on walking. Another thing about Mercutio is that he makes
Do you feel that Mercutio is seen at his best in Act 3 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet?
Do you feel that Mercutio is seen at his best in Act 3 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet? To try and find out if Mercutio is seen at his best in Act 3 Scene 1 we must first explore all the scenes that Mercutio appears in. Once we have examined his personality and qualities we must then try and consider which scene he is seen at his best in. When we first meet Mercutio we see him as being calm and relaxed. He is trying to cheer up his friend Romeo as he is love struck. He shows he cares by saying 'Nay gentle Romeo we must have you dance'. The qualities that Mercutio portray are being kind and considerate. The tone of language that Mercutio uses is one of a very friendly and relaxed nature. He is not acting in a way that should attract attention towards him. He is very restrained and is acting in a 'normal' manner. Then Mercutio starts to mock Romeo by referring to classical references of love, because at this point Romeo is deeply in love with Roseline. 'You are a lover; borrow cupid's wings'. When Mercutio says this we admire him for his wit and cleverness but we don't like the way he is mocking his friend. By referring to words like cupid we automatically think of love which we admire. Also to mock his friend Mercutio also refers to physical views of love. By saying 'If love be rough with you be rough with love', he shows us that he has a vulgar mind and that he sees love more
romeo and juliet fight scene act 3 Like all the scenes with Mercutio and Benvolio, this scene takes place
Act 3 The Fight Scene Romeo & Juliet Like all the scenes with Mercutio and Benvolio, this scene takes place on the streets of Verona. Normally when Mercutio and Benvolio and seen on the streets they are just hanging out but this can sometimes lead to trouble as it does in Act 1 Scene 1. Benvolio seems aware that on such a hot roaming the streets might lead to trouble this can be clear show when he says to Mercutio 'I pray thee good Mercutio, lets retire. The day is hot and the Capels are abroad, and if we meet, we shall not 'scape a brawl,' Benvolio is aware that the riot in Act 1 involved the Capulet called Tybalt and that he is a troublemaker. Mercutio tease Benvolio but recalling his quarrelsome attitude 'Thou art lie on of these fellows that when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the table, and says, 'God send me no need of thee;' and by the operation of the second cup, draws him on the drawer, when indeed there is no need.' Benvolio then replies that if he where as quarrelsome as Mercutio he would be dead within an hour and a quarter. 'And I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter.' This bit of dramatic irony foreshadows the tragic events that will follow later in the scene. Tybalt who had sent Romeo a letter challenging him to a dual arrived looking for Romeo. He instead finds
Discuss different interpretations of "Romeo and Juliet" that you have studied, focusing on The Nurse, Juliet and Mercutio.
Discuss different interpretations of "Romeo and Juliet" that you have studied, focusing on The Nurse, Juliet and Mercutio. "All you need is love." The Beatles wrote this in the 1960's but they certainly were not the first to think it. Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" was based around this sentiment. It is a story of love, passion, romance, betrayal, life and of course, death. In the late 1990's Baz Luhrmann produced one of the most controversial interpretations of a Shakespeare play. He shot it in modern costume with modern settings, though he kept the original text. Using Verona Beach, Los Angles as his setting and Leonardo DiCaprio as his leading man, Luhrmann made it into a Hollywood movie and one of the biggest blockbuster hits of the 90's. However 20 years earlier Franco Zephirelli had shot his classic interpretation of the film-using period costume. This film follows the script fairly closely and is close to how Shakespeare would have had it performed. Even stage productions of the classic tragedy have been updated. Not long ago the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford put on a modern interpretation, which was apparently much like the 1970's cult film "Grease" centring around fast cars and leather jackets. The RSC production that our class saw was much closer to an original Shakespeare production: however it was of poor quality, many of our girls
Analyse the dramatic function of Mercutio in "Romeo and Juliet" with appropriate reference to social context, theme, character, setting and audience.
Analyse the dramatic function of Mercutio in "Romeo and Juliet" with appropriate reference to social context, theme, character, setting and audience. "Romeo and Juliet" was based on a narrative poem by Arthur Brooke. Shakespeare made the poem much more dramatic by making the events happen in five days rather than three months like the poem The play is based on two "star-cross'd lovers" who fall in love, then take their lives. Mercutio appears to be a minor character as he only performs in four scenes. Until the death of Mercutio "Romeo and Juliet" could have been a comedy, however, after Mercutio's death, the play changes its pace and much darker in its themes and concerns. The Elizabethan audience would have had a different opinion on the play than we have today. The Elizabethan males would have found Mercutio very funny as they believed they were superior to females and would have agreed with Mercutio's bawdy sense of humour. We today find it funny and offensive as males and females have an equal place in today's society. Shakespeare's theatre company was called the Chamberlain's Men and had twelve leading actors. Shakespeare would have a particular actor in mind for each character in the play. Mercutio has a minor role in the play, but his death brings the final tragic outcome which is the death of both "Romeo and Juliet". Mercutio being a very bawdy person talks
