Through out this whole scene, Tybalt shows his aggressive behavior and need for cruelty. It creates a feeling of foreboding and foreshadows the future tragedy to come.
The next time Tybalt is present is in act I scene V, at the Capulet’s masquerade ball. Romeo has intruded in on the festivities, looking for Rosaline, and has discovered Juliet. He is speaking out loud of the beauty he has found, when Tybalt over hears him.
Due to the ‘ancient grudge’ between the Capulet and Montague families, it would be almost natural for Tybalt to hate Romeo. However Tybalt has taken this feud further than a few brawls in the streets. We get this feeling from when Tybalt says;
‘This by his voice shall be a Montague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy.’
This emphasizes that Tybalt’s mind is always dwelling on the feud and any possibilities of a dispute, which could lead to a fight. It also shows that the only way he knows how to deal with this kind of problem is to dispose of the potential threat through killing them, so he sends for his rapier. These words also display his intense study of his enemy because he recognizes everything even down to a Montague accent.
Previously to these words of Tybalt, Romeo is speaking romantic lines about the incredible beauty of Juliet. While admiring the exquisiteness of Juliet’s appearance, Romeo says;
‘Did my heart love till now? Foreswear it sight,
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.’
In this section of the scene, Shakespeare uses juxtaposition very effectively to contrast Tybalt’s cruel, murderous intentions with Romeo’s words of fanciful lusts. This statement is very ironic because Romeo is only at the ball to find his former love, Rosaline, and is now denying ever loving anyone before now, which proves him to have the tendency to be a melodramatic romantic, but all Tybalt can do is create devious plans in his head and call for his weapon.
In Italy, at the time this was set, the reputation of your family dictated the way people looked at you. Tybalt, in this scene, proclaims;
‘Now by the stock and honor of my kin,
To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.’
Here Tybalt declares that by his ancestors and honour of his family he will kill Romeo. He also states that he does not consider killing a Montague as being a sin. He has used the words ‘not a sin’ which implies that he believes that God is on his side, the side of the Capulets. Therefore disposing of a Montague is what God would want, so he does not consider it to be a sin. This to him justifies his murderous intentions, and to him the whole feud is just a religious crusade with a mission to liberate the world of the filthy Montagues.
In Tybalt’s view all Montagues are evil and want to cause trouble for the Capulets. He analyses this situation and states;
‘To scorn at our solemnity this night…’
This quotation demonstrates Tybalt’s lack of ability to comprehend how any ones mind could ever think of anything besides hate and violence because that is where his mind is always dwelling. So he assumes that Romeo has intended on coming to the ball to mock the festivities, when in actual fact Romeo is there only to find Rosaline.
As mentioned before, honour was a high priority in the life of the Italians. Tybalt gives the following insult;
‘…that villain Romeo.’
A villain was an ignoble person. The phrase encompassed all the things that were considered shameful, for example; a thief, a liar, and a cheat. But because of the many times Tybalt uses this insult we are almost led to think that Tybalt is very unimaginative. However the case is not that he has a lack of imagination. It is just that there is no greater insult than to call someone a villain, because this insult attacks the ego and reputation of Romeo and his family and in the time this was set in there was no worse offence then this.
Having his infatuation for Rosaline we know that the previous quote cannot be true. After hearing Tybalt’s complaints Lord Capulet retorts;
‘…Verona brags of him
To be a virtuous and well governed youth.’
We can deduce from this that Tybalt is exaggerating this intrusion if even Lord Capulet can compliment his greatest enemy’s son. Therefore we are under the impression that Romeo is actually a ‘virtuous and well governed youth.’
For embarrassing him by arguing with him in front of all his guests, Lord Capulet uses a selection of statements which are used to insult Tybalt. Lord Capulet proves that he knows the nature of his nephew when he says;
‘…God shall mend my soul,
You’ll make a mutiny among my guests?
You will set cock-a-hoop, you’ll be the man?’
He is accusing Tybalt of wanting to pursue an opportunity to fight to improve his own reputation of being a man. The second insult is when Lord Capulet uses the expression;
‘You are a saucy boy.’
The word ‘saucy’ here is implying that Tybalt is insolent, which was stronger in Shakespeare’s time. In addition, Lord Capulet calls Tybalt a ‘boy,’ which suggests that Tybalt is being immature about the situation. The final insult I am going to talk about is;
‘You are a princox,’
This, again, means insolent boy, which is once more saying that Tybalt is disrespectful and immature
Tybalt previously says that he will kill Romeo to protect his family honour. The way you treated the leader of your family reflected your respect for your family its self.
He then argues;
‘Why, uncle, ‘tis a shame-‘
By contradicting his uncle, Tybalt displays his lack of respect for his uncle’s authority. He puts his own needs and wants before his uncle’s commands. Therefore proving that he does not want to kill Romeo to uphold his families reputation, but for his own satisfaction.
Tybalt eventually consents to let Romeo alone. But cautions his uncle;
‘I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.’
This is again a foreshadowing of the future because he is warning his uncle and the audience that he will seek vengeance and that he will get his revenge for this intrusion. These last words leave the audience expecting the worst from Tybalt.
This scene now makes it inevitable, in the minds of the audience, that Tybalt will have something to do with tragedy, some way or another.
In act II scene IV Tybalt does not actually appear. It is the day after the ball and Benvolio and Mercutio are discussing the letter Tybalt has sent to Romeo’s father’s house. Tybalt has followed through with his threat and challenges Romeo. Benvolio and Mercutio are discussing Tybalt’s technique and Romeo’ chances.
Tybalt has proved himself to be a man of his word by following through with his threat. We find this out when Benvolio tells Mercutio;
‘Tybalt, kinsman to old Capulet,
Hath sent a letter to his father’s house.’
Since Romeo intruded in on the ball Tybalt, a member of the Capulet family promised he would get his revenge and now he has sent this letter challenging Romeo to a duel. Mercutio then replies;
‘A challenge, on my life.’
Our previous knowledge of Tybalt’s character enables us to predict his course of action, but Mercutio also knows how Tybalt reacts. He is prepared to bet his life on that letter being nothing less than a challenge.
Romeo’s love for Rosaline has desensitised him to many aspects of his life. Mercutio describes this desensitisation with this metaphor;
‘Alas poor Romeo, he is already dead, stabbed with
a white wenches black eye,’
This is describing how one piercing stare from Rosaline, who is referred to as ‘a white wench’, has killed Romeo. Therefore he would be useless in a fight against Tybalt, firstly because of Tybalt’s immense skill as a swordsman, and secondly because he is virtually dead already because of Rosaline.
Tybalt can be described as being sly, fierce, alert and agile. All such words can also describe cats. Thus Mercutio calls Tybalt;
‘More than Price of Cats.’
This description implies that Tybalt’s behaviour and personality is the same as a cats, which can be described as cunning, vicious, and crafty. However Tybalt is not just described as any cat, but the ‘prince of cats.’ This is to imply that he is worse then all cats and is guilty of leading evil deeds.
Mercutio compares Tybalt’s passion for fencing with an infatuation for dancing when he says;
‘…he fights as
you sing prick-song, keeps time, distance, and
proportion; rests his minim rests, one two, and
the third in your bosom;’
For many people dancing is a form of relaxation and a hobby. To have a passion for something so horrific, such as murder and violence, be associated with something, which is loved by so many to such a great extent, only magnifies the repulsion of the obsession.
Tybalt’s accuracy is highly commendable however notorious he is himself. Even Mercutio recognises this when states;
‘…the very butcher of a
silk button, a duellist, a duellist;’
Even though his ability would allow him to kill his opponent quickly, Tybalt chooses to toy with them and humiliate them before actually taking their life. In the above quote Mercutio explains that using his precision, Tybalt, with one quick swipe of his sword, could gracefully disconnect a silk button from the owners garment.
Even though he is not present in this particular scene, the audience still get a felling of Tybalt’s capabilities. It again foreshadows the future making the tragedy even more unavoidable and inevitable that Tybalt will be near the root of the problem.
The final time Tybalt is in the play is in act III scene I. Tybalt is still determined to claim his revenge on Romeo for intruding in on the Capulets masquerade ball. He has approached Benvolio and Mercutio to enquire the whereabouts of Romeo.
Tybalt is actively seeking vengeance, but is no less aware of the danger of confronting a Montague supporter. His first words are;
‘Follow me close, for I will speak to them’
These words are directed at Petruchio, a friend of Tybalt’s who is accompanying him. Knowing the nature of most Montagues, Tybalt takes great care in engaging Mercutio and Benvolio in conversation, and calls upon Petruchio to stay close for endorsement and support.
Tybalt is single-mindedly searching for Romeo. His only reasoning for conversing with Mercutio and Benvolio is to discover where about he may find Romeo. This is deduced from when he says;
‘Gentlemen, good den; ... Mercutio thou consortest with Romeo.’
Knowing that his friends would know where to find him better than he would himself, Tybalt asks them where he may find Romeo. However, he appears to be uncharacteristically polite towards them. His previous behaviour gives the effect on the audience that this civility is only to avoid an unnecessary fight that might hinder his discovery of Romeo.
Tybalt is determined to take revenge on Romeo and Romeo alone is his target. This can be explained when Tybalt says;
‘Well, peace be with you sir, here comes my man’
this is a strange quotation because in act I scene I he tells us that he despises peace. Yet here he is encouraging it. This again is uncharacteristically pleasant. It also creates a feeling that Tybalt is avoiding a fight with Mercutio. Not because he is afraid but because all he is after is the blood of Romeo. He is just concentrating on achieving his goal.
Tybalt is incredibly provocative. He tries to aggravate Romeo by insulting him in the hope that it will push him into fighting. This is clearly displayed when Tybalt says;
‘Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford
No better term than this-thou art a villain’
Returning to the social aspect, the greatest insult that Tybalt can give is the previously used ‘villain’, which attacks the integrity and honour of Romeo. In Tybalt’s view this insult should have alone angered Romeo enough as to make him fight.
At the Capulets ball Tybalt says that he will kill Romeo to maintain the honour of his family, and that this is his only reasoning. Here he contradicts himself by saying;
‘Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
That thou hast done me,’
Romeo has tried to evade a fight with Tybalt. However, Tybalt is not concerned by Romeo’s excuses. This incident is no longer a case of family honour. Tybalt has taken this affair to a personal level. Romeo’s appearance has damaged his pride, dignity and ego that he can no longer endure the self-embarrassment that came with the memory of a Montague contaminating his family’s festivities. He has no space in his mind where he can compromise with or give compliments to Romeo for being the good person he is. All he can do is attempt offend him. His more subtle insult in this quotation is to call Romeo a ‘boy’. This was not as great an insult as the frequently used villain, but it is again a historical phase. It undermines Romeos maturity and his reputation as a man.
Tybalt is not willing to submit to fair play when he has a chance to win. Shakespeare wrote in the stage directions;
‘[Tybalt under Romeos arm, thrusts Mercutio in and flies’
According to the rules of fencing, which they had at the time, an attack upon your opponent cannot be made unless both contenders are in each others sight, therefore giving both challengers a fair opportunity to defend them selves. Tybalt’s move here was very unsportsmanlike and illegal move to make, as Romeo was standing in Mercutio's line of vision and would, therefore, given Mercutio no chance to defend himself.
The murder of Mercutio has penetrated the temperate nature of Romeo and he is now ready to fight. Distressed, Romeo explains that Mercutio’s soul is waiting a little way above the scene and cannot rest until one of them follows him to heaven. Tybalt is blood-thirsty and responds;
‘Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him here,
Shalt with him hence.’
Tybalt is showing no remorse but explains that he is prepared to kill Romeo so he can join his friend, and Tybalt’s mind can rest knowing that he has protected his own personal reputation. After all it was Romeo who Tybalt wanted to kill.
Now that Romeo has killed Tybalt, the audience is left with a fear and doubt about Romeo’s future. His banishment is making clear the inevitable future tragedy and our suspicions are proved true as the play continues.
My analysis of Tybalt has led me to discover that he is the only character who has such an ill-tempered nature and who speaks with such aggression. In the three scenes that he is in and even in the scene he is only discussed, he brings the audience an anxiety that builds tension throughout the scenes. His every action and word foreshadows the future, from which the audience can predict the horrific tragedy. In addition his actions have an effect on the behaviour of other characters. An example of this is Mercutio’s murder. His death caused Romeo to change his usual good temperament, and to seek revenge. This inevitably has a major effect on the plot. He is used as a dramatic devise and as a catalyst for action and the eventual tragedy. The audience have a feeling of dread. So to conclude, the minor character that is Tybalt is a major dramatic devise that causes and foreshadows the tragic end of the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’
