romeo and juliet fight scene act 3 Like all the scenes with Mercutio and Benvolio, this scene takes place

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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 Mercutio who decides to provoke a fight. ‘Make it a word and a blow’ Mercutio may provoke a fighting just to show Benvolio his courage. Benvolio again steps in to warn about the Princes declaration that who ever fights shall be sentenced to death.                 Tybalt, though, is not interested in fighting Mercutio but instead turns his attention to Romeo once he arrives ‘Well, peace be with you sir,’ he comes my man’ Tybalt immediately insults him and challenges him to a fight, this shows the Tybalt aggressive side. But Romeo who is now married to Tybalt cousin Juliet, doesn’t want to fight his family, Tybalt does not know that Romeo is Juliet husband. Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt and this causes Mercutio, who was already seeking a fight, to call his refusal ‘calm, dishonourable, vile submission.’ And draw his sword upon Tybalt. Tybalt who was surprised about this asks Mercutio ‘what wouldst thou have with me?’ this shows how Tybalt was complete surprised that Mercutio wanted a fight, although some might interpret this as a mere dismissal because Mercutio is not worth fighting in Tybalt eyes. Either way Tybalt’s fighting nature is not one to shy away from a fight.

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        Mercutio obviously sees Romeo refusal to fight a cowardly act. Tybalt who accepts this challenges advance quite confidently, I say confidently because Tybalt says ‘I am for you ’ Romeo tries to make them stop, calling on Benvolio for help, There is a feeling Romeo relies on Benvolio as a peacemaker for ‘Draw Benvolio, beat down their weapons’ But Benvolio remains silent, most probably to avoid being involved because he doesn’t want to be drawn into a fight. Romeo decides to take it into his own hand and step in to separate them, but as he steps in ‘Tybalt under ...

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