Starter – What can you remember?
• What happens between Act 1 scene 1 and the
end of Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet?
• Tell me what you can remember – don’t write
down anything – yet!
Look carefully at the plot sheet. Summarise what
happens in about 100 Words.
Act 3
Scene 1
• Let’s read the scene together.
• Pay close attention to how conflict is presented in
the scene?
•Identify any language, structural or dramatic
techniques used by Shakespeare to highlight the
conflict.
Looking closer
• Benvolio (again the peace maker) - 'let's retire: The day is
hot... these hot days is the mad blood stirring'.
• What do you think is the significance of this line?
• This line reflects some beliefs in Shakespeare's time, that
when the days were hot, people would get hot headed,
becoming animalistic and slip down the hierarchy of being.
• This mirrors Shakespeare's beliefs that conflict is degrading.
The use of personification creates a number of effects.
Firstly, the word 'mad' further highlights the beliefs that
when it was hot, you could lose your mind. Additionally, it
suggests how insane conflict is and how 'mad' it is to shed
blood because of a petty grudge. It also suggests loss of
control, of both mind and body, showing how easy it is to
get carried away by conflict.
Ideas (AO1) and Techniques used
(AO2)
• Act 3 opens in much the same way as Act 1 scene 1. It is a
‘public place’ as per the stage directions and the early
interchange is some what comedic.
• Furthermore, the hopeful tone of Act II changes
dramatically at the beginning of Act III as Romeo becomes
embroiled in the brutal conflict between the families.
• Structurally these two aspects are effective in lulling the
audience into a false sense of security. The audience might
imagine that the fighting would end the same way as Act 1
scene 1.
• The deaths of, first Mercutio, and then Tybalt are shocking
and emphasise the horrific nature of the conflict.
What’s in a
name?
mer·cu·ri·al –
adjective
1. changeable;
volatile; fickle;
flighty; erratic: a
mercurial nature.
2. animated; lively;
sprightly; quickwitted.
Consider origins of the name Mercutio.
How aptly is he named, considering the
dictionary definition of the word
mercurial?
Watch act 3 scene 1 of Zefferelli dvd
from beginning (01.07.56) to Mercutio’s
death (01.18.00)
• What does he do/ say which reinforces
the description of the word/ name?
• Considering his actions, words,
behaviour.
How is the movement on screen echoed
in the structure of the text?
• (Balletic movement/ fencing – Tybalt
and Mercutio dance around each other
literally and metaphorically through
their words.)
• Mercutio is a fictional character and does not appear
in the story and poem that Shakespeare based this
play on.
• Mercutio, Romeo's quick-tempered, witty friend,
links the comic and violent action of the play. He is
initially presented as a playful rogue who possesses
both a brilliant comic capacity and an opportunistic,
galvanised (shocking) approach to love.
• Later, Mercutio's death functions as a turning point
for the action of the play. In death, he becomes a
tragic figure, shifting the play's direction from
comedy to tragedy.
• Mercutio's name is derived from the word ‘mercury’,
a fiery unpredictable element, mirroring Mercutio's
fiery unpredictable personality: "by my heel I care
not." The line reveals how Mercutio acts with his
heart, making him a loveable character but his
personality is conflicting to that of Benvolio's, "by my
head.”
• His lack of understanding about love is important as
he is ignorant of Romeo’s true feelings about Juliet
and marriage when he dies in Act 3 Scene 1
Mercutio
Mercutio’s death
• Mercutio's final speech employs dark comedy to illustrate
the tragic significance of the latest violence.
• Mercutio dies frustrated and angry — shocked and in
disbelief that his fate is upon him. Until and even in the midst
of that moment, his ignorance of the underlying forces that
brought him to such an untimely end provides much of the
ironic humor for the play.
• He repeatedly curses, "A plague o' both your houses." Even
his characteristic wit turns bitter as Mercutio treats the
subject of his own death with humorous wordplay: "Ask for
me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man."
• In the final irony of this scene, Mercutio never learns for
what cause he was wounded. He believes he is wounded for
a fight, not for a love. In shocked disbelief, he asks Romeo
"Why the devil / came you between us? I was hurt under
your arm."
Point
Evidence
Language
What this shows about the
character of Mercutio?
Mercutio is “I will not
has no fear budge for no
of the feud. man's
pleasure, I.”
When he says ‘I will not budge’ it This indicates he doesn’t respect
shows his determination to stay. or fear the authority of the
When he says “for no man’s
Prince.
pleasure” he is referring to the
Prince who has made clear that
no more fights must occur.
Mercutio
is...?
The two questions suggest that
Mercutio purposely
misunderstands what Tybalt
means. Consort has two
meanings: friends/ companions
or a group of musicians so he
tries to twist Tybalt’s words to
make it sound like Tybalt is being
rude.
”Consort?
What, dost
thou make us
minstrels?”
This connotes
Point
Evidence
Mercutio is has “I will not budge
no fear of the for no man's
feud.
pleasure, I.”
Mercutio is
quick witted
Language
When he says ‘I will not
budge’ it shows his
determination to stay.
When he says “for no
man’s pleasure” he is
referring to the Prince
who has made clear that
no more fights must
occur.
What this shows about the
character of Mercutio?
This indicates he doesn’t
respect or fear the authority of
the Prince. Perhaps, because he
is a relation to the Prince, he
feels safe from his
punishments. Alternatively, he
could be so confident in his
ability to take on the Capulets
that he doesn’t feel the need to
run away.
”Consort? What, The two questions
This connotes Mercutio does
dost thou make us suggest that Mercutio
this to try to provoke Tybalt
minstrels?”
purposely
because he enjoys arguing and
misunderstands what
sparring, particularly with
Tybalt means. Consort
Tybalt, who is a Capulet – his
has two meanings:
enemy. Mercutio seems to find
friends/ companions or a sport in toying with others and
group of musicians so he causing mischief.
Point
Mercutio is ..?
Evidence
”o, calm,
dishonourable,
vile submission!”
Language
What this shows about the
character of Mercutio?
This helps the audience to
understand that
Point
Mercutio is
committed to
the feud.
Evidence
”o, calm,
dishonourable,
vile submission!”
Language
The list of three
adjectives used by
Mercutio to describe
Romeo’s refusal to fight
Tybalt are extremely
negative.
What this shows about the
character of Mercutio?
This helps the audience to
understand that Mercutio
believes that Romeo should
fight Tybalt for honour, whether
he wants to or not. The fact
that he refuses makes Mercutio
feel disgusted.
Why is it important that Mercutio dies?
Consider:
• What he is like as a character
• What the audience think/ feel about him
• What happens as a result of his death
The significance of Mercutio and his death
• Mercutio is a Joker who is quick witted and provides light
entertainment and humour, he is therefore liked by audience. His
death, coming immediately after the wedding changes the
atmosphere from positive to negative.
• His death results in the death of the humour. This reminds the
audience of the events foretold in the prologue. And, in fact, his
death is the pivotal point in the play; the tragic events (as promised)
begin with his death, pick up pace and begin to spiral out of control.
• It is his death which leads Romeo to kill Tybalt in revenge who is
then banished, which leads to… and so on.
• For Romeo, this follows the expectations of an Elizabethan
audience and their belief of the wheel of fortune – the abrupt
change of fortune of a character as a result of the inevitable turn of
the wheel. (like the de casibus tragedies – moral tales where
characters fall from the height of happiness).
... peace! I hate
the word
Tybalt is Juliet’s cousin and, as the eldest male, heir
to the Capulet legacy.
Tybalt
He takes the feud seriously, seeing it to be as much
his birthright as the family fortune.
He hates Romeo, heir to the Montague ‘throne’,
and sees it as a personal slight that Romeo gatecrashes the Capulet celebrations. He is further
enraged by, his uncle, Lord Capulet’s command to
ignore Romeo’s presence, calling him, Romeo, “a
virtuous and well-govern'd youth”.
As evident in Act One Scene
One, Tybalt is hot-tempered
and quarrelsome.
In Act Three Scene One,
Mercutio calls him “Prince of
Cats”.
What character traits does
this suggest?
This is partly a compliment: cats are lithe and agile, a
reference to Tybalt’s swordsmanship.
But, as per the continuing theme of appearance and reality,
there is a less flattering reading to Mercutio’s nickname.
Like Tybalt, cats are considered finicky, predatory and
territorial creatures. At the time Shakespeare was writing
they were also often superstitiously linked to witchcraft and
evil.
Mercutio is mocking Tybalt for sharing his name with a
character from an earlier fable, the cat in ‘Reynard the Fox’.
He knows this will wind him up, as, like the cat in the fable,
Tybalt is easily irritated.