Melissa J. Blake
Josie Tierney-Fife
English 9 Advanced
8 June 2011
Hopeless Love: The Mercutio Story
Many plays have been written throughout history and have gone on to be famous, even in modern society. Arguably, the most famous play in history is Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. The play is set in Verona and focuses in on two waring families, the Capulets and the Montagues. Romeo Montague, son of the Elder Montague and the only heir to his family’s fortune, is infatuated with Rosaline, who, being a girl who as sworn her life to the church, she does not return his love. In attempt to cheer him, Romeo’s cousin Benvolio, and his best friend, Mercutio, sneak him into the Capulet masquerade with the hopes he will meet another, more eligible, women. Instead, Romeo falls for Juliet, the daughter of Capulet and the only heir the the Capulet fortune. After the masquerade, they exchange vows of love. Romeo and Juliet are married by the next afternoon, unbeknownst to everyone but the friar who conducted the wedding, Juliet’s nurse, and a servant of Romeo’s. On his wedding day, Romeo becomes entangled in a fight with Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, who was apoplectic after spotting Romeo at the masquerade. Romeo is exiled after killing Tybalt, the murderer of Mercutio. The Capulet’s then engage Juliet to be married to Paris, her wealthy suitor and kin of the Prince of Verona. As she is already married, her and the friar who conducted the wedding, Friar Lawrence, have a plan in which she takes drugs to give her the appearance of death. She will be buried, after which the Fair will get her and send her to live with Romeo. Of course, Romeo does not receive the Friar’s letter telling him of the plan, and kills himself beside Juliet’s body after hearing the news of her death and returning to Verona. Juliet awakes from her drug educed coma moments later to find Romeo’s body, and then commits suicide. This tragic love story of these two “star-crossed lovers” has become most famous due to the fact it leaves readers with many questions. What if Romeo had gotten the Friar’s letter in Mantua? What is Juliet had married Paris? Of course one of the most intriguing questions in the whole play has to be; is Mercutio insane? Mercutio is Romeo’s best friend and kinsman of the Prince of Verona, but in truth he is so much more. His actions, from long rants about fictional characters, to laying down his life for what he saw was the loss of his best friends honor, are unimaginably strange. Most readers would just shrug off Mercutio’s actions, saying he was insane, or just a creative misogynist. This is wrong, however. Mercutio is sane; his actions can be explained by the fact that he is in love with Romeo, and this shows through his possessive behavior over Romeo, his confusion to towards how Romeo can love women, and his deep loyalty to his best friend.
The possessive behavior over Romeo is not out of friendship for Mercutio. After Romeo meets Juliet, he and his companions leave the masquerade. Romeo, overcome by his new love for Juliet, disappears into the Capulet Orchard to find her again. Benvolio, wondering where he has gone, asks Mercutio to call him, to which Mercutio replies: “Nay, I’ll conjure too. / Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover! / Appear in the likeness of a sigh; / speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied! / Cry but ‘Aye me!’ pronounce but ‘love’ and ‘dove’” (II.i.8-12). Mercutio calls Romeo, but by insulting him readily. Mercutio shows his possessiveness towards Romeo, by truly believing he can say anything to him. Mercutio is not at all concerned whether Romeo is hurt by his words, not even seeming like he is thinking about his feelings at all. He behaves like Romeo belongs to him, and that Romeo understands this and can not be hurt by Mercutio’s words. This is not the way a friendship works, this is the way an abusive relationship works.
Mercutio is blatantly displeased by Romeo’s sexual orientation. Scene IV of Act II begins with Benvolio and Mercutio walking around Verona, looking for Romeo as they have not seen him since he disappeared after the Capulet masquerade the previous night. While they are wondering where he could have gone, Benvolio tells Mercutio that Tybalt has challenged Romeo to a duel, to which Mercutio responds to less than positively. Mercutio claims that Romeo may lose the fight, but he has lost his life already: “Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead! stabb’d with / the white wrench’s black eye; shot through the ear with a / love song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind / bow-boy’s butt-shaft” (II.iv.13-16) Mercutio is obviously upset by Romeo’s love for Rosaline, as any good friend would be, but it seems to be more than just that. Mercutio is far more upset than any other of Romeo’s old friends, like his cousin, Benvolio. Benvolio, is clearly distressed by his cousin’s pain, but does not feel the need to comment on Romeo’s feelings. Mercutio turns his nose to Romeo’s way of living, that is, falling in love with a women, marrying, and raising a family. He describes this belief system as having a fate far worse than death. This shows a great lack of understanding of this way of life, and a lack of belief in it on Mercutio’s part. Of course, many would argue that Mercutio is just a misogynist, but is this is true than why would it bother Mercutio to see Romeo getting hurt by a women? Would that not prove to his friend that he is right in hating women? If so, should that not please him? Mercutio obvious hatred of Rosaline’s breaking Romeo’s heart shows that he is displeased by his friends sexual orientation, more so than the pain Romeo is in.
Mercutio is very loyal to Romeo, far past the bounds of friendship, and Shakespeare makes sure the audience understands this. Act III opens up upon Benvolio and Mercutio walking about in town, where Tybalt approaches them. Although he is ready to fight and kill Romeo, Tybalt almost starts a fight with Mercutio, who is displeased by how Tybalt has approached him. Romeo than appears and breaks up the soon to be brawl, but refuses to fight Tybalt; he could not kill his new wife’s cousin without hurting her deeply. Mercutio, unbeknownst to Romeo’s situation, sees his backing down as a sign of weakness and jumps to defend Romeo honor. Mercutio challenges Tybalt to a fight: “O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! / Alla stoccata carries it away./ Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?” (III.i.72-74). Before Romeo can break up this new brawl, Tybalt slashes Mercutio side. Mercutio falls, and moments later, dies. Mercutio stepped up to fight, for what he saw, as the loss of Romeo’s honor. Of course, Mercutio could have just been eager for a fight, as his “trigger-happy” nature has been shown and mentioned multiple times throughout the play, but I do not believe that is what William Shakespeare intended. In the beginning of this scene, Mercutio talks of how bellicose Benvolio is, to which Benvolio does not deny. This dialogue, being completely superfluous to the point of the play, must have been only to prove a point. That is, that Mercutio and Benvolio are quite similar, in their long-standing friendship with Romeo and their antagonistic behavior. This said, Mercutio, who risked and lost his life for Romeo, did not do it out of just friendship, or a like of brawls. There was something more, Mercutio became to protective of something as arbitrary as Romeo’s honor, showing his deep affection of his friend. This loyalty goes beyond friendship, to love.
Mercutio is an love with Romeo, and this shows through his possessive behavior over Romeo’s life and love life and his lack of understanding towards women, and his deep loyalty to his friend, causing him to at times appear insane. Mercutio is possessive of Romeo, truly believing Romeo is his and he has the right to treat him poorly; as far as Romeo’s sexual orientation is concerned Mercutio is not a fan. He repeatedly claims Romeo’s love of Rosaline, and women in general, is a poor fate. Mercutio eventually laid down his life for Romeo’s honor, starting a fight where one was not necessary, to protect Romeo’s image. All this reveals the true depth of his affections. Mercutio’s tragedy, in loving a man who could not return his feelings, is the real tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Hiding your true feelings to your death bed is far worse than dying knowing your love loves you back.
Josie Tierney-Fife
English 9 Advanced
8 June 2011
Hopeless Love: The Mercutio Story
Many plays have been written throughout history and have gone on to be famous, even in modern society. Arguably, the most famous play in history is Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. The play is set in Verona and focuses in on two waring families, the Capulets and the Montagues. Romeo Montague, son of the Elder Montague and the only heir to his family’s fortune, is infatuated with Rosaline, who, being a girl who as sworn her life to the church, she does not return his love. In attempt to cheer him, Romeo’s cousin Benvolio, and his best friend, Mercutio, sneak him into the Capulet masquerade with the hopes he will meet another, more eligible, women. Instead, Romeo falls for Juliet, the daughter of Capulet and the only heir the the Capulet fortune. After the masquerade, they exchange vows of love. Romeo and Juliet are married by the next afternoon, unbeknownst to everyone but the friar who conducted the wedding, Juliet’s nurse, and a servant of Romeo’s. On his wedding day, Romeo becomes entangled in a fight with Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, who was apoplectic after spotting Romeo at the masquerade. Romeo is exiled after killing Tybalt, the murderer of Mercutio. The Capulet’s then engage Juliet to be married to Paris, her wealthy suitor and kin of the Prince of Verona. As she is already married, her and the friar who conducted the wedding, Friar Lawrence, have a plan in which she takes drugs to give her the appearance of death. She will be buried, after which the Fair will get her and send her to live with Romeo. Of course, Romeo does not receive the Friar’s letter telling him of the plan, and kills himself beside Juliet’s body after hearing the news of her death and returning to Verona. Juliet awakes from her drug educed coma moments later to find Romeo’s body, and then commits suicide. This tragic love story of these two “star-crossed lovers” has become most famous due to the fact it leaves readers with many questions. What if Romeo had gotten the Friar’s letter in Mantua? What is Juliet had married Paris? Of course one of the most intriguing questions in the whole play has to be; is Mercutio insane? Mercutio is Romeo’s best friend and kinsman of the Prince of Verona, but in truth he is so much more. His actions, from long rants about fictional characters, to laying down his life for what he saw was the loss of his best friends honor, are unimaginably strange. Most readers would just shrug off Mercutio’s actions, saying he was insane, or just a creative misogynist. This is wrong, however. Mercutio is sane; his actions can be explained by the fact that he is in love with Romeo, and this shows through his possessive behavior over Romeo, his confusion to towards how Romeo can love women, and his deep loyalty to his best friend.
The possessive behavior over Romeo is not out of friendship for Mercutio. After Romeo meets Juliet, he and his companions leave the masquerade. Romeo, overcome by his new love for Juliet, disappears into the Capulet Orchard to find her again. Benvolio, wondering where he has gone, asks Mercutio to call him, to which Mercutio replies: “Nay, I’ll conjure too. / Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover! / Appear in the likeness of a sigh; / speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied! / Cry but ‘Aye me!’ pronounce but ‘love’ and ‘dove’” (II.i.8-12). Mercutio calls Romeo, but by insulting him readily. Mercutio shows his possessiveness towards Romeo, by truly believing he can say anything to him. Mercutio is not at all concerned whether Romeo is hurt by his words, not even seeming like he is thinking about his feelings at all. He behaves like Romeo belongs to him, and that Romeo understands this and can not be hurt by Mercutio’s words. This is not the way a friendship works, this is the way an abusive relationship works.
Mercutio is blatantly displeased by Romeo’s sexual orientation. Scene IV of Act II begins with Benvolio and Mercutio walking around Verona, looking for Romeo as they have not seen him since he disappeared after the Capulet masquerade the previous night. While they are wondering where he could have gone, Benvolio tells Mercutio that Tybalt has challenged Romeo to a duel, to which Mercutio responds to less than positively. Mercutio claims that Romeo may lose the fight, but he has lost his life already: “Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead! stabb’d with / the white wrench’s black eye; shot through the ear with a / love song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind / bow-boy’s butt-shaft” (II.iv.13-16) Mercutio is obviously upset by Romeo’s love for Rosaline, as any good friend would be, but it seems to be more than just that. Mercutio is far more upset than any other of Romeo’s old friends, like his cousin, Benvolio. Benvolio, is clearly distressed by his cousin’s pain, but does not feel the need to comment on Romeo’s feelings. Mercutio turns his nose to Romeo’s way of living, that is, falling in love with a women, marrying, and raising a family. He describes this belief system as having a fate far worse than death. This shows a great lack of understanding of this way of life, and a lack of belief in it on Mercutio’s part. Of course, many would argue that Mercutio is just a misogynist, but is this is true than why would it bother Mercutio to see Romeo getting hurt by a women? Would that not prove to his friend that he is right in hating women? If so, should that not please him? Mercutio obvious hatred of Rosaline’s breaking Romeo’s heart shows that he is displeased by his friends sexual orientation, more so than the pain Romeo is in.
Mercutio is very loyal to Romeo, far past the bounds of friendship, and Shakespeare makes sure the audience understands this. Act III opens up upon Benvolio and Mercutio walking about in town, where Tybalt approaches them. Although he is ready to fight and kill Romeo, Tybalt almost starts a fight with Mercutio, who is displeased by how Tybalt has approached him. Romeo than appears and breaks up the soon to be brawl, but refuses to fight Tybalt; he could not kill his new wife’s cousin without hurting her deeply. Mercutio, unbeknownst to Romeo’s situation, sees his backing down as a sign of weakness and jumps to defend Romeo honor. Mercutio challenges Tybalt to a fight: “O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! / Alla stoccata carries it away./ Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?” (III.i.72-74). Before Romeo can break up this new brawl, Tybalt slashes Mercutio side. Mercutio falls, and moments later, dies. Mercutio stepped up to fight, for what he saw, as the loss of Romeo’s honor. Of course, Mercutio could have just been eager for a fight, as his “trigger-happy” nature has been shown and mentioned multiple times throughout the play, but I do not believe that is what William Shakespeare intended. In the beginning of this scene, Mercutio talks of how bellicose Benvolio is, to which Benvolio does not deny. This dialogue, being completely superfluous to the point of the play, must have been only to prove a point. That is, that Mercutio and Benvolio are quite similar, in their long-standing friendship with Romeo and their antagonistic behavior. This said, Mercutio, who risked and lost his life for Romeo, did not do it out of just friendship, or a like of brawls. There was something more, Mercutio became to protective of something as arbitrary as Romeo’s honor, showing his deep affection of his friend. This loyalty goes beyond friendship, to love.
Mercutio is an love with Romeo, and this shows through his possessive behavior over Romeo’s life and love life and his lack of understanding towards women, and his deep loyalty to his friend, causing him to at times appear insane. Mercutio is possessive of Romeo, truly believing Romeo is his and he has the right to treat him poorly; as far as Romeo’s sexual orientation is concerned Mercutio is not a fan. He repeatedly claims Romeo’s love of Rosaline, and women in general, is a poor fate. Mercutio eventually laid down his life for Romeo’s honor, starting a fight where one was not necessary, to protect Romeo’s image. All this reveals the true depth of his affections. Mercutio’s tragedy, in loving a man who could not return his feelings, is the real tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Hiding your true feelings to your death bed is far worse than dying knowing your love loves you back.