Mercutio as Catalyst in Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet Essay

Mercutio as Catalyst in Shakespeares play, Romeo and Juliet In Shakespeares play, Romeo and Juliet, the quick-witted character Mercutio is a notorious scene-stealer (Utterback 105). Mercutios major function in the play is to be a catalyst for the plot. Mercutios purpose as a character is most significantly revealed in his relationship with Romeo, his baiting of Tybalt, and his death. More importantly, Mercutio functions as the catalyst for the pattern of disasters in the play that follows his own tragic death, making him, as described by tyro Stephen Greenblatt a spirit that seems to challenge the very possibility of romantic love or tragic destiny (856). Mercutios role in the play is in a flash linked to his relationship with his very friend, Romeo (III.i.108). This bond and camaraderie of the men provides the basis for the revelation of Mercutios character as a foil to Romeo. These basic roles for the ii friends mean that, through the badinage, Mercuti o is essentially active and Romeo reactive or passive (Porter 103). For example, Mercutio tells Romeo Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance (I.iv.13). He playfully pushes Romeo to borrow cupids wings / And soar with them above a common bound (I.iv.17-18) and advises his friend that If love be rough with you, be rough with love. / Prick love for pricking, and you catch love down (I.iv.27-28). These lines demonstrate Mercutios characteristic need for urgency and action. Romeo by contrast characteristically replies that he is unable to comply with his friends exhortationshe wont dance, dont ask himand his most urgent words, Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace (I.v.95), urge not action but its cessation (Porter 103).... ... pop State University Press, 1965. Phillips, Brian. Character Analysis. SparkNote on Romeo and Juliet. 24 April 2003. http//www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeoandjuliet/canalysis.html.Porter, Joseph A. Shakespeares Mercutio His History and Drama. C hapel Hill University of North Carolina Press, 1988.Romeo and Juliet. Dir. Baz Luhrman. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Brian Dennehy, and John Leguizamo. 20th Century Fox, 1997.Romeo and Juliet. Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Perf. Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey, John McEnery, and milo OShea. Paramount, 1968. Shakespeare, William. The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York Norton, 1997. 865-939.Utterback, Raymond V. The Death of Mercutio. Shakespeare Quarterly. 24.2 (1973) 105-116.