Character Study On Mercutio

Essay by jaredessel March 2002

download word file, 3 pages 5.0

Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare. It is about two lovers who commit suicide when their feuding families prevent them from being together. The play has many characters, each with their own role in keeping the plot line. Some characters have very little to do with the plot but some have the plot revolving around them. Mercutio is one of the most unique characters in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. His language is always powerful and imaginative. He represents many different things in the play and holds an important role. Mercutio is Romeo's friend. He is neither Montague, nor Capulet. Therefore, he has not been born into a feud and really has no side. However, his friendship with Romeo associates him with the Montagues.

Mercutio's character stands out from the rest because of his energy in everything he does and says. He is always living his life on the edge and always looking for something new and exciting to do.

He is constantly playing on words, using two or more meanings. Romeo once describes him as, "A gentlemen…who loves to hear himself talk." As displayed in his Queen Mab speech in Act I Scene IV, he is very imaginative. He describes in intimate detail everything about a little world he has imagined. He creates this miniature society which he uses to explain how we get our dreams. In that same scene, Mercutio how he believes you should chase after what is desired. He tells Romeo to not be afraid to take charge saying, "If love be rough with you, then be rough with love." Mercutio teases Romeo, in Act I Scene IV: "Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover! Appear though in the likeness of a sigh."

This shows how Mercutio simply cannot understand Romeo's love for...