Act 3, Scene 1 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ written by William Shakespeare outlines significant aspects within the play, such as the fate or destiny of Romeo and the deaths of Tybalt and Mercutio. I will explore such themes of this momentous scene.
The scene describes Benvolio and Mercutio wanting to retire due to the immense heat of the boiling sun, also implying that hot temperature would tend to create hot tempers! Although before doing so, they encounter Tybalt and his men, Mercutio and the Capulet trade empty taunts, threats and insults to each other but before all hell breaks loose, Romeo comes to restore the peace between them. But now Tybalt is furious towards Romeo and claims he is a villain but Romeo ceases to be provoked as he is now related to Tybalt as he newly married Juliet.
Mercutio, annoyed for the fact that Romeo refuses to defend himself, recklessly decides to challenge Tybalt to a fight himself, he falls to Tybalt’s hand resulting in Romeo feeling guilt within himself as Tybalt stabbed Mercutio under his arm. Tybalt’s posse run away alongside him. He returns alone and is slain by Romeo blinded by fury. Prince then arrives and attempts to bring justice to those committing such crimes.
The slow scenes of Act 2 dramatically change into intense conflict in this scene.
The violent outburst showcased was built up due to the extreme tension between the two houses in previous moments. It is truly a turning point in the play as Romeo slaying his newly married wife’s cousin Tybalt resulted him into banishment just as the ‘forbidden lovers’ ironically had finally started to become closer to one another. The death of Tybalt forced Romeo to reflect upon what just had happened thus it filled him with regret and guilt...
The theme of conflict in this scene displays that the play has started to become more of a tragedy genre as earlier it was more of a comedy. The final lines of the character, Mercutio helps emphasise the whole situation and atmosphere. As well as our impression towards him, “A plague o’ both your houses”, Mercutio shouts in his dying words—we interpret that he curses both the Montague and Capulet families, Romeo and Tybalt are used to represent the house holds here. He screams at them, cursing them for what they have done to him. For the first time it is not only a one sided matter, Romeo constantly interrupting the battle almost seemed to dishonour his friend, Mercutio and Tybalt who struck Mercutio to his last breath.
“O, I am fortune’s fool!” is evident of Romeo harshly stating that he has become to let fate control him and blames fate for his unfortunate actions.
But as stated earlier: “O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate”, also explains that he blames himself not only because he has just slain Tybalt selfishly, creating sorrow concerning Juliet but also the fact that the love he bears to his lover has made him weak and as stated- ‘effeminate’. This explicitly shows the theme of love.
We can easily analyse this scene due to the themes explored and again mention the deaths and eventful tragedies that created such a powerful turning point in the play shown in Act 3, Scene 1.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
After the death of Mercutio, Romeo was devastated and in revenge killed Tybalt in cold blood to avenge his friend. After all, it is the law to killed the one who slew first. But because Tybalt was a relative of the prince, in anger and in grief, banished Romeo. What they don't know is that Mercutio was so anger at Romeo because it was his fault Mercutio died. He rose from the dead in a ghostly form that haunted Romeo forever.…
- 128 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
In an interview with Benvolio Montague, an eyewitness at the scene says; “ Tybalt wanted to fight so he taunted Romeo to do so. Romeo refused to fight. I am unsure why Romeo didn’t fight with Tybalt, he was instead trying to be at peace with him. But Mercutio felt honour-bound to stand up for Romeo and fight. Romeo tried to stop the fight but failed, Tybalt stabbed Mercutio under Romeo’s arm and ran away from the scene."…
- 464 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
For centuries, the Capulets and the Montagues had loathe each other. These two families hated one another for so long that they don’t remember why and who started it, but they continue to carry on this conflict till modern day. In “Romeo and Juliet,” the ancient grudge has erupted into a new violence which has later cause several deaths between the two families. However, Tybalt has pride and honors it making his hatred for the Montagues strong. The family’s rivalry has effected Tybalt because he wants to fight a Montague every time he came across one which could lead to his sudden death.…
- 493 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Mercutio steps in to fight Tybalt, because Romeo is scared to fight because he is married to Juliet secretly. Tybalt kills Mercutio, then is slain by Romeo. The Prince of Verona soon bans Romeo from Verona. Juliet is upset about Romeo leaving the City. I believe that if Tybalt would not have been so hard headed and had listened to his Uncle, Romeo and Juliet would still be alive but not married. Mercutio maybe would not have placed a curse…
- 140 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
This foreshadows the death of tybalt which this is the main turning point in the play One of the ways Shakespeare presents conflict and violence in act 3:1 is dramatic irony to represent conflict and violence as we know Romeo is married to Juliet while no one else does. This would lead to violence if they found out. Tybalt knew Romeo like Juliet but didn’t know they were now family and starts a fight as usual. One of the lines that represents the dramatic irony is when Mercutio receives a wound which he calls a scratch, but he knows it is fatal. Up until then Mercutio was the life and soul of the party. He's a bit eccentric and enjoys having a good time. He is the joker of the group and gravity is alien to him, so there is irony in his words when he is dying.One of the ways Shakespeare presents conflict and violence in act 3:1 is dramatic irony to represent conflict and violence as we know Romeo is married to Juliet while no one else does. This would lead to violence if they found out. Tybalt knew Romeo like Juliet but didn’t know they were now family and starts a fight as usual. One of the lines that represents the dramatic irony is when Mercutio receives a wound which he calls a scratch, but he knows it is fatal. Up until then Mercutio was the life and soul of the party. He's a bit eccentric and enjoys having a good time. He is the joker of the group and gravity is alien to him, so there is irony in his words when he is dying.One of the ways Shakespeare presents conflict and violence in act 3:1 is dramatic irony to represent conflict and violence as we know Romeo is married to Juliet while no one else does. This would lead to violence if they found out. Tybalt knew Romeo like Juliet but didn’t know they were now family and starts a fight as usual. One of the lines…
- 1760 Words
- 8 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Benvolio, who wanted everyone to be friends, warned the guys not to fight in public. Insults were exchanged, but Romeo remembered that Tybalt is his new wife's cousin, so he turned the other cheek. Mercutio found this totally shocking, actually dishonorable, so he offered to fight Tybalt instead. They fought and then Romeo tried to intervene, but Tybalt suddenly stabbed Mercutio. Romeo and Benvolio assumed that Mercutio has not been badly hurt because he started joking about his damage but it was no joke. He was dying. A minute later, he died. Romeo blamed himself for Mercutio's death. So, he decided to man up by challenging Tybalt to a duel. And then finished him by killed Tybalt. This quote showed that Tybalt is always looking for a fight and that he always thinks he is going to win anything no matter what. He is a coquie and a prideful person. If he had not started the fight there would not have been no death, because Tybalt killed Mercutio and with force Romeo killed Tybalt, Romeo got banished which changed everything in the story. Lastly, these are the reasons why Tybalt had a big responsibility of why the lovely teenagers…
- 456 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
It began with Mercutio and Tybalt almost jokingly fighting. Romeo, though, was worried and tried to end the fight, but instead inflicted more damage. When Romeo comes in between the two, Tybalt’s sword pierced Mercutio from under Romeo’s arm, delivering the blow that would cause the deaths of all of them. Mercutio said, “Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.” (p. 231), and Romeo responded, “I thought all for the best”(p. 231). This incident, at least, was an accident. Tybalt had not intended to kill Mercutio, but Romeo messed them up by trying to pull Mercutio away. Romeo didn’t intend for him to be killed either, he was just attempting to stop the fighting. Because Mercutio died, Romeo was filled with anger, and in order to avenge Mercutio, decided to kill Tybalt, which led to his banishment. Romeo demanded that Tybalt duel him, saying “And fire-eyed fury be my conduct…
- 1365 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
(act 3),(scene 1) Romeo is mad at tybalt because tybalt killed mercutio and romeo felt like he needed to do something. Tybalt becomes even angrier; he does not know Romeo cannot fight him because they are now relatives. ... Romeo tries to stop the combat by rushing between them, and Tybalt then stabs Mercutio under Romeo's arm. Mercutio dies. Enraged, Romeo duels and kills tybalt in return, leading to his own exile by the prince.…
- 740 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Context: In this speech Mercutio’s is telling Benvolio about the dangers of arguing. He tells him that he is to impulsive when it comes to fighting others. This piece serves as a good piece of foreshadowing to the fight that will occur later in the scene.…
- 598 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Mercutio is the comic relief of the play. “Nay, I'll conjure too. Romeo! humors! madman! passion! lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh: Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied; Cry but 'Ay me!' pronounce but 'love' and 'dove.” (II/I/7-11) Mercutio is making a joke about Romeo and telling him…
- 495 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
After the fight the Prince comes to sort out everyone. Alas, Benvolio is standing there saying, “‘ There lies the man slain by young Romeo, that slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio”’(III, I). Tybalt had wanted to go after Romeo ever since the night at the Capulets where Romeo intruded at the party, so once he finally had found Romeo; Tybalt wanted to have a sword match with Romeo. Although, Tybalt misses Romeo and hits and kills Mercutio. Out of rage Romeo came back with his own fatal blow to Tybalt. Words in Romeo and Juliet can have a huge impact just like how the words Tybalt used had an impact on him and others around…
- 449 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
These deaths that occur appear in, and greatly impact, both the Montague and Capulet families. When Romeo first appears at the Capulet party, Tybalt instantaneously notices him, and becomes quite angry. Tybalt runs to Lord Capulet, to see he can be granted to permission to remove of Romeo. Lord Capulet responds surprisingly well to the news of Romeo arriving at the party. “Content thee gentle coz. Let him alone.” States Capulet in act 1 scene 5. However, Tybalt has a different opinion on what should happen to Romeo. Because of Tybalt’s differing opinion, he later, in act 3 scene 1, finds Romeo and proceeds to throw insults around. Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend, becomes angry at Tybalt for insulting his best friend, and decides to fight with Tybalt. Romeo disagrees with this decision and tries to break up the fight. Mercutio ends up being stabbed by Tybalt, and then out of anger Romeo kills Tybalt. Because all of these characters had differing opinions, lives were lost, leaving long lasting effects on both…
- 581 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
We are then introduced to the characters with great friendship, Mercutio and Benvolio. Shakespeare has carefully selected these two characters to create impact inside of this particular scene. Without these two characters, the scene would definitely not be the same. The scene starts off with Mercutio and Benvolio are talking to each other. It is a very hot day and Benvolio is somewhat more worried than Mercutio. The day is hot, the Capulets are abroad, And if we meet we shall not escape a brawl'. Here we are introduced into Benvolio's character a slightly more worried/concerned person than Mercutio. A hot day can get a lot of people bothered; here Benvolio has explained to Mercutio that he feels that it would be wise to leave early before any sort of trouble kicks off, and us knowing that they are in a Public place which is probably the heart of an area if someone's looking for trouble.…
- 709 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
After the lovers finally marry, a terrible fight ensues in which Tybalt kills Mercutio, and as a result, Romeo kills Tybalt. The Prince recently decreed that any more public fights between the Capulet and Montague families would result in punishment by death, and as Tybalt was a Capulet and Romeo is a Montague, it looks as though Romeo should be executed. Instead, the Prince lessens the sentence to banishment, as Mercutio, one of his kinsmen, was among the casualties. Friar Lawrence delivers this wonderful news, but to Romeo, but the youth provides a less than happy response.Instead of being grateful and working with the situation, Romeo complains and insists that banishment is worse than death, even though he will still see his true love and family. Later, he even throws himself on the ground crying, and threatens suicide. Unless he gets exactly what he wants, it is the end of the world for poor Romeo. Similarly, Juliet becomes extremely dramatic when problems arise. After dealing with Romeo’s banishment, her parents try to make Juliet happy again, but get the wrong idea for her happiness. They decide to arrange a marriage between her and a rich Count, not knowing she is already married to someone she loves. After a brutal argument between Juliet and her parents, the young woman quickly goes to the Friar. Instead of calmly explaining the situation Juliet, enters and demands. Although she does…
- 981 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Act 3, Scene 1 contributes to making Romeo and Juliet a true tragedy as this scene is the unfolding of a series of ill-fated events (3.1.84-87) ‘This days black fate on more days doth depend. This but begins the woe others must end’. Violence and blood is demanded early in the scene, as Tybalt is after Romeo in order to challenge him to a duel. Newly wed Romeo ignores Tybalt’s insults and respectfully declines his offer, as he knows he must respect and love the Capulet’s. Irritated by Romeo’s calm submission, Mercutio steps up to the challenge to defend the Montague name. Outraged by Mercutio’s death Romeo lets rage control his actions as he seeks vengeance upon his friend’s death, forgetting his intentions to settle the family feud. The dramatic irony of this scene, will possibly affect the audience, as they know this will cause uproar within the family feud. The events in this scene impact greatly on Romeo and Juliet, as this is the breaking point of the play. This scene also creates a domino effect on the events later on in the play.…
- 738 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays