The Role of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet
In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, each character plays a
specific role in driving the action forward and shaping the play's
theme. One secondary character, Mercutio, is essential to the play.
Mercutio is the Prince's kinsman, but more importantly, he is Romeo's
friend and confidant.
Mercutio's concern is always for Romeo and for peace between the two
families, the Capulets and the Montagues. Mercutio is the first to
see that Romeo is deeply in love. In Act 2, scene 1, Mercutio calls
for Romeo by saying, "Romeo! Humors! Madman! Passion! Lover!" He then
says, "my invocation is fair and honest, in his mistress' name…."
Mercutio shows his concern and expresses it to Romeo. He does not
want Romeo to marry his mistress, Juliet, because he knows it will
cause trouble between the two families.
Mercutio tries to convince Romeo that his love for Juliet will only
cause problems and in the end, things will not work out. Romeo
dismisses Mercutio as, "A gentleman, that loves to hear himself talk
and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month."
Romeo does not heed the warnings of his good friend. Love has already
overcome him and controls all of his thoughts and actions. This love
prevents Mercutio from saving Romeo and keeping peace between the
In Act 3, scene 1, Mercutio fights Tybalt on behalf of Romeo and his
relationship with Romeo. Romeo attempts to break up the fight, but
Tybalt stabs Mercutio. As he is dying, Mercutio says, "A plague o'
both your houses! I am sped…." He repeats this phrase twice more
before he dies. It is after Mercutio's death that Romeo realizes what
will be the consequences of his love affair. This leads Romeo to kill
Tybalt, which in turn, leads to his exile and eventual death. Romeo
says in line 135 of the same scene, "O, I am fortune's fool." Mercutio
was correct in his predictions. The love between Romeo and Juliet