Free Essay Comparing, Contrasting Shakespeare's Tybalt and Mercutio

molita · Uploaded by **molita** on Jun 11, 2006

Comparing, Contrasting Shakespeare's Tybalt and Mercutio

Tybalt and Mercutio are like a ying-yang, completely opposite of white and black, yet each has a part of the other somewhere inside. On the outside Tybalt and Mercutio are opposite on who they balance out the play. Tybalt is hot tempered and belligerent and Mercutio is the obvious comic relief and very carefree. Yet, they each have that same kind of feeling inside that keeps them each from comprehending the true love between Romeo and Juliet. Tybalt rejects the whole idea of then being together. He sees Romeo as a threat to his family name. Mercutio constantly makes fun of Romeo no patter who he is in love with, saying that love is just a mind game and to get his head out of the clouds. Nether of them comprehend the subject of love, because their priorities are of others when Romeo and Juliet�s is on love.

Tybalt�s purpose in the play is to cause conflict by dragging on the long time since hibernated feud between the two households. This is shown at Capulet�s ball. Tybalt sees Romeo and automatically thinks of him as a threat and that Romeo is challenging him, by just being at the party. He brings Romeo�s presence to the attention of Lord Capulet in order to cause conflict. (I, v, 52-71) This is an example of how Tybalt is a character that does not have the heart to just forget about the whole feud and find a way to settle it or seek revenge on anyone of the Montague family. Also, Tybalt causes conflict by picking a fight with Mercutio in the street. (III, i, 1-50) This led to the death of each character, but Tybalt provoked Mercutio, which led to his death and then Tybalt�s death by Romeo.

Mercutio purpose in the play is to be the comic relief, but at the same time being the one who trying to get Romeo to make the right decisions about his love for, well everyone. When he was trying to convince Romeo to go to the party to get over Rosaline, but at the same time was making fun of him. Telling Romeo that love was thinking of a fairy tale romance. (I, iv, 1-60) Mercutio causes Tybalt to cause conflict in this scene by getting Romeo to go to the party, so in a way they help each other in the play to make this play so exciting.

Tybalt and Mercutio�s purpose in this play causes it to be one of the most known plays in the world ever. If they were not of, for example, the families then the conflict they caused would not of significance.

Tybalt�s loyalty to his family is very important, because even though he does it for the wrong reason he still sticks by his family name. Through out the play he is honoring his family�s name. For example at the Capulet�s ball, he is looking out for his family name, because he thinks Romeo is doing the same for his family and trying to destroy the Capulet name.

Mercutio�s loyalty to Romeo is significant, because Romeo would most likely be dead. Mercutio helps Romeo with situations in his life; in this situation would be love. If Romeo listened to Mercutio he might have lived and did not die for love. His advice saved Romeo in the street, when in reality he set himself up to die. (III, i, 1-50) Being Romeo�s best friend became the key to his death, but also being Romeo�s best friend created the purpose of being the comic relief and outing everyone in their place.

Tybalt and Mercutio being like the ying-yang of the play makes the play flow better and keep Romeo in check. Without them everything would go as planned with Romeo and Juliet�s love and the play would not have lasted for years as one of the most famous plays in the world and Shakespeare would not be the well known writer he is today.