Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry, ’tis enough (3.1.94). Mercutio 's sense of bawdy humor is with him until his last moments. Although he has been fatally stabbed by Tybalt, he refers to his wound as a "scratch," yet also more somberly notes that it will be "enough" to end his life.
They duel and Mercutio is fatally wounded. Romeo then avenges Mercutio’s death by killing Tybalt in a duel. Benvolio tries to persuade the Prince to excuse Romeo’s slaying of Tybalt; however, the Capulets demand that Romeo pay with his life; the Prince instead banishes Romeo from Verona.
Mercutio's dying remarks in act 3, scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet provide tragic humor as Mercutio fills his last minutes with biting remarks at Romeo. Mercutio, even after being lethally stabbed, continues to present his witty character by telling Romeo that he will find him to be a "grave man" in the morning.
After Tybalt fatally wounds Mercutio, Mercutio immediately curses both of the families and attempts to dismiss his injury by telling Benvolio, "Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough" (Shakespeare, 3.1.93). Mercutio makes use of a literary device known as understatement when describing the extent of his wound.
In his exploration of their friendship, Shakespeare depicts them as intimate and friendly. Here, Benvolio draws on this intimacy to influence Mercutio. Despite Benvolio's lower status, he addresses Mercutio using the informal, intimate pronoun 'thee'. This symbolises the connection and affection between them.
Mercutio dies, cursing both the Montagues and the Capulets: “A plague o' both your houses” (3.1.
In a moment Benvolio brings the news that Mercutio is dead, and Romeo says, "This day's black fate on more days doth depend; / This but begins the woe, others must end" (3.1.
Mercutio is neither a Montague nor a Couplet. Because he is a friend of Romeo, he stands on Montague's side.
Mercutio : If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking and you beat love down.
Baz Luhrmann's decision to make the iconic Shakespearean character Mercutio both African American and queer is an interesting one.
TybaltTybalt is to blame for Mercutio's death, because Tybalt is the one who stabs him with his rapier: "Tybalt under Romeo's arm thrusts Mercutio in and flies" (lines 89-90). Tybalt begins the quarrel by insulting Romeo, saying, "thou art a villain" (line 60).
Mercutio refers to his wound as “a scratch” immediately before telling his page to “fetch a surgeon.” His ordering the boy to get a doctor lets the audience know that he realizes his wound is much more serious than a scratch. Mercutio says one thing and means the opposite; therefore, he employs verbal irony.
When Romeo declines again, Mercutio loses his temper and cannot believe Romeo will not fight like a man. He takes Romeo's place and Tybalt and Mercutio fight. Romeo tries to stop the fighting. Tybalt, trying to injure Romeo, accidentally stabs Mercutio.
On the fringes of a most iconic love story, another hidden romance blooms between the play's secondary characters, Mercutio and Tybalt, as they struggle and flirt in a gay romance set amidst 14th century Verona.
Mercutio's speech, while building tension for Romeo's first meeting with Juliet at the Capulet ball, indicates that although Mercutio is Romeo's friend, he can never be his confidant. As the play progresses, Mercutio remains unaware of Romeo's love and subsequent marriage to Juliet.
Mercutio, with his cheerful yet cutting personality, symbolizes the city of Verona, and his death symbolizes what unnecessary wars do to society as a whole.
Mercutio's ability to bring a naughty sense of humor to any situation makes him one of the most memorable minor characters in Shakespeare's plays.
As was mentioned in the previous post, Mercutio's death is the catalyst for the tragic events that follow in the play. Shakespeare's expertise is also displayed in Mercutio's witty, symbolic comments before he dies. After Tybalt fatally wounds Mercutio, Mercutio immediately curses both of the families and attempts to dismiss his injury by telling Benvolio, "Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough" (Shakespeare, 3.1.93). Mercutio makes use of a literary device known as understatement when describing the extent of his wound. Mercutio then employs a pun by telling Romeo that tomorrow they will find him a "grave" man. Mercutio's use of the word "grave" has a double meaning that implies his impending death. Mercutio then curses both the Montague and Capulet families before he dies. Mercutio's plagues are significant and foreshadow the tragic events that follow. Indeed, both the Montagues and Capulets are cursed; beloved members of both families tragically die.
Mercutio speaks gravely again, noting that they (and specifically, Romeo and Juliet) have caused his death; now worms will eat his remains. Mercutio likely enjoys a fairly high social standing as one of Romeo's friends, and he has fallen to the complete bottom of the world in his death and in this line. All is lost.
Mercutio invokes a curse three times in his brief dying words. He is thereby shifting all of the blame to the Capulet and Montague feud, taking none of the responsibility for himself. Just lines before, Romeo tries to get everyone to calm down and not engage in this altercation. He stands in front of Mercutio, trying to protect him, and Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo's outstretched arm. Mercutio chooses to engage in the fight, yet he curses Romeo and Juliet 's futures and families for causing his death. The foreshadowing is heavy in this repeated curse, and the lovers themselves will suffer a quick end to their own lives. Interestingly, their deaths seem to remove the bitter hatred between the two families, so the curse on the "houses" doesn't seem to have the intended effect.
Mercutio 's sense of bawdy humor is with him until his last moments. Although he has been fatally stabbed by Tybalt, he refers to his wound as a "scratch," yet also more somberly notes that it will be "enough" to end his life.
Mercutio understands that Romeo's love for Rosaline isn't true and ridicules him for it, saying openly that Romeo, being the dreamer, can often lie. Mercutio is loyal when Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt, as he decides to fight Tybalt instead.
Later on in the play, when Tybalt arrives to fight Romeo, Mercutio stands in for Romeo as he is loyal towards his best friend. Mercutio cannot believe that Romeo would sacrifice his honour in this way, so he fights Tybalt instead.
When Romeo is depressed because of his unrequited love for Rosaline , it is Mercutio that suggests they should all gate-crash the Capulet party. Later on in the play, when Tybalt arrives to fight Romeo, Mercutio stands in for Romeo as he is loyal towards his best friend.
Mercutio declares he wants one of Tybalt's nine lives, indicating that he believes he will win the fight.
He is taunting Tybalt suggesting he is slow to get his sword ready to fight. The fact that Mercutio is telling Tybalt to 'make haste' will only taunt Tybalt further, as he is suggesting Tybalt is a coward.
Romeo then avenges Mercutio’s death by killing Tybalt in a duel. Benvolio tries to persuade the Prince to excuse Romeo’s slaying of Tybalt; however, the Capulets demand that Romeo pay with his life; the Prince instead banishes Romeo from Verona. Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, and ⌜their⌝ men.
Mercutio and Benvolio encounter Tybalt on the street. As soon as Romeo arrives, Tybalt tries to provoke him to fight. When Romeo refuses, Mercutio answers Tybalt’s challenge. They duel and Mercutio is fatally wounded. Romeo then avenges Mercutio’s death by killing Tybalt in a duel.