Mercutio and Tybalt's Death in Romeo and Juliet Free Essay Example

Everyone thinks that in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare that the death of Romeo and Juliet is the biggest tragedy, but they never think about other things like the feud between the Montagues and Capulets or the many deaths in their family. Romeo and Juliet tells us the story of two star-crossed lovers who will never be together due to their family feud that has been going on for many years now. They try to keep their love a secret but once they decide to get married so many bad things happen back-to-back. Romeo's enemy, Tybalt, is a Capulet while Romeo is  Montague, so they hate each other. So when she found out that Romeo killed Tybalt she got mad at Romeo, but only for like 20 minutes because she was blinded by love and only wanted to be with Romeo and didn't care about anything else. While Juliet is blinded by love, Mercutio is trying to be a good friend to Romeo by protecting him from Tybalt. The biggest tragedy in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is the death of Mercutio and Tybalt because their deaths show the consequences of hatred between Tybalt and Romeo.

In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Prince Escalus blames Romeo for Mercutio's and Tybalt's death without knowing the context. A man who is neither Capulet or Montague called Prince Escalus sees Mercutio, Romeo’s friend, and Tybalt, Romeo’s enemy, dead bodies lying there. The Prince sees Tybalt's enemy, Romeo, standing over the bodies with a bloody sword, Prince Escalus quickly banishes Romeo. "Not Romeo, Prince; he was Mercutio's friend. / His fault concludes but what law should end, / The life of Tybalt." (3.1.193-195) The prince didn't think when he saw Mercutio and Tybalt dead and Romeo with a bloody sword, he immediately banished Romeo for killing these two men. Someone from the Montegue family tried to explain to the prince that Romeo and Mercutio were friends and he was taking revenge for Tybalt's actions. After Mercutio and Tybalt's death another friend of Romeo, Benvolio who is a Montegue as well as Romeo, tries to explain to the Prince and Lord Capulet that it was all a mistake. Benvolio tells Lord Capulet and the Prince that Romeo was avenging Mercutio's death. "An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life / Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled / But by and by comes back to Romeo, / Who had but newly entertaining revenge." (3.1.177-180) Benvolio tried to help Romeo by telling Lord Capulet and the Prince that it was a mistake and Romeo wasn't thinking but the Prince didn't want to believe him and just banished Romeo. 

In Romeo and Juliet by William, Shakespeare Mercutio shows that he is a good friend to Romeo by fighting Tybalt because Mercutio did every possible thing to help Romeo be safe from Tybalt and then gets killed for helping Romeo. Romeo's long-time enemy Tybalt was looking for Romeo because he wanted to kill him, but he could only find Romeo's friends, Mercutio and Benvolio. Mercutio and Benvolio were trying to have a conversation when Tybalt asked them where Romeo was. 

TYBALT. Mercutio, thou consort with Romeo.

MERCUTIO. Consort! What, dost thou make us minstrels? 

And thou make minstrels of us, look to hear 

Nothing but discords. Here's my fiddlestick; Here's 

That shall make you dance. (3.1.46-50)

As Benvoli and Mercutio are talking, Tybalt asks where Romeo is but Mercutio tries to be a good friend and save Romeo from his enemy. When Romeo sees his enemy, Tybalt, and his friend, Mercutio, fighting, Romeo tries to tell Mercutio that he can fight his own battles but Mercutio wants to help his friend and do anything to protect Romeo. "Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. // come, sir, your passado" (3.1.85-86) Romeo tries to tell Mercutio to stop and that he shouldn't be doing this but Mucutio tells him to move so he can protect Romeo. Mercutio tells Romeo to move so Romeo doesn't get hurt and he can fight off Tybalt for Romeo to prove that he is a loyal and kind friend to Romeo.