Mercutio's Death in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (Essay Sample)

The unfortunate incidents of Romeo and Juliet's suicide could only be blamed on the descendent of the prince, Romeo's best friend, the one and only Mercutio. A character that Shakespear presents as amusing, witty, rash, and full of life. He may only seem like a minor character, but he has a major influence for the death of the two star crossed lovers. Mercutio alongside Benvolio take the impulsive and heartbroken Romeo to crash the Capulet’s party, which causes Tybalt to get aggravated. In act 1 scene 5 page 76 Tybalt states ’uncle this is a Montague, our foe, a villain that is hither come in spite to scorn at our solemnity this night''. The brawl between Mercutio and Tybalt is the sole source of the chain of tragic events. Mercutio draws his sword first and prompts a fight with Tybalt which was meant to be with Romeo. Mercutio is oblivious and refuses to listen to Romeo when he says '' gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up'', (act 3 scene 1) Mercutio's impulsiveness leads to his own death when he refused to put down his sword and is later stabbed by Tybalt. Mercutio's death filled Romeo with vengeance and killed the ''good king of cats''. After this act Romeo was chosen to be banished, which led to nothing but mayhem, in act 3 scene 1 page 172 the prince says, 'Let Romeo hence in haste, else, when he's found, that hour is his last'. Romeo was given a lesser sentence as justice had been served by killing Mercutio's murder. As a result of Romeos actions being honorable the prince was obligated in choosing a less severe punishment, banishment rather than execution. If Mercutio never started the fight Tybalt would not have been killed and Romeo would have stayed in Verona. Romeo's banishment pushed Juliet to take the poison as she could not bear the pain of being without Romeo. If Mercutio did not cause Romeo to end the life of Tybalt, Juliet would have never been arranged a marriage in act 3 scene 5-page 210 lady Capulet tells Julliet' 'Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child; one who, to put thee from thy heaviness, Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy'', Here lady Capulet is informing Juliet that her father has arranged a marriage to help her get over her grief from the passing of Tybalt. Tybalts death Mercutio's death which was sparked by himself created the plot and was the cause of all the demises in the play.