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| Mercutio dons modern clothing, but maintains his playful nature in the 1996 film version of Romeo and Juliet. |
That's what Holden Caulfield says about Mercutio in J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. And he has a point. Mercutio is a great guy and although he appears in only four scenes, his premature death is a major blow. But, it sets the stage for the tragedy that unfolds.
Why? What's so great about Mercutio that makes everybody love him? He is the most likable character in the play. He's the perennial good-time guy and life of the party. His clever banter, witty comebacks, and sexually charged language make him compelling.
When Mercutio first appears, he is headed with Romeo, Benvolio, and friends to the Capulet party. Raucous and amusing, Mercutio debates everything the sad, gloomy Romeo says and lightens up the mood with his wit. His upbeat personality contrasts sharply with Romeo's melancholy. He counters Romeo's every complaint with a funny barb loaded with sexual innuendo.
The exchange between the two creates a curious dilemma for the audience. Romeo is the hero of this story, but Mercutio is the one who is really appealing.
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| If Romeo hadn't foolishly stepped between Tybalt and Mercutio, perhaps this altercation would not have been Mercutio's last. |
When Romeo protests, "I dreamt a dream tonight," as an ominous reason for his not attending the party of his enemy, Mercutio launches into his famous "Queen Mab" speech, disparaging the honesty of any dream and the virtue of all dreamers. In the war of wits between the friends, the "Queen Mab" speech clearly makes Mercutio the victor. Romeo is verbally trounced and does attend the Capulet ball.
After the party, Romeo eludes his friends and climbs Juliet's orchard walls. Mercutio calls after Romeo, poking fun at his friend, who he believes is still madly in love with Rosaline. Mercutio cannot help but to reduce such lovesick feelings to a rude and witty sexual comment. In this speech, Mercutio shows himself to be the consummate party boy. He can't take anything seriously.
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| Mercutio's fight with Tybalt first hit the screen in living color in the 1968 film version of Romeo and Juliet. |
When playing this scene, the actors can be extremely raunchy. A great deal of physical horseplay can take place between the two friends as they joke over and over about the word. And Mercutio is able to punctuate his remarks with thrusts and gestures that accentuate his meaning.
Since he has kept the comedy rolling throughout the play, Mercutio's final appearance (his death scene) is a mixture of comic language and dramatic sadness. He needles Benvolio about losing his temper too readily.
| Mercutio | Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes. |
| (3.1.18-20) | |
But then as soon as Tybalt insults Mercutio, he rushes into the challenge. He probably would have won the duel, too, had peacemaking Romeo not intervened. Tybalt takes advantage of Romeo's grip on his friend's arms and fatally stabs Mercutio. Even in his dying words, Mercutio is witty.
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| The man behind Mercutio, Shakespeare might be criticized for killing Romeo and Juliet's most interesting character half-way through the play. |
Mercutio's death leaves everyone stunned. A vital element has disappeared from Verona and from the play. It is a turning point in the story. The fun and games are gone. This tale cannot possibly have a happy ending. Mercutio's death is the beginning of the tragic ending for all these characters. From this point forward, the tragedy kicks into high gear. While still reeling from Mercutio's death, the audience begins to absorb the blows that lead to the ultimate devastation of the play's end.
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