(All of these images depict mercutio)
Mercutio is a noble who talks in riddles and rhymes. Although he has no known last name, it is a fact that he is related to Count Paris and Prince Escalus; he is also a very close friend to Romeo Montague and Benvolio (who also has no known last name). Mercutio is one of the few characters who can freely "roam" between both the Capulet and Montague houses.
Like his lack of a last name, William Shakespeare never clarified on how old Mercutio is. Romeo Montague is estimated to be about 15 years old, so most people guess Mercutio is around that age (14-17).
|
To sum Mercutio up in a few words- he's witty and moody. Although he jokes around with his friends a lot, his sense of humor could be described as lighthearted and even cruel at times. For example, in act 1 scene 4 Mercutio is joking around with his friends about love and other happy concepts. Also, in act 2 scene 1 he makes fun of Romeo for being in love. However, even on his deathbed Mercutio makes dark jokes and puns. (3.1 100-113)
Even being a major character in the play, Mercutio never meets the two women who affect Romeo's lives so much- the women being Rosaline and Juliet. Despite never meeting the women, Mercutio has a whole speech about them and how they affect Romeo. This speech is often referred to as the Queen Mab speech which is about a fairy of love. (1.4 58-100)
|
Other character mentioning/ talking about Mercutio-
-The first time someone talks about Mercutio without him being there is when Mercutio and Benvolio are searching for Romeo and he says "He jests at scars that never felt a wound." (2.2 1).
-The second time he is mentioned is when Nurse and Romeo are talking and she asks "I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery?" (2.4 147-148) to which Romeo replies "A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will stand
to in a month" (2.4 149-151). Then the nurse says "An a' speak any thing against me, I'll take him down, an a' were lustier than he is, and twenty such Jacks" (2.4 152-154).
-The third time someone talks about Mercutio is when Benvolio is explaining to Paris about the fight between Romeo, Mercutio, and Tybalt. "That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio." (3.1 153).
-The fourth time someone talks about Mercutio is after Romeo kills Paris "Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris!" (5.3 75).
- The last time Mercutio is mentioned in this play is when Prince is talking to both Montague and Capulet saying, "And I for winking at your discords too have lost a brace of kinsmen: all are punish'd." (5.3 304-305) which is alluding to his loss of Paris and Mercutio.
Crowther, John, ed. “No Fear Romeo and Juliet.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.
-The first time someone talks about Mercutio without him being there is when Mercutio and Benvolio are searching for Romeo and he says "He jests at scars that never felt a wound." (2.2 1).
-The second time he is mentioned is when Nurse and Romeo are talking and she asks "I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery?" (2.4 147-148) to which Romeo replies "A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will stand
to in a month" (2.4 149-151). Then the nurse says "An a' speak any thing against me, I'll take him down, an a' were lustier than he is, and twenty such Jacks" (2.4 152-154).
-The third time someone talks about Mercutio is when Benvolio is explaining to Paris about the fight between Romeo, Mercutio, and Tybalt. "That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio." (3.1 153).
-The fourth time someone talks about Mercutio is after Romeo kills Paris "Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris!" (5.3 75).
- The last time Mercutio is mentioned in this play is when Prince is talking to both Montague and Capulet saying, "And I for winking at your discords too have lost a brace of kinsmen: all are punish'd." (5.3 304-305) which is alluding to his loss of Paris and Mercutio.
Crowther, John, ed. “No Fear Romeo and Juliet.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.