Explore Shakespere's presentation of Benvolio and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet

Explore Shakespere's presentation of Benvolio and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet

1. act 1 sc 1

   • Benvolio tries to stop the fight,
     • "Put up your swords you know not what you do"
       • This suggests he is a very soft hearted peacekeeper
       • this is implying his maturity and his wisdom adding on to the role lord Montague gave him
     • "I do but keep the peace"
       • in this he is replying to tybalts threat and tells him that he doesnt want to fight
     • "My noble Uncle, do you know the cause"
       • he says this in a manner of him with upmost respect for Lord Montague
   • Benvolio hears of Romeo's sadness
     • "Soft! i will go along/and if you leave me so you do me wrong"
       • Benvolio is trying to silence Romeo he may be frustrated but understands him being sad
       • the capping couplet suggests him wanting to end the scene

2. and the contrasting effect they have on Romeo

   • act 3 sc 1
     • Montague and Capulet fight in the square and Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo kills Tybalt
       • "for now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring" Benvolio to Mercutio.
         • Shakespere uses pathetic fallacy to reflect the mood of the city
         • "Mad blood" used to show Mercutios mad nature
       • "villan am i none. therefore farewell" Romeo says to Tybalt
         • short sentence shows his certainty as if he knows who he really is now/ like he is saying farewell to violence forever.
       • "o calm dishonorable, vile submission" shouts Mercutio
         • this could be Mercutios last attempt to influence his friend?/ vile suggests not fighting is evil or weak

3. act 1 sc 2

   • Benvolio persuades Romeo to come to the party
     • "compare her face with some that i shall show/ and i will make thee think thy swan a crow"
       • Benvolio is talking using poetic imagery that is like Romeos Petrachen language/ the capping couplet suggests he is attempting to end the conversation and hurrying romeo up

4. act 1 sc 4

   • Romeo, Benvolio and mercutio are talking before the party
     • "if love be rough with you be rough with love/ prick love for pricking, and beat love down"
       • Mercutios reply suggests his view on love and his harsh diction (word choice) and alliteration

5. act 2 sc 4

   • Romeo is with Mercutio and Benvolio talking about love. The Nurse comes and talks to Romeo about Rosaline
     • Mercutio describes Rosaline as a "pale hearted wretch"
       • shows Mercutios horrid view on love/ suggests its something violent
     • Mercutio happy with Romeos change in character declares "now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo
       • Mercutio is rubbing off on Romeo and he is proud of it. the repetition shows his certainty.
     • "here comes goodly gear"
       • Romeo is saying in modern English here comes a big pile of rags this may have come from Mercutio and also his bawdy jokes are suddenly odd