The Emotional Conflicts and Revenge of Three Characters in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Every human being has to constantly deal with their emotions’ on a day to day basis. This applies to everyone, fictional or non-fictional. Various characters throughout the story obviously make unwise decisions due to love. Three characters who make these absent-minded decisions are Romeo, Mercutio, and Tybalt. While each character deals with their form of love, the main character starts it all off with love for a girl.
Romeo’s love for Juliet causes him make a boneheaded decision early into the Tragedy. When Romeo goes to the Capulet party he spots a beautiful girl. Even though Romeo has been heartbroken by Rosaline he falls in love with her at first sight. After talking to her for small portion of time he decides to marry her. Romeo also comes to learn that Juliet is a Capulet. Rome, a Montague, decides that the risk is worth and decides to go straight ahead with their matrimony. Romeo’s unwise decision sets up the entire plotline of the story. His decision leads to the deaths of many different characters, including his own. The entire story bases itself on his idiocrasy. His love for her is their entire undoing.
Rome says to Friar, (“I have been feasting with mine enemy, We met we wooed, and made exchange of vow I’ll tell thee as we pass, but this I pray, That thou consent to marry us today.” (II.iii. 53, 66-68) Romeo knows that Juliet is of the enemy’s house when he asks for Friars consent. He directly says he has been “feasting with mine enemy.” After stating so he goes onto asking for the marriage to be instant. He takes no real thought into his marriage. He only cares about Juliet and himself. He knows all the repercussions that comes from marrying a Capulet, but does not care in the slightest. His love blinds him one- hundred percent. No man with a clear mind would take the same course of actions. As an effect of Romeo’s actions, Mercutio has to suffer.
Mercutio’s friendly love for Romeo causes his unfortunate demise. After the Capulet’s party, Tybalt sends a dueling challenge to Romeo. Romeo is unaware of this invitation and carelessly walks around Verona. Tybalt finally spots Romeo during his wandering and challenges to the duel. Romeo is now family with Tybalt so he does not want to fight him. Mercutio becomes angry at his effeminate anger and decides to take his place in the battle. Romeo tries to interrupt battle during its course. While Romeo blocks Mercutio’s vision, Tybalt stabs him. Mercutio dies quickly after the battle. Mercutio is aware of all the negatives going into this fight. He knows that Tybalt is a very skilled swordsman.
Mercutio fully knew that he had a very good chance of losing the duel. Mercutio also knew that any fighting going on in Verona would result in an execution. Romeo mentions the rule right before they start their duel. Mercutio was going into the fight with no chance of survival. If he loses he dies and if he wins Prince executes him. It’s a lose-lose situation for him. He only choses to fight because Romeo is his friend. Mercutio loses it all for his best friend Romeo. He pays the price of death for his own and his friend’s pride. Mercutio says, “O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives.” (III. i. 74. 78-79) Mercutio calls Romeo a “dishonorable, vile submission”, clearly showing his anger towards Romeo’s declination. He feels the need to do what Romeo does not want to.
The brotherly love towards Romeo clouds his decision towards Tybalt. The feelings he has for Romeo is the main cause of his verdict, and his death. While Mercutio’s love causes him to fight for his friends, Tybalt fights for his family. Tybalt’s love for the Capulet’s causes his rash actions towards Romeo and Mercutio.
While at the Capulet feast, Tybalt spots Romeo, who is a Montague. His anger soars through the roof at the sight of him and tries to attack him on the spot. Lord Capulet scolds him, saying that he did not come there for trouble. Tybalt decides not to fight him, but vows for revenge. He later sends a challenge to Romeo. After seeing Romeo in the streets of Verona he decides to duel him. After Romeo declines Mercutio takes his place. Tybalt quickly injures Mercutio, which results in his death. Romeo comes back later in a fit of rage and kills Tybalt. Tybalt challenges Romeo because of all the love he has for the Capulets’. Romeo’s presence at the feast triggers him so much that he feels like he must murder him. Keeping his family’s honor is the only thing he cares about. He gives no mind to the ultimatum he obviously knows about.
All he wants to do is protect his family’s name. The punishment at the time means nothing to him. Tybalt tells Lord Montague, “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, A villain that is hither come in spite To scorn at our solemnity this night.” (I. v. 69-71) Tybalt believes the only reason Romeo could show up is to try and shame the Capulets’. He calls Romeo a villain that comes to ruin the night. Everything he knows tells him that the Montagues’ are the enemy at all times. His love for his family forces him to act aggressively to the Montagues’ at any given moment. The thoughts of protecting the family name causes his murder of Mercutio. He later comes to suffer the exact same fate as Mercutio.
The feelings of love affect various characters throughout the story that makes them to solve conflicts in an incorrect manner. Romeo’s heavy emotions for Juliet causes him to completely disregard their family tension and marry her. Mercutio’s brotherly love towards Romeo forces him to fight in place of Romeo and lose his life. Tybalt’s strong love for his family causes him to kill Mercutio and later perish at the hands of Romeo. The characters in Romeo And Juliet how all humans succumb to their emotions and react incorrectly.
