Mecrutio Quote Analysis

Question 1

A3S1- “A plague o’ both your houses. They have made me eat worms”

Answer 1

• Repetition enforces that Mercutio unlike the rest, completely disregards fate – rather he instils his opinion that the futile feud had caused his death
• Uses euphemistic terms, contradicts Shakespeare’s message on seatsof honour, dosent amdit tybalt done that
• Once comedic character becomes serious, helps accentuate how farcical the feud was

Question 2

A1S3- “If love be with rough with you be rough, prick love for pricking”

Answer 2

• Mercutio predominantly focuses on the physical and sexual aspects of love
• Use of antimetaboles allude to subversions of love, as symmetry suggest love is complete, but he insinuates the opposite
• Plosive lexis “prick,” “pricking” and “beat” (agglomerate to make harsh sounds) reinforces Mercutio harsh and raw perceptions of love

Question 3

A1S4 “size of agate stone … tickling a nose …. Dreams of cutting throats”

Answer 3

• Frenzied structure of Mab speech – how quickly lose control of dreams
• Although “miniature” Mab later “presses women down,” emphasises escalation of dreams
• “Soldiers dream cutting foreign throats” – dreams manifestations of subconscious

Question 4

A1S4 – “dreams, Which are the children of an idle brain, nothing but vain fantasy”

Answer 4

• Shakespear conmdeing the insignificance of dreams, “child of idle brian”, like children’s dreams are unformed and lack credibility
• But maybe like children, dreams are playful dreams arent serious creation, should not be taken alike

Question 5

A2S2 “I conjure thee [Romeo] by Rosaline’s bright eye… thigh”

Answer 5

-Devemopent from tamer lexis of “eyes” to the more sexual lexis of “thigh” (and “there adjacent lie”, an allusion to female genitalia) highlights how Mercutio’s language is becoming increasingly indecent in his vain attempts to find Romeo.

Question 6

A3S1 “O calm dishonourable vile submission”

Answer 6

• The tricolon here creates a lexicon of fragility which emphasises Romeo’s effeminate inability to fight, whilst exaggerating Mercutio’s male aggressive behaviour.
• Attempt to goad an antagonise Romeo

Question 7

“Mercutio”

Answer 7

Aptronym revealing mercurial character, like Romeo, volatile nature le to downfall. Shakes cautions impetuous youthful behaviour