Mercutio G Flashcards
3 words
Unsympathetic
Lustful/disrespectful
Changeable
• Despite Romeo’s admission of his melancholy as a result of his unrequited love for Rosaline, Mercutio does not appear able to fully sympathise with his friend. This may be due to his inability to understand the nature of love.
• Alternatively, Mercutio’s suggestion that Romeo must move forwards could initially be considered as an attempt to distract Romeo from his melancholy.
Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.’ Act 1 scene 4
• Despite Romeo’s protestations, Mercutio chooses to ignore his friend’s despair by trivialising his circumstances.
• He believes that the experience of love is fleeting as suggested by his advice to simply ‘borrow Cupid’s wings’ - a classical reference to the god of love.
• He believes that Romeo’s response is somewhat melodramatic possibly due to his lack of experience in love
You are a lover; borrow Cupid’s wings/And soar with them above a common bound.’
Mercutio’s approach to love appears to be aggressive as demonstrated by the repeated use of ‘rough’. He believes that Romeo’s poor experience of love gives him permission to act poorly in return which serves to highlight Mercutio’s lack of emotional intelligence to a contemporary audience
‘If love be rough with you, be rough with love; Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.’
Mercutio believes that Romeo will now only appear if Rosaline is present given how enamoured he has become and therefore mocks his friend for having such strong feelings.
• Strong emphasis is placed on Rosaline’s physical features which brings attention to Mercutio’s perception of women as merely vessels for a man’s pleasure.
‘I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes, by her high forehead and her scarlet lip…’
• Mercutio uses bawdy language to make sexually suggestive comments about Rosaline. He uses slang terms for genitalia such as ‘pop’rin pear’ to demean Rosaline’s purpose as a character and trivialise what he believes is Romeo’s strong feelings for her.
‘O, that she were an open arse, thou a pop’rin pear!
Mercutio continues to speak poorly of Rosaline, going as far as to issue explicit insults as he refers to her as a ‘pale-hearted wench.’
• He believes that Rosaline is wholly at fault for Romeo’s melancholy which is indicative of the strong patriarchal influence at the time which positioned men as blameless regardless of the situation
‘Ah, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline torments him so…’
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• Mercutio uses this term to address the Nurse as she enters the scene. The use of the term ‘sail’ links to that of a ship which allows Mercutio to comment on the physical size of the Nurse as she approaches them.
• This reference may well have provided an element of comic relief however contemporary audiences may consider this as more evidence of Mercutio’s lack of respect towards women.
‘A sail, a sail!’
• Mercutio’s response to Tybalt’s approach appears unusual given his previous want to engage in conflict which brings attention to his mercurial nature. He chooses to give the impression that he is disinterested in the advancing member of the Capulet family.
• Reference to ‘heel’ as opposed to ‘head’ stands as a mark of disrespect in that Mercutio wishes to make clear how little Tybalt means to him.
‘By my heel, I care not.’
• Mercutio begins to recognise the severity of his wound. The use of the noun ‘plague’ demonstrates Mercutio’s animosity towards both families as he curses the Montagues and Capulets.
• Mercutio understands that the feud was ultimately futile only as he nears the end of his own life. Mercutio has failed to appreciate the sanctity of life in advance of his own death given his relentless pursuit of honour
‘I am hurt. A plague o’ both your houses!’
• Mercutio places blame on Romeo who stood between himself and Tybalt. He is quick to change tact and accuse his friend of his involvement, which demonstrates a change in their relationship.
• Such a differing approach may also bring attention to the link between the name Mercutio and the adjective ‘mercurial’ meaning constantly changing
Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.
