Tybalt Flashcards
‘have at thee coward!’
A1
-provocative language - tybalts provocative language permeated throughout the play. Insulting benvolio with the adjective coward. His quick temper is immediately apparent, the audience can see he craves conflict and is fuelled by animosity. Additionally his simplistic and straighforward language suggests a lack of wit and intelligence displayed by the character; Tybalts character is defined by his propensity for violence.
-context - In the elizabethan era honour was a concept that was highly valued and well-guarded and honour that was jeopardised was the root of much violence. Tybalt is so violent in this scene because he believes his honour to be in jeopardy and believes he must retaliate with violence. A large amount of male violence stemmed from the patriarchy which reinforced this notion.
‘wretched boy’
A3
-final line coloured with violence - One of his final lines of the play is ‘wretched boy’ in reference to Romeo. Even his exit is coloured with violence, signifying that his hamartia was his impetuous violence and this directly led to his death. It is also shows to be the foolishness of youth, not just because tybalt is quick to anger but because Mercutio, Benvolio and even Romeo are too, it is seen as the folly of male youth.
