Tybalt(/ˈtɪbəlt/) is a character inWilliam Shakespeare's playRomeo and Juliet.He is the son of Lady Capulet's brother,Juliet's short-tempered first cousin, andRomeo's rival. Tybalt shares the same name as the character Tibert / Tybalt "the prince of cats" in the popular storyReynard the Fox,a point of mockery in the play.Mercutiorepeatedly calls Tybalt "prince of cats",[a]in reference to his sleek, yet violent manner.
| Tybalt | |
|---|---|
| Romeo and Julietcharacter | |
 Romeo and Tybalt(painted byAlbert, Prince Consortc. 1840–1845) | |
| Created by | William Shakespeare |
| In-universe information | |
| Family | Lady Capulet (paternal aunt) Juliet Capulet (cousin) |
Luigi da Portoadapted the story asGiulietta e Romeoand included it in hisHistoria novellamente ritrovata di due Nobili Amanti(Newly found tale of two Noble lovers) published in 1530.[2](pp38–44)Da Porto drew onPyramus and Thisbe,Giovanni Boccaccio'sDecameronand a novella by Masuccio Salernitano. Da Porto gave it much of its modern form, including the lovers' names, the rival families of Montecchi and Capuleti, and their location inVerona.[3](p168)He also introduces characters corresponding to Shakespeare'sMercutio,Tybalt, andParis.Da Porto presents his tale as historically true and claims it took place in the days ofBartolomeo II della Scala(a century earlier than Salernitano). Montague and Capulet were actual 13th century political factions, but the only known connection between them is a mention inDante'sPurgatorioas an example of civil dissension.[4](pp264–277)
Part in the play
editIn Act I, Scene I, Tybalt enters and helps his own servants, Sampson and Gregory, who are fighting in the streets with servants of the Montagues, Abraham and Balthasar. SeeingBenvolio(Romeo's cousin) trying to stop the fight, Tybalt draws his sword to fight Benvolio, saying:
- What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word
- As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.
- Have at thee, coward!
- —Act I, Scene I
Later, at the Capulets' ball, Tybalt is the first to recognize Romeo through his disguise, and would kill him if not forbidden by his uncle, Lord Capulet. His lust for revenge unsated, Tybalt sends a challenge letter to Romeo for a duel to the death. At the beginning of Act III, he enters looking for Romeo, only to create tensions withMercutio,who was mocking Tybalt even before he walked into the scene. Tybalt initially ignores Mercutio and confronts Romeo, who refuses to fight because of his recent secret marriage to Juliet. Tybalt becomes even angrier; he does not know Romeo cannot fight him because they are now relatives.
Mercutio loses his temper and begins fighting Tybalt himself. Romeo tries to stop the combat by rushing between them, and Tybalt then stabs Mercutio under his arm. Mercutio dies from the wound, angering an already emotional Romeo. Enraged, Romeo duels and kills Tybalt in return, leading to his own exile by Prince Escalus.
Tybalt is revealed to be Juliet's maternal first cousin, when Lady Capulet arrives at the scene where Tybalt lies dead, and cries
- "Tybalt, my cousin, O my brother's child!"
- —Act III
Performance history
edit
A sample of notable portrayals include:
- Louis HectorinFrank Reicher's 1923Broadway show,which ran for 157 performances[5]
- Orson WellesinKatharine Cornell's 1934 production; his Broadway debut[6]
- Basil RathboneinGeorge Cukor's 1936film version;nominated forBest Supporting Actor
- Cornel WildeinLaurence Olivier's 1940 Broadway production[7]
- William SmithersinPeter Glenville's 1951 Broadway revival[8]
- Enzo Fiermontein the 1954film rendition
- Richard WordsworthinThe Old Vic Company's 1956 Broadway production[9]
- George Chakirisas Bernardo Nuñez inWest Side Story(1961) musical; wonBest Supporting Actor Oscar
- Michael YorkinFranco Zeffirelli's 1968film adaptation
- Armand AssanteinTheodore Mann's 1977 Broadway revival[10]
- Alan Rickmanin the 1978BBC Television Shakespearerendition
- Norman SnowinThe Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet(1982)
- Victor SpinettiinRomeo.Juliet(1990); depictsferal catswithvoiceoversfrom a cast ofBritish thespians
- John LeguizamoinBaz Luhrmann'sRomeo + Juliet(1996), a modernized version of the play
- Patrick Connoras Tyrone inTromeo and Juliet(1997), atransgressiveblack comedyinterpretation
- Tom Ross in the 2001 French musicalRoméo et Juliette.
- Szilveszter P. Szabóin the 2004 Hungarian version of the2001 French musical.This Tybalt has more of a backstory, and is more sympathetic than in the play.
- Jason Stathamin the animatedGnomeo & Juliet(2011)
- Ed Westwickin the 2013film adaptation
- Corey Hawkinsin the 2013Broadway re-telling
- Amar Ramasaras Bernardo in the 2020 stage revival ofWest Side Story
- David Alvarezas Bernardo Nuñez inSteven Spielberg's film remake ofWest Side Story(2021)
- Alistair Toovey inRosaline(2022)
Analysis
editDraper (1939)[11]points out the parallels between the Elizabethan belief inthe four humoursand the main characters of the play; Tybalt ischoleric:Violent, vengeful, short-tempered, ambitious.[12] Interpreting the text in the light of humours reduces the amount of plot attributed to chance by modern audiences.[11](pp16–34)
Footnotes
edit- ^Italianprincipe dei gatti(prince of cats) could perhaps refer not only to theReynardcharacter but to the Italian profanitycazzo[1],(p88)which could then form aminced oathonprincipe delcazzo(prince of the prick).
References
edit- ^ Erne, Lukas (2007).The first quarto of Romeo and Juliet.Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0-521-82121-6.
- ^ Moore, Olin H. (January 1937). "Bandello and" Clizia "".Modern Language Notes.52(1). Johns Hopkins University Press: 38–44.doi:10.2307/2912314.ISSN0149-6611.JSTOR2912314.
- ^ Hosley, Richard (1965).Romeo and Juliet.New Haven:Yale University Press.
- ^ Moore, Olin H. (1930). "The Origins of the Legend of Romeo and Juliet in Italy".Speculum.5(3). Medieval Academy of America: 264–277.doi:10.2307/2848744.ISSN0038-7134.JSTOR2848744.S2CID154947146.
- ^"Romeo and Juliet (1923)".Internet Broadway Database.Retrieved10 September2023.
- ^"Romeo and Juliet (1934)".Internet Broadway Database.Retrieved2 October2014.
- ^"Romeo & Juliet (1940)".Internet Broadway Database.Retrieved8 September2023.
- ^"Romeo and Juliet (1951)".Internet Broadway Database.Retrieved8 September2023.
- ^"Romeo & Juliet (1956)".Internet Broadway Database.Retrieved9 September2023.
- ^"Romeo and Juliet (1977)".Internet Broadway Database.Retrieved9 September2023.
- ^ab Draper, John W. (1939). "Shakespeare's 'star-crossed lovers'".Review of English Studies.os–XV (57): 16–34.doi:10.1093/res/os-XV.57.16.
- ^ Kazlev, M. Alan (10 March 2024)."The Four Humours".Kheper(blog).
Bibliography
edit- Draper, John W. (1939). "Shakespeare's 'Star-Crossed Lovers'".Review of English Studies.os–XV (57): 16–34.doi:10.1093/res/os-XV.57.16.
- Erne, Lukas (2007).The first quarto of Romeo and Juliet.Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0-521-82121-6.
- Hosley, Richard (1965).Romeo and Juliet.New Haven:Yale University Press.
- Moore, Olin H. (1930). "The Origins of the Legend of Romeo and Juliet in Italy".Speculum.5(3). Medieval Academy of America: 264–277.doi:10.2307/2848744.ISSN0038-7134.JSTOR2848744.S2CID154947146.
- Moore, Olin H. (January 1937). "Bandello and" Clizia "".Modern Language Notes.52(1). Johns Hopkins University Press: 38–44.doi:10.2307/2912314.ISSN0149-6611.JSTOR2912314.
External links
edit- Shakespeare, William."Complete listing of Tybalt's lines".OpenSourceShakespeare.Romeo and Juliet.