Mercutio

Mercutio(/mərˈkjuːʃioʊ/mər-KEW-shee-oh,Italian:Mercuzio) is a fictional character inWilliam Shakespeare's 1597tragedy,Romeo and Juliet.He is a close friend toRomeoand a blood relative toPrince EscalusandCount Paris.As such, Mercutio is one of the named characters in the play with the ability to mingle around those of both houses. The invitation toLord Capulet's party states that he has a brother named Valentine.

Mercutio
Romeo and Julietcharacter
Romeo and Juliet Act III Scene I The Death of Romeo's Friend, Mercutio.Edwin Austin Abbey,1904
Created by	William Shakespeare
In-universe information
Affiliation	Romeo Benvolio Juliet
Family	Valentine (brother) Prince Escalus(uncle) Count Paris

Though often fun-loving and witty, the latter demonstrated in hisQueen Mabspeech in the first act, Mercutio's sense of humour can at times be facetious or even coarse, much to his friends' annoyance. He is also moody and given to sudden outbursts of temper, one of which sets a key plot development in motion.

Role in the play

One of Romeo's closest friends, Mercutio entreats Romeo to forget about his unrequited love for a girl namedRosalineand come with him to a masquerade ball atLord Capulet's estate, through use of hisQueen Mabspeech. There, Mercutio and his friends become the life of the party, but Romeo is drawn to Capulet's daughter,Juliet.He finds himself in love, and immediately forgets about Rosaline. When Mercutio sees Romeo the next day, he is glad to see that his friend is his old self again, and he encourages Romeo, all the while making bawdy jokes at the expense of Juliet'sNurse.

After Romeo receives a death threat from Juliet's cousinTybalt,Mercutio expects Romeo to engage Tybalt in a duel. However, Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt, because Romeo now considers Tybalt to be kin due to his secret marriage to Juliet. Mercutio is incensed at his friend's "calm, dishonorable, vile submission", and decides to fight Tybalt himself, referring to his own sword as his "fiddlestick." Romeo attempts to intervene. By stepping between the dueling men, however, he inadvertently hinders Mercutio, allowing Tybalt to inflict a fatal blow. Before he dies, Mercutio curses both the Montagues and Capulets, crying several times, "A plague o' both your houses!" (Act III, Sc. 1, often quoted as "A pox on both your houses" ). He makes one finalpunbefore he dies: "Ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me agraveman. ".A grief-stricken and enraged Romeo kills Tybalt, resulting in his banishment fromVeronaand beginning the tragic turn of events that make up the rest of the play.

Name origins

The name Mercutio was present in Shakespeare's sources forRomeo and Juliet,though his character was not well developed and he was presented as a romantic rival for Juliet.The name is first used inLuigi Da Porto's 1530Giulietta e Romeo.Da Porto briefly introduces a character named Marcuccio Guertio, a noble youth "with very cold hands, in July as in January", who makes Giulietta Cappelletti appreciate the warm hands of Romeo Montecchi.

Mercutio's death

Earlier versions of the story described a different chain of events leading to Tybalt's death, omitting Mercutio completely.Arthur Brooke'sThe Tragical History of Romeus and JulietandWilliam Painter's 1567 versions of the story both left the entire episode solely to Romeo and Tybalt. In both stories, Tybalt attacks the pacifist Romeo with such force that Romeo is forced to take up the sword to defend himself. He is then banished rather than executed because the killing was provoked. In 1672, English poetJohn Drydenwrote, "Shakespeare show'd the best of his skill in his Mercutio, and he said himself, that he was forced to murder him in the third Act, to being killed by him."

The addition of Mercutio into the fray increases the tension, and Tybalt is seen as a slightly more peaceful character than in previous versions, as Mercutio is disgusted by the fact that Tybalt continues to search for a quarrel with Romeo, when Romeo is trying to bring peace between them. Mercutio hurls insults and taunts at Tybalt, and draws the sword first, in reaction to Tybalt's insults, which are directed to Romeo.

Mercutio's death in Act III, scene I is the pivotal point of the play, which up to this point is relatively light-hearted.Mercutio's death is sudden and makes death a dark reality for several characters, causing adomino effectthat leads ultimately to the tragicclimax.

Performers

A number of famous actors have played the role of Mercutio. A small sampling follows.

Stage

Orson Wellesperformed the role of Mercutio in repertory during the 36-week transcontinental tour of theKatharine Cornellcompany (1933–1934)

• In 1933–1934,Orson Wellesplayed the role of Mercutio in theKatharine Cornellrepertory company'sseven-month transcontinental tour— his professional debut on the American stage.
• In 1935,Laurence OlivierandJohn Gielgudalternated the roles of Romeo and Mercutio in a London stage production directed by Gielgud.
• In 1945,Ralph Richardsonmade hisBroadwaydebut as Mercutio oppositeMaurice Evans’ Romeo andKatharine Cornell’s Juliet.
• In 1947,Paul Scofieldplayed Mercutio in a production directed byPeter Brook.
• In 1958,Alec McCowenenjoyed a major success as Mercutio in London.
• In 1976,Michael Penningtonplayed the role oppositeIan McKellenandFrancesca AnnisinTrevor Nunn's production for theRoyal Shakespeare Company.
• In 1992,Colm Feoreplayed Mercutio in a production directed byRichard Monetteat Canada'sStratford Festival.Antoni Cimolinoplayed Romeo andMegan Followswas Juliet.
• In 2006,Benjamin Walkerportrayed Mercutio during the Williamstown Theater Festival withEmmy Rossumas Juliet and Greg Hildreth as Benvolio.
• In 2024,Ashley Byamportrayed Mercutio to critical acclaim in a new production atShakespeare's Globein London.

Film

• In 1936,John Barrymoreportrayed Mercutio inGeorge Cukor's filmRomeo and JulietoppositeLeslie Howardas Romeo.
• In 1961,Russ Tamblynplayed the Mercutio character, Riff Lorton, in the film adaptation ofWest Side Story,the musical modernised version ofRomeo and Juliet.
• In 1968,John McEneryportrayed Mercutio inFranco Zeffirelli's filmRomeo and Juliet.
• In 1976,Robin Nedwellplayed Mercutio in the Thames Television production directed by Joan Kemp-Welch, with Christopher Neame as Romeo and Ann Hasson as Juliet.
• In 1978,Anthony Andrewsplayed the role in theBBC Television Shakespeareproduction, the first in a series of adaptations of all Shakespeare's plays.
• In 1996,Harold Perrineauportrayed Mercutio inBaz Luhrmann's modernised version,William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet.
• In 1998,Ben Affleckportrayed actorEdward Alleynin theromantic comedyShakespeare in Love.In the film, Alleyn serves as history's first Mercutio.
• In 2007,Tetsuya KakiharaandChristopher Bevinsvoice Mercutio in theanimeseriesRomeo x Juliet.
• In 2011,Hale Applemanportrayed Mercutio inAlan Brown'sPrivate Romeo,a modern-day adaptation set at an all-male military academy.
• In 2013,Christian Cookeplayed Mercutio in thefilm adaptationdirected byCarlo Carlei,starringDouglas Boothas Romeo andHailee Steinfeldas Juliet.

See also

• Complete list of Shakespearean characters

External links

• Complete listing of all of Mercutio's lines
• Mercutio Character Analysisat Shakespeare Online