Mercutio Romeo And Juliet Quotes

Romeo's best friend and kinsman to Prince Escalus. Mercutio is one of the play's most dynamic and complex characters. Wild, frenetic, low-key, and fun-loving, Mercutio's manic free energy, rambling stories, and razor-sharp wit masks a much darker core. Mercutio is quick with words and is one of the play's most skilled masters of puns and wordplay—he is e'er prepare with a scandalous joke or a earthy tale, just deep down, the play suggests that Mercutio is long by tired of his office as Romeo'southward jester. Mercutio's quickness to fight rivals Tybalt'south hotheaded rage, and Mercutio often involves himself in brawls that shouldn't business concern him, always fighting on behalf of the Montagues. When once such fight with Tybalt ends with Tybalt fatally stabbing Mercutio, he attempts to play the wound off as a "scratch"—but as he succumbs to his wounds, he runway confronting the forces that have killed him, wishing "a plague [on] both [the] houses" of Montague and Capulet and revealing in his dying moments his deep contempt, frustration, and anger for the petty, ancient feud betwixt them.

Mercutio Quotes in Romeo and Juliet

The Romeo and Juliet quotes below are all either spoken past Mercutio or refer to Mercutio. For each quote, you lot can likewise see the other characters and themes related to information technology (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this 1:

Romeo: I dream'd a dream to-night.
Mercutio: And then did I.
Romeo: Well, what was yours?
Mercutio: That dreamers oftentimes prevarication.

Related Characters: Romeo (speaker), Mercutio (speaker)

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Commendation: 1.4.53-56

Explanation and Analysis:

Romeo: Backbone, man; the hurt cannot be much.
Mercutio: No, 'tis not and so deep every bit a well, nor then wide as a church building-door; but 'tis plenty, 'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave human.

Related Characters: Romeo (speaker), Mercutio (speaker)

Page Number and Commendation: iii.1.99-102

Explanation and Analysis:

Mercutio Character Timeline in Romeo and Juliet

The timeline below shows where the graphic symbol Mercutio appears in Romeo and Juliet. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, and several of their firm'southward men enter wearing party masks and carrying torches. They... (full context)

Mercutio says he had a dream the night before, too—he and Romeo have both been visited... (total context)

...his "heart" is still within. He hides himself against the orchard wall as Benvolio and Mercutio enter, searching for him. Mercutio calls out for Romeo, begging him to make himself seen,... (full context)

Benvolio and Mercutio enter, discussing how Romeo did non come habitation the dark earlier. They believe he is... (full context)

Romeo greets Mercutio and Benvolio, and Mercutio accuses Romeo of giving them both "the slip" the night before.... (full context)

...and Peter enter and greet the Montague men. The nurse wishes them good morning, merely Mercutio tells her that "the earthy mitt of the punch is now upon the prick of... (full context)

The nurse tells Romeo how little she cared for Mercutio's "saucy" jokes and chides Peter for remaining silent in the face of Mercutio's impropriety. Peter... (full context)

Benvolio, Mercutio, and Mercutio'south folio are out walking around Verona, but Benvolio begs Mercutio to lead them... (full context)

Tybalt, Petruchio, and some other Capulets arroyo. Benvolio warns Mercutio, only Mercutio is unconcerned by their presence. Tybalt approaches them and says he wants a... (full context)

...in fact loves the Capulet man, whose surname he loves "every bit dearly as [his] own." Mercutio, angered by Romeo's "vile submission," draws his sword. Tybalt draws his, too, and though Romeo... (full context)

After Tybalt and the other Capulets leave, Benvolio and Romeo ask Mercutio if he's badly hurt. He insists at start that he's suffered just "a scratch"—only moments... (full context)

Benvolio enters and announces that Mercutio has died. Romeo, enraged, states that "this day'due south black fate" will begin a great "woe"... (full context)

...fool," quickly runs abroad. The citizens' picket enters, looking to arrest the human being who slayed Mercutio, and Benvolio points out Tybalt'south body on the footing. The prince enters with Montague, Capulet,... (total context)