A Character I Am Essay, Research Paper

Throughout all the pain, love, and suffering brought to the two lovers in “Romeo and Juliet”, there was one character that provided a humorous break from all of the emotional tragedy. Mercutio, relative of the Prince and friend of Romeo, was this character that most resembles myself. Mercutio added comedy to an otherwise tragic play. My life not being a play, however I add fun and laughter to every around me. Between his famous Queen Mab speech, to his dramatic fight scene, he was there providing one humorous moment after another. Mercutio was Shakespeare’s one comic element in a tale that was not to end happily. Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech (Act 1, scene 4) was an attempt to cheer up Romeo, because he was depressed over his unanswered love for Rosaline, the girl he wanted before he me Juliet. In this speech Mercutio tells about Queen Mab, and makes a reference to the ability of fairies to control the affairs of humans. “And in this state she gallops night by night/Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love.” Mercutio did not understand nor agree with the love Romeo had for Juliet after the famous masquerade ball (Capulet party). He believed firmly that it was foolish for Romeo to fall in love so fast. “If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.” (2.1.35). This love was not meant to be in the eyes of Mercutio. I myself relate to this more then anything, I’ve been in the same situation. I myself disagree with the actions of my best friend towards the one he so deeply loves. I have no real famous speech, but the words spoken from my mouth heavily disagreed with my best friend. Advice I gave to my friend to alter his current destination in order I felt for him to be happy. In my heart I believe I’m right, Mercutio believed the same exact way. The other portion of my brain begs to differ that like Romeo and Juliet, their love was unconditional and sometimes misunderstood, I think to myself, what if I’m wrong about my friend’s relationship. Might I be the one that does not understand? However,

The part Mercutio is well remembered for is the fight scene between him and Tybalt. The phrase, “it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt,” rang true. While the fight progressed the characters continuously threw insults back and forth at one another. While Romeo tried to break up the fight, Mercutio was stabbed under his arm. Even during his last moments he made jokes, even about his own death. “No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door, but ’tis enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.” I want to live my life with no fear of dying. That when the day comes when I shall close my eyes and never awake, that I will look back upon my life and think to myself that I accomplished something. In my mind I shall have no doubt that I squeezed everything out of life imaginable while alive.