In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Tybalt seems like a very interesting character. Tybalt doesnt really care what the situation is, he will unquestionably be bitter, angry and cynical. He makes a VERY good antagonist and keeps the story going quite nicely. His actions are all quite important and drive the story forward.
He is one of the most bitter charictes in ANY book i've read. He never really seems happy and likes to start fights. This quote i think sums him up "Peace? Peace. I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee". This is Tybalt overstating his immense hatred of Romeo and his family. He hates them like he hates Hell. He is basicly comparing them to hell, the worst possible place that any thing could possibly be. Fiery,hot and simply a place of torture, this is what Tybalt is comparing Romeo and his family along with the idea of peace between the Montagues and Capulets
He is an important character also because he affects the overall mood of the piece. He changes it from a hopeful, romantic play to a dark tragedy about death and downfall. This is after Tybalt kills romeo's friend, Mercutio. Tybalt, unfortunately, is not in the play from that point on. Romeo kills Tybalt in a duel while Benvolio feebly tries to keep peace. Tybalt kind of got a taste of his own medicine. He wanted to pick a fight with a random Capulet ally on the street and this is what he gets. It's almost like karma in it's own right. This makes me think that Tybalt is an impulsive character who will say and do things without thinking about what the possible repercussions for his actions.
Another thing about tybalt is that he seems to be THOROUGHLY convinced that Romeo is the villain instead of him. He says multiple times that Romeo is a villain, is evil, needs to be stopped or something along those lines. He has no rational reasoning for this aside from the fact that Romeo's last name is Montague and his is Capulet. He seemingly is even more brash than the rest of the characters and doesn't think before he acts.
Tybalt, in conclusion, seems to be the human embodiment of hate. He does very impulsive and brash things without thinking them through. I usually do the same when i am not in a particularly happy mood. I also feel like the entire world is annoying or irritating and that I want to cling to whatever is making me angry. Tybalt also wants to hold on to the fact that he is a Capulet and just on general principal he must kill Romeo. Even though Romeo never did anything to hurt him or his family he still insists on making an attempt on his life. Tybalt puts the tragedy in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.
what do you think of Tybalt? Share your opinions in the comments section.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Romeo and Juliet: Mercutio
In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Mercutio seems like an interesting character. Mercutio is Romeo's best friend and ally. I can see them being friends and they seem to need each other. Mercutio seems to lift Romeo's spirits and encourages him to take risks. Without him there would not be no storyline and Romeo wouldn't do many of the things that end up driving the plot. Mercutio's interesting personality keeps the story going
I observe that Mercutio is somewhat bold and outgoing. He seems to be perfectly willing to take risks. Doing things like deciding to crash the Capulet's party. The Capulets, who are Romeo's rival family. Tybalt would have Romeo dead for trespassing on something that is capulets only. This is an important part in the story because this is the place where Romeo will meet his Star-crossed lover: Juliet Capulet. The girl in which he will fall in love with and ,eventually, die with. The idea to go to the ball was all Mercutio's idea and it is an important plot point in the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.
Mercutio also seems to cheer up Romeo when he is self-conscious or just sad. For example after Romeo says "I have a soul of lead. So stakes me to the ground I cannot move." feeling depressed that Rosaline didn't love him back Mercutio responds with "You are a lover. Borrow Cupid's wings, And soar with them above a common bound.". Mercutio seems to be the ying to Romeo's Yang and will say the opposite of what Romeo is thinking. While Romeo broods over having a heavy soul due to his sadness over Rosaline, Mercutio thinks that Romeo can soar to new highs and fall in love with someone greater that Rosaline. Romeo thinks that he is never going to get someone to love him, Mercutio counters with "You are a lover." a blunt and forthright statement about how he thinks that Romeo isn't quite hopeless.
I think that Mercutio's perspective on love is interesting. It's not as one-track-minded and slightly cynical as Romeo's perspective on love, it certainly is different. He seems to think that love is something to be rough with. Something that won't quite treat you nice and you have to be tough to be in love because it's not all going to be joys and happiness. I get this idea from this quote "If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down". The fact that he considers the fact that love could be possibly uncomfortable makes me think that he likes to stick to a slightly cynical and realistic view of love. Unlike Romeo who seems to think of love in quite dramatic and always-pleasant ways Mercutio prefers to stick to a more realistic view of love. He knows that it's not really possible to never quarrel with somebody and for everything to be PERFECT.
Mercutio reminds me of another character from another book. While the other book was written centuries later I think that these 2 characters are quite alike. He reminds me of the Comedian from Watchmen. The Comedian is always thinking in a more realistic sense of view. He was supposed to be a reflection or a "parody" of "the true face of the 20th century". Also, Mercutio and The Comedian both seem a little bit mentally unstable. Mercutio's speech about Queen Mab seems a little bit out there. Also, before The Comedian dies, he has a mental breakdown at the house of one of his old rivals. So there, that's how i can relate Mercutio from 1597 to The Comedian from 1985. Besides, Alan Moore (the writer of Watchmen) is often considered the Shakespeare of Comic Book writing.
In conclusion, Mercutio is an important Character that drives the story onward. He is the person that puts Romeo into perspective and encourages him to take chances. He's definatly one of the more interesting characters, at least thats what i think. Mercutio is definitely one of the more interesting characters in the book.
What do you think of Mercutio and his opinions?
Until next time
-Andyroo
I observe that Mercutio is somewhat bold and outgoing. He seems to be perfectly willing to take risks. Doing things like deciding to crash the Capulet's party. The Capulets, who are Romeo's rival family. Tybalt would have Romeo dead for trespassing on something that is capulets only. This is an important part in the story because this is the place where Romeo will meet his Star-crossed lover: Juliet Capulet. The girl in which he will fall in love with and ,eventually, die with. The idea to go to the ball was all Mercutio's idea and it is an important plot point in the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.
Mercutio also seems to cheer up Romeo when he is self-conscious or just sad. For example after Romeo says "I have a soul of lead. So stakes me to the ground I cannot move." feeling depressed that Rosaline didn't love him back Mercutio responds with "You are a lover. Borrow Cupid's wings, And soar with them above a common bound.". Mercutio seems to be the ying to Romeo's Yang and will say the opposite of what Romeo is thinking. While Romeo broods over having a heavy soul due to his sadness over Rosaline, Mercutio thinks that Romeo can soar to new highs and fall in love with someone greater that Rosaline. Romeo thinks that he is never going to get someone to love him, Mercutio counters with "You are a lover." a blunt and forthright statement about how he thinks that Romeo isn't quite hopeless.
I think that Mercutio's perspective on love is interesting. It's not as one-track-minded and slightly cynical as Romeo's perspective on love, it certainly is different. He seems to think that love is something to be rough with. Something that won't quite treat you nice and you have to be tough to be in love because it's not all going to be joys and happiness. I get this idea from this quote "If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down". The fact that he considers the fact that love could be possibly uncomfortable makes me think that he likes to stick to a slightly cynical and realistic view of love. Unlike Romeo who seems to think of love in quite dramatic and always-pleasant ways Mercutio prefers to stick to a more realistic view of love. He knows that it's not really possible to never quarrel with somebody and for everything to be PERFECT.
Mercutio reminds me of another character from another book. While the other book was written centuries later I think that these 2 characters are quite alike. He reminds me of the Comedian from Watchmen. The Comedian is always thinking in a more realistic sense of view. He was supposed to be a reflection or a "parody" of "the true face of the 20th century". Also, Mercutio and The Comedian both seem a little bit mentally unstable. Mercutio's speech about Queen Mab seems a little bit out there. Also, before The Comedian dies, he has a mental breakdown at the house of one of his old rivals. So there, that's how i can relate Mercutio from 1597 to The Comedian from 1985. Besides, Alan Moore (the writer of Watchmen) is often considered the Shakespeare of Comic Book writing.
In conclusion, Mercutio is an important Character that drives the story onward. He is the person that puts Romeo into perspective and encourages him to take chances. He's definatly one of the more interesting characters, at least thats what i think. Mercutio is definitely one of the more interesting characters in the book.
What do you think of Mercutio and his opinions?
Until next time
-Andyroo
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