Romeo and Juliet Act 3

Act III, Scene I - Summary Benvolio is concerned they will not “scape a brawl” Tybalt enters looking for Romeo Tybalt and Mercutio - two of the most headstrong and passionate members of each side of the feud - conflict will arise Benvolio tries to avoid confrontation but Mercutio is deliberately provocative Romeo appears and Tybalt insults him, hoping he will respond to the challenge Romeo refuses because he is now related to Tybalt through his marriage to Juliet

Act III, Scene i - Summary Mercutio, disgusted by Romeo’s reluctance, fights on Romeo’s behalf To stop the battle, Romeo steps between them and Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo’s arm Mercutio’s wound is fatal and he dies cursing: “A plague o’ both your houses!” Blinded by rage over Mercutio’s death, Romeo attacks Tybalt and kills him Romeo is forced to flee a mob of citizens as the Prince, the heads of the two households, and their wives appear at the scene After Benvolio gives an account of what has happened, the Prince banishes Romeo from Verona under the penalty of death and orders Lords Montague and Capulet to pay a heavy fine

Setting and Mood This scene acts as a violent contrast to the euphoric mood and romance of the previous few scenes The harsh, uncompromising daylight reality replaces the dark secrecy and moonlight declarations of the previous scenes The searing heat, flaring tempers, and sudden violence of this scene contrast sharply with the romantic, peaceful previous night The play reaches a dramatic crescendo as Romeo and Juliet’s private world clashes with the public feud

Romeo’s Refusal to Fight Romeo appears, euphoric and unaware he’s been challenged to a duel – his mood separates him from the other characters in the scene In response to Tybalt’s attempts to initiate a fight, Romeo tells Tybalt he loves “thee better than thou canst devise” – he will not fight as he is now a kinsman of Tybalt’s In Romeo’s mind, he has shed his identity as a Montague and has become one with Juliet, his wife However, Tybalt still sees Romeo as standing on the wrong side of a clear line that divides the families Tybalt does not understand why Romeo will not respond to his challenge - traditional assertion of masculine nobility Romeo and Juliet’s love removes them from the animosity that drives the feud

Romeo and Conflict However, the love of Romeo and Juliet is flawed by Romeo acting out of anger rather than his love for Juliet Ironically, Romeo’s refusal to duel with Tybalt brings about the very acceleration of violence he sought to prevent and Mercutio’s death Romeo blames himself for Mercutio’s death because he placed his love for Juliet before consideration of his friend and regards himself as effeminate Romeo thus attacks Tybalt to assuage his guilt By doing so, he disregards any effect that this may have on Juliet His action is impulsive and reckless, his rage overpowers his sensibility, and his tragic fortunes are sealed By attacking Tybalt in a blind fury, he has become one with fiery Tybalt; one with the feud

Mercutio The hot-headed Mercutio starts a quarrel the instant Tybalt requests a word with him, by responding, “make it a word and a blow.” Mercutio’s characteristic wit turns bitter as he is incensed at what he sees as Romeo’s cowardice: ‘calm, dishonourable, vile submission’ As he dies he curses both Montagues and Capulets, who have been the direct cause of his death: “A plague on both your houses” (3 times) In shocked disbelief, he asks Romeo “Why the devil / came you between us? I was hurt under your arm” Mercutio’s death is the catalyst for the tragic turn the play takes from this point onward

Fate Tybalt’s death brings Romeo a moment of clarity - he realises that he is the helpless victim of fate: “O, I am fortune’s fool!” He is struck by a sense of anger, injustice, and futility, of being ‘unlucky’ and ‘cursed’ by bad fortune Contrast this with Mercutio’s response to his own fate – he blames the people of the houses of Montague and Capulet, and gives no blame to any larger force The speed with which Mercutio and Tybalt’s deaths occur, together with Romeo’s marriage and subsequent banishment, all contribute to a sense of inevitability—that a chain of events has been set in motion over which the protagonists have no control Mercutio’s dying curse upon the houses resonates as the voice of fate itself

Conflict The sudden, extreme violence of this scene serves as a reminder that, for all the love, beauty and romance of the play, this love story takes place against a backdrop of honour, pride, revenge and other masculine notions The beauty, purity and fragility of Romeo and Juliet’s love stands little chance against this world of violence and brutality

Banishment and Fate The Prince listens to the true story of what happened, and declares that Romeo’s behaviour was understandable, but nevertheless must be punished by banishment from Verona – forever ‘..when he is found, that hour is his last’ Romeo and Juliet’s love is now not only censured and forbidden by their families, it is also thwarted and forbidden by the ruler of Verona Their relationship puts Romeo in danger of violent reprisal from both Juliet’s kinsmen AND the state

The future? From an atmosphere of hope at the very end of Act II, we have moved (in one scene) to a situation of darkest despair It is now very difficult for Romeo, and the audience, to see a hopeful future for the young lovers

Fate Fate = Destiny An inevitable outcome based on “the stars” or set circumstances Pre-determination Fortune Events or life which has already been decided Romeo and Juliet are “ill-fated” from the beginning as “star-crossed lovers” Are the events in Act 3 and even earlier in the play a result of FATE or ACTIONS? Do Romeo and Juliet have control over their lives, or has FATE already decided their outcome?