Tybalt vs. Mercutio Duel Romeo & Juliet – Act III, Scene I

Learning Objectives You will learn about the following: The background events that led up to, “Tybalt vs. Mercutio Duel” Reinforce terms like: Foreshadow Learn of new terms like: Dramatic Irony and Foil Overall significance to the play Tybalt’s reasons for fighting Significant lines from the Scene You will also have to complete the following tasks: Opinion piece on Romeo’s initial actions Test on its significance

Starter What do you think provoked this duel? How would the bystanders and Romeo respond? What sort of effect do you think this scene would have on the audience?

Tybalt vs. Mercutio Duel TYBALT Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man. MERCUTIO But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery: Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower; Your worship in that sense may call him 'man.' Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford No better term than this,--thou art a villain. ROMEO Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting: villain am I none; Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not. Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw. I do protest, I never injured thee, But love thee better than thou canst devise, Till thou shalt know the reason of my love: And so, good Capulet,--which name I tender As dearly as my own,--be satisfied. O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away. Draws Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk? What wouldst thou have with me?. MERCUTIO Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you shall use me hereafter, drybeat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pitcher by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out. TYBALT I am for you. Drawing ROMEO Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. Come, sir, your passado. They fight Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons. Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage! Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath Forbidden bandying in Verona streets: Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio! TYBALT under ROMEO's arm stabs MERCUTIO, and flies with his followers I am hurt. A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone, and hath nothing? BENVOLIO What, art thou hurt? Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough. Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.

Background Information At the end of the previous Act, Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet secretly She cautions them against rashness and excessive passion for each other The peace and solemnity of the previous scene will be shattered by events in the duel scene (Tybalt vs. Mercutio) The day of the duel is described to be hot, the sort of day which sets the mad blood stirring Hence, this serves as foreshadow that something terrible will happen Prior to the fight, Romeo behaves strangely on the street, but the others do not know why Dramatic Irony: The audience knows more about the actions or feelings of a character than other figures in the play Connection: In this case, the audience knows that he is behaving in such a way, since he is madly in love with Juliet, while the others in the play do not

Story of the Scene Tybalt wants to fight Romeo, but won’t fight back as Tybalt is now his ‘cousin’ through marriage (to Juliet) Tybalt’s reasoning for the duel is because he wants to seek revenge for Romeo’s appearance at the Capulet feast Mercuito tries to defend his friend’s honour and gets killed This happens as Romeo comes between them to break the fight

Overall Significance to the play This fight serves as a turning point, since it causes Romeo to be banished by the Prince (Escalus) from Verona This is considering that Romeo quickly kills Tybalt in a state of fury and inflames the hatred between the 2 families In the confusion of affairs, Romeo later believes that Juliet has died. This in turn leads to Juliet’s suicide Tybalt serves as a foil to Romeo, since he is the complete opposite of Romeo, behaviourally speaking (E.g. Passionate, Hot-blooded, pride and easily provoked) Foil: It is another character in a story who contrasts with the main character, usually to highlight one of their attributes

Significant Lines from the Scene Tybalt’s Reasons for Fighting Tybalt wants revenge on Romeo for the insult he feels he suffered by Romeo attending the party earlier in the play He also wants to preserve his honour after having been challenged by Mercutio into a duel Significant Lines from the Scene Romeo: Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting: villain am I none Significance: Romeo refuses Tybalt’s challenge to a duel, since he now sees him as a cousin-in-law. Mercuito: A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. Significance: Having been killed, Mercutio blames both Romeo and Tybalt for his murder

Assignment Task: Do you think that Romeo was in the right Romeo not to challenge Tybalt into a duel? What would happen if he did indeed take up his challenge? How would his wife feel? Explain. - Format: Write this as an opinion piece - Make sure to: Avoid having contractions, informal words and indent each of your paragraphs Length: 250-500 words Due Date: March _______.