In The Play

In the play “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, we are introduced to a controversial yet crucial character named Mercutio. However, in the original Shakespeare play and the modern film adaption of Romeo and Juliet by Luhrmann, the presentation of this character alters. Mercutio’s name derives from the word ‘mercurial’ which means eloquent, active sprightly and changeable, and Shakespeare purposely used this characters name as to present his character of this manner. In both the original play and film adaption, Mercutio's personality is a representation of his name, however in Luhrmann’s film; he is emphasised even greater as a witty and humorous character, whose presence is almost overpowering. This essay will compare the presentation of Mercutio's character in the drama text and film adaption and discuss how he is a compelling and extremely important part in both versions.

In the play, when we first meet Mercutio he is accompanying Romeo to the ball. Romeo starts with a speech about love and dreams and how heartbroken he is by it. Mercutio suddenly mentions “prick love for pricking you” this shows that Mercutio has a simple approach and he does not dwell other little and simple minded things presenting him as a simple minded character. Mercutio mocks Romeo by call him “Queen Mab", a fictional character, which evidently shows that he is mocking Romeo as such things do not exist; he's trying to bring Romeo to reality regarding his feelings and dreams. Despite his teasing and humorous beginning to his speech, he quits the euphoric state that he is in and suddenly grows angry and adapts a hostile tone of voice saying "and bakes the elflocks in foul, sluttish hairs". The adjectives "sluttish" and "foul" clearly emphases the antagonistic state that he is in. Shakespeare's use of language indicates how alert and cautious people have to be around him as he switches moods easily and without warning. Likewise in the film, he is also shown to be a volatile character through the way he interacts with the other characters. This is most evident in the scene where he faces Tybalt and starts mocking him; he insults him and taunts him, but no sign of aggression towards Tybalt unlike the play when Mercutio suddenly expresses anger on to Tybalt.

Furthermore, in the both the play and film, Mercutio is presented as a courageous and hot headed individual. In act 3 scene 2 of the film he aggravates Tybalt to force him to engage in a duel after Tybalt attempted to make a mockery of him and his sexuality through the line “thou art consortest with Romeo”. Mercutio tells him to “make it a word blow” which presents Mercutio as an aggressive character as the word “blow” is a word which means “fight” and by telling Tybalt “word and a bow” he was trying to provoke him. Mercutio then attempts to regain his masculinity after it being questioned by Tybalt through this fight as at this time period, men were meant to display their strength and masculinity. However, this scene is far different in Luhrmann's adaptation's as when Mercutio says "make it a word and a blow" he says it in jest Mercutio character is presented as a playful yet confident character as while the others were scared Mercutio made a joke of Tybalt attempt to sort their differences By act 3 scene 1 in the play, we became aware that Mercutio is constantly abusing other characters. Mercutio was presented as a very brave and poetic character “Tybalt you rat catcher will you walk”. This has a relationship with Mercutio using simile to describe Tybalt. The word “rat catcher” is a word which Mercutio describes Tybalt. This name comes from a story with cat character called Tybalt that chases vermin, referring to him as a man who only seeks vermin. Also this play was popular at the time which shows Mercutio intellectual and awareness status far exceeds anyone in the story.

Moreover, in the play, repetition was used and by Mercutio as a display of his emotions that presents him as a very dramatic character in both the play and the film adaption. “a scratch, a scratch”, the word scratch was repeated to show it’s a scratch just a scratch, to maintain his stereo type as a man. The fights between Mercutio and Tybalt and then between Romeo and Tybalt are chaotic; Tybalt kills Mercutio under Romeo’s arm, flees, and then suddenly and inexplicably returns to fight Romeo who kills him in vengeance. Mercutio character breaks away from the seriousness of the play and adds a light hearted escape. “Tomorrow you see me a grave man”, he uses the word “grave” its puns which implies that he will be a serious man and a dead man. This shows that Mercutio was jesting after having a major fight with the Capulets which left him angered with Romeo presenting his character as a being able to be serious despite his humorous character he shows he can be serious at times when he needs to be. Furthermore the clothing that Mercutio wears in the film adaption portrays how immature yet humorous he may be. Mercutio wears a bright, luminous silver bra and a mini skirt the same colour. For Mercutio to be wearing luminous colour insists that it is reflecting on his feeling of happiness. In the play, he is portrayed as immature however, less than in the film. He has a more loyal reputation as well as courageous. In act 2 scene 4 he says “come he not home tonight”. This shows his empathy for Romeo and hoe caring he is. The phrase “home to might” tells us that if Romeo is missing, it effects Mercutio dearly. However In both adaptions' Mercutio character is crucial as when he dies it leaves a tragic event in the rest of the play. The quote employs “a plague o both of your houses”, this relates that Mercutio curses both of the houses as they are responsible for his death. This foreshadow the tragedy that later occurs. Above all Mercutio is presented as an arrogant individual in both of the adaption's, as when he says. “Mans eyes were made to look and let them gaze, I will not budge for no mans pleasure” this quote shows that Mercutio has no respect for Tybalt. Furthermore Shakespeare presents Mercutio as a stubbed individual, as when he says in the play. “By my heel, I care not”. The word “I care not” shows that Mercutio has no feeling for people that waste his time, this suits him as in this era men are meant not to have feelings.

Likewise in the film adaptation, Mercutio dominates the scene that he is in, as well as manipulating those who do not do as he wants as seen when he pulled out the gun and shoots it in the air so that everyone could pay attention to him an at the same time manipulate Romeo through pure aggregation .Baz Luhrmann portrays this characteristic through props and sound. When Romeo tells Mercutio that he will follow, Mercutio does not like his response, he takes the gun and shoots in the air. The loud noise made by the gun automatically brought attention t Mercutio and the fact that he has a weapon brings a sense of violence to his character. This can be depicted as a manipulative technique as he is making Romeo do as he wants through aggression, reflecting that Mercutio is a character that will do anything to make people listen to him, making manipulation his key weapon. Romeo and Juliet is a Shakespearean love tragedy, where Mercutio lies between the two conflicting families. His liminality, volatility, and manipulation drive him to his tragic death.

Mercutio's character in the film adaptions by Luhrmann is presented as an emotional being when he was betrayed by Romeo. When Mercutio shouts “a plague on both your houses” it shows he has almost disowned Romeo as a friend as he curses the Montague’s and the Capulets. At this point in the film it is clear that Shakespeare intention was to create drama, as his once light hearted character, Mercutio, has now revealed the underlying conflict between the families that even he is against.