Shakespeare portrayed many views on love in the romantic tragedy play Romeo & Juliet. Shakespeare presents this idea as a force of nature, so strong that it transcends social conventions. Many of the friendships in the play are as sincere as Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other. Close relationships were formed between Juliet and her nurse, Romeo and Mercutio and Mercutio and Benvolio.
In Act 3 Scene 1 Mercutio and Tybalt are caught in an argument, Mercutio is stubborn and does not want to stop “Men’s eyes were made to see things, so let them watch. I won’t move to please anybody.” The love in this act is shown through brotherhood, Romeo and Mercutio love each other like siblings. In the scene of Mercutio’s death, he holds true to his understanding of love for his kinsmen. His involvement in the ordeal itself springs from his emotions to defend Romeo and his friends. Mercutio challenged Tybalt because his references to the Montague’s undermine their status. This is evident in the quote “Consort? What dost thou make us minstrels?” Mercutio continues to belittle Romeo when it was necessary out of true love. Tybalt however is viewed very differently by Mercutio, in the fight scene Mercutio believes that he is fighting for the honour of the Montague’s and his friends, however his intense emotions for love goes out of control and was therefore wounded by Tybalt out of pure rage. Romeo in turn then kills Tybalt which leads to exile and possible death. It is then that Romeo realises that the consequences of his love affair. Mercutio was right in his predictions the love between Romeo and Juliet resulted in tragedy for both families
In this act Romeo nonetheless did not want a quarrel between Mercutio and Tybalt as he didn’t want the feud between the Capulet’s and the Montague’s to grow worse and did not want to see both Tybalt and Mercutio wounded. “Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee. Doth much excuse the