Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis (Archetypes)

Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis Essay Shakespeare’s famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet highlights the topics of loyalty, honor, and interests, and how a misinterpretation of them can lead to devastating results. Mercutio, Tybalt and Benvolio are all characters in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. Of the three, Mercutio and Benvolio are good friends of Romeo, the protagonist. Tybalt is, however, from an opposing house, the Capulets, who have been feuding with Romeo’s house, the Montagues, for decades. While both Mercutio and Tybalt can be considered the competitor archetype, Benvolio acts as a foil through the peacekeeper, or mediator archetype. In this tragedy, Shakespeare uses the comparison of Mercutio, Tybalt, and Benvolio to prove that, though honor seems like a worthy cause to, the safety and interests of oneself and one’s loved ones must take first priority. Mercutio’s fiery temper and quick tongue shows that protecting honor isn’t better than protecting the interests of friends, but rather, quite the opposite. While Mercutio is putting his quick tongue to work devising puns at the beginning of Act III, Romeo marries his love Juliet in secret at Friar Laurence’s chamber. As Juliet is of Romeo’s household’s rival, Romeo is now kin to Juliet’s family and is determined to show them due respect. So when Tybalt, Juliet’s irate cousin, challenges Romeo to a duel, he refuses. Romeo says to Tybalt, “I do protest I never injured thee, but love thee better than thou canst devise” (Shakespeare 119). Upon hearing this, Mercutio’s temper ignites. He cries, “O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!...Come sir, your passado” (Shakespeare 121). Mercutio bristles at Romeo’s lost honor and lack of bravado, thus taking upon himself the protection of Romeo’s dignity, asking for Tybalt’s “passado”, a fencing move. And thus, Mercutio perishes. Padgett states, “As he is dying, Mercutio says, ‘A plague o’ both your houses! I am sped…’ He repeats this phrase twice more before

Cited: Cluck, Nancy. “The Fearful Summons: Death in the Opening Scenes of Shakespearean Tragedy.” “In entering the Maze: Shakespeare’s Art or Beginning. 133-43. Peter Lang, 1995. Quoted as “The Fearful Summons: Death in the Opening Scenes of Shakespearean Tragedy” in Bloom, Harold, ed. William Shakespeare – The tragedies, New Edition Bloom’s Modern Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2009. Bloom’s Literary Reference Online. Facts on File, Inc. Gulledge, Emily. “Romeo & Juliet: Tybalt.” N.d. Towson University. Web. 12 April, 2012. Mabillard, Amanda. “Shakespeare’s Character: Mercutio.” Shakespeare Online. 2010. Web. 12 May, 2012 Padgett, Chandi. “Romeo & Juliet: Mercutio.” N.d Towson University. Web. 12 April, 2012. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Columbia, SC: McDougal Littel, 1997. Print