Romeo and Juliet (Act 3, scene 1)

Who are the characters in this scene? Benvolio, Mercutio, Romeo, Tybalt, Prince Escalus, Capulet, Lady Capulet, Montague, Lady Montague.
Where and when does the scene take place? In the city of Verona, a hot time of the day.
What is Benvolio’s character trait? He has common sense and level headed. He is loyal friend to Romeo and gives Romeo good advice. He’s a Montague.
What is Mercutio’s character trait? He is very amusing, great with words, can be “hot headed”, has a temper and enjoys starting some trouble (an instigator). He’s Romeo’s loyal friend and a Montague, but he doesn’t always give Romeo good advice…he would rather fight and defend his friend.
What is Mercutio’s character trait? He is loyal to the Capulets, and Juliet’s cousin. He has a temper and ready, willing and able to fight for the honor of the Capulet Family.
When Benvolio, Mercutio, and Romeo run into Tybalt, what happens? Tybalt wants to talk to one of them and Mercutio attempts to start a fight. Ultimately, a fight breaks out.
Does Romeo want to fight with Tybalt? No because he is now married to Juliet and sees her family as his family through marriage, even though no one knows they are secretly married.
What happens to Mercutio? He has a sword fight with Tybalt and Tybalt’s sword fatally stabs him as he swings it under Romeo’s arm. Romeo had attempted to stop the fight by getting in between Tybalt and Mercutio.
When Mercutio dies how does Romeo feel? He feels like a coward. He feels he should have fought Tybalt and not let his dear friend, Mercutio fight for him.
What does Mercutio say when he dies? he curses both the Montagues and the Capulets: “A plague o’ both your houses”, and still pouring forth his wild witticisms: “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man” (get it? “grave” means two things: (as a noun) a place where one is buried AND (as an adjective/describes a noun) seriously bad outcome.
What does Romeo do in response to Mercutio’s death? He kills Tybalts and runs away.
When the Prince arrives on the scene and The Capulets and The Montagues, what does Prince Escalus order/decree? Prince Escalus chooses to exile Romeo and if Romeo should return he will be killed.
What did the Capulets want the Prince to order? Romeo’s death.
Who explains the story of what happened? Benvolio. He explained how Romeo tried to keep the peace.
Romeo’s cry, “O, I am fortune’s fool!” refers specifically to what? Romeo’s unluckiness in being forced to kill his new wife’s cousin, thereby getting himself banished . It also recalls the sense of fate that hangs over the play.
What does Romeo blame? He blames fate and fortune.
Who does Mercutio blame for his death? He blames people and gives no credit to a greater spiritual force.
What takes over the actions of everyone in this scene? Passion takes over Reason. No one is acting rationally but instead their emotional hearts take over and make unwise decisions.
When Mercutio dies Romeo is angry with himself and says that he has turned “effeminate” (having traits that are traditionally female-soft, not violent), why does he say this? Romeo believes his love for Juliet has softened him too much. Elizabethan society generally believed that a man too much in love lost his manliness. Romeo believes this too.
How do the citizens see Romeo’s killing of Tybalt? The Prince? They see it as revenge and want him banished from the city.
Why does the Prince order Romeo’s banishment? The Prince is just trying to keep the peace in the city, between the Capulets and the Montagues. But, this order also acts to prevent the love and union of Romeo and Juliet (irony/tragedy).
August 8, 2019