Romeo and Juliet's Hidden Gem

The death of Mercutio in the 1996 film, Romeo + Juliet

After finishing Romeo and Juliet for my eighth grade English class, of  course there was a project accompanying the completion of the play. You could sense the disappointment and frustration once the teacher announced we would need to act out one scene from the play, followed by the sound of heads hitting the desks once she said she would be picking the scenes and roles for each person. Naturally, everyone shuddered at the thought of having to act out a scene with Romeo and Juliet due to the awkward moments that would ensue between the male and female leads. After receiving the role of Mercutio during his death scene, it gave me the opportunity to look deeper into a character that seemed hidden behind the scenes. After rereading the first few acts that Mercutio had been in, it occurred to me that Mercutio appeared to be the hidden gem of the play. His quick thinking and clever remarks instantly made him my favorite character in a play with many serious and intimate characters. The contrasting personalities of Mercutio and Romeo contributed to the humor that Mercutio brought with him. While Romeo is a more poetic and charming character who truly believes in true love, Mercutio often pokes fun at this notion of true love, looking at the more physical form of love rather than romance. The friendship the two share with each other thrives on the basis that they look out for each other and stand with each other when facing adversity. While many may see Mercutio's mocking of Romeo's beliefs as insensitive and callous, it is simply his own unique way of showing Romeo that he cares for him and wants to ensure that his friend's heart doesn't get broken.

The most interesting part of Mercutio's character, as mentioned before, is his quick and impulsive nature along with his constant use of puns. Upon first glance at Romeo and Juliet, it would seem the play is a comedy rather than a tragedy due in part to Mercutio and his comedic attitude. Through it all, however, Mercutio is still a loyal companion that stands by his friend, especially when Tybalt begins threatening Romeo. Mercutio's eventual death is both saddening and influential as it triggers Romeo into killing Tybalt and unleashing a domino effect of tragic events. Even in death, Mercutio is still one of the most prominent figures of the play as his survival could have changed the outcome of the play.

Sometimes it's the minor characters that make all the difference. Shakespeare definitely has his share of memorable characters throughout all of his works but hidden behind these major characters are the smaller, less important characters that seem to bring life into the play and provide huge plot changes. Mercutio provides the comedic genius and personality that make for more lighthearted moments within a very serious play. Despite his absence in the latter acts of the play, Mercutio makes his presence known throughout the beginning acts and with his death, he ultimately impacts the rest of the story, making the tragic tale known everywhere.