Mercutio: Difference between revisions
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* [[Theatre|Stage]] |
* [[Theatre|Stage]] |
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**[[Laurence Olivier]] and [[John Gielgud]] alternated the roles of Romeo and Mercutio in a 1935 stage version. |
**[[Laurence Olivier]] and [[John Gielgud]] alternated the roles of Romeo and Mercutio in a [[1935]] stage version. |
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* [[Film]] |
* [[Film]] |
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**[[John Barrymore]] portrayed Mercutio in [[George Cukor]]'s film ''[[Romeo and Juliet (1936 film)|Romeo and Juliet]]'' |
**[[John Barrymore]] portrayed Mercutio in [[George Cukor]]'s [[1936]] film ''[[Romeo and Juliet (1936 film)|Romeo and Juliet]]'' opposite [[Leslie Howard (actor)|Leslie Howard]] as Romeo. |
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**[[John McEnery]] portrayed Mercutio in [[Franco Zeffirelli]]'s film ''[[Romeo and Juliet (1968 film)|Romeo and Juliet]]'' |
**[[John McEnery]] portrayed Mercutio in [[Franco Zeffirelli]]'s [[1968]] film ''[[Romeo and Juliet (1968 film)|Romeo and Juliet]]''. |
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**[[Harold Perrineau Jr.]] portrayed Mercutio in [[Baz Luhrmann|Baz Luhrmann]]'s modernized 1996 version, ''[[William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet]]''. |
**[[Harold Perrineau Jr.]] portrayed Mercutio in [[Baz Luhrmann|Baz Luhrmann]]'s modernized [[1996]] version, ''[[William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet]]''. |
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**[[Ben Affleck]] portrayed actor [[Edward Alleyn]] in the 1998 [[romantic comedy]] ''[[Shakespeare in Love]]''. In the film, Alleyn serves as history's first Mercutio. |
**[[Ben Affleck]] portrayed actor [[Edward Alleyn]] in the [[1998]] [[romantic comedy]] ''[[Shakespeare in Love]]''. In the film, Alleyn serves as history's first Mercutio. |
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* [[Television]] |
* [[Television]] |
Revision as of 17:06, 6 June 2007
Mercutio is a character in William Shakespeare's famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. He is a relative of the Prince and a good friend of Romeo, and Romeo's cousin Benvolio. Mercutio is apt to make long, drawn out speeches (the most famous of which is the Queen Mab speech), and is generally thought to be reckless, a jokester, and a free spirit.
Due to his sharp, quick wit and flamboyant, affable personality, Mercutio is one of Shakespeare's most popular characters. In fact, many actors express that they would rather play Mercutio than Romeo.
Role in the play
Mercutio makes fun of Romeo for his obsession with Rosaline in both the Queen Mab speech and after the party at the Capulets'. However, there is dramatic irony in the fact that when he makes the speech, Romeo has already fallen for Juliet. Mercutio is frustrated with Romeo's moody, depressed state of being that comes from Rosaline's denial of Romeo's love. After Romeo has fallen for Juliet, Mercutio is pleased to see Romeo back to his normal, congenial state. He also has a considerable amount of fun when toying with the Nurse, teasing the "ancient lady."
After Romeo receives a death threat from Tybalt, Mercutio expects Romeo to engage Tybalt in a duel. However, Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt, as he is Juliet's cousin and therefore a kinsman to Romeo because of Romeo's recent marriage to Juliet. Not knowing this, Mercutio is incensed, and decides to fight Tybalt himself. Romeo, not wanting his best friend or his relative to get hurt, intervenes, causing Mercutio to get stabbed by Tybalt "under [Romeo's] arm."
Before he dies, Mercutio curses both the houses of Montague and Capulet by saying "A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me...". His line describing his wound, "'Tis not deep as a well, nor wide as a church door, but 'tis enough, 'twill serve," has become famous. He makes a pun before he dies: "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man...." In revenge for the murder of his best friend, Romeo slays Tybalt, thus leading to Romeo's banishment from Verona and the increasingly tragic turn of events that follows.
Mercutio's death in Act III, scene I is the pivotal turning point of the play [1] because before his death, Romeo and Juliet is essentially a comedy. His death causes a domino effect of tragic fate that ultimately takes the lives of Tybalt, Paris, Romeo, Juliet, and Lady Montague. Because Mercutio's death signals the shift from comedy to tragedy (and also because his death occurs roughly halfway through the play), many productions of Romeo and Juliet place an intermission right after this scene.
Name origins
Mercutio's name is related to the word "mercurial," meaning "having an unpredictable and fast changing mood," an accurate description of Mercutio's personality. The word "mercurial" itself derives from the ancient Roman messenger god Mercury (Greek: Hermes) whose other namesakes include the fast-moving planet Mercury, and the metal mercury, which is a liquid at room temperature and often called quicksilver for this reason.
Alleged homosexuality
A common interpretation of the play is that Mercutio has homosexual tendencies. While there is no explicit proof of his sexual preferences, a considerable amount of what Mercutio says to Romeo, Benvolio, and even Tybalt, can be easily interpreted as sexual innuendo (He also uses blatant innuendo when speaking to the Nurse, but this is probably in jest, as she is an older woman). Mercutio also has a very close friendship with Romeo - so close, in fact, that Mercutio is willing to put his life on the line to defend his honor. However, this could simply be a result of Mercutio's reckless impulsivity and testosterone-fueled bravado, rather than a feeling of physical desire for Romeo. [1]
Performers
A number of famous actors have played the role of Mercutio. A small sampling follows.
- Stage
- Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud alternated the roles of Romeo and Mercutio in a 1935 stage version.
- Film
- John Barrymore portrayed Mercutio in George Cukor's 1936 film Romeo and Juliet opposite Leslie Howard as Romeo.
- John McEnery portrayed Mercutio in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film Romeo and Juliet.
- Harold Perrineau Jr. portrayed Mercutio in Baz Luhrmann's modernized 1996 version, William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet.
- Ben Affleck portrayed actor Edward Alleyn in the 1998 romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love. In the film, Alleyn serves as history's first Mercutio.
- Television
- Tetsuya Kakihara voices Mercutio in the fantasized, loosely adapted animated series Romeo x Juliet by the Japanese animation studio GONZO.