In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet,
although Mercutio has the name most connotative of mood swings, Romeo is the character
who is the most mercurial. Introduced as a almost Hamlet-like character who bemoans his
fate in life, the victim of unrequited love who speaks in oxymorons, Romeo acquiesces to
his loyal friend Benvolio's attempts to distract him, by attending the feast given for
Juliet Capulet. Once there, he becomes the quintessential romantic who is dazzled by
Juliet, who "doth teach the torches to burn." With the bravado of love,
he recklessly, scales the walls of the Capulet orchard just to see "his love," whom he
describes in metaphor and images of light.
Impulsively,
then, after receiving Juliet's declaration of love, Romeo rushes to Friar Laurence's
cell, demanding that the priest perform the marriage of him and Juliet. This assertive
personality is exhibited later, after Romeo leaves the marriage bed of Juliet only to
encounter the enraged Tybalt.
At first, Romeo tries to
explain to Tybalt that he no longer harbors antipathy for him, but Tybalt does not
understand and continues his duel with Mercutio, slaying him. Then, Romeo becomes
disgusted with himself, saying he has become weak and "womanish." Enraged, he kills
Tybalt to avenge the death of his friend Mercutio. However, when he learns that he is
banished by the Prince, Romeo flings himself on the floor before Friar Laurence who
accuses him of acting like a girl as he melodramatically exclaims that he will be in
hell if he cannot be with Juliet.
In the last two acts of
the play, Romeo loses his weakness in acts of defiance against fate as he returns to
Verona in order to be with Juliet, even in death. Now a desperate man, Romeo slays
Paris, whom he suspects of desecrating Juliet's tomb. Yet, there is one constant in
this impulsive, mercurial character and that is his fidelity to his love,
Juliet.
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