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Benvolio and Mercutio are hanging out together. Benvolio suggests they head off because it’s hot and the Capulets are out and about. Mercutio compares Benvolio to somebody who goes to a tavern, a bar, and puts his sword on the table where he prays to God that he won’t need it. Then, after a few drinks, he picks it up and starts a fight with the bartender for no particular reason. Continuing with his mockery of Benvolio’s short temper, Mercutio goes onto mention a bunch of silly, fictional reasons why Benvolio has gotten in fights with people (e.g. a man coughed in the street and woke up Benvolio’s sleeping dog).
Suddenly, the Capulets approach. Tybalt approaches them and asks to talk to one of them. Mercutio jests by asking if he’d like a word and a fight. Tybalt says that if they give him reason, then he would be up for a fight. Mercutio uses his wit to make a jest of Tybalt’s words. Benvolio, the peacekeeper, suggests they leave the public street to talk elsewhere; or, if that’s not going to happen, they should just all leave the area altogether.
Romeo, soon, approaches. Tybalt is quick to call Romeo a villain, but Romeo remarks that he now loves Tybalt. What Tybalt doesn’t know is that they are now cousins (Romeo married Juliet). Romeo decides to leave the scene, probably because he doesn’t want any trouble. Tybalt remarks that Romeo cannot leave the injuries that he dealt so easily. Tybalt, apparently, is still angered at the fact that Romeo attended the Montague party. Romeo remarks that he never injured Tybalt. In fact, Tybalt will soon enough know why Romeo loves him. Romeo now loves the name “Capulet” as much as he loves the name “Montague.”
Mercutio, seeing that Romeo is not going to fight, raises his sword up to Tybalt. Tybalt draws his own sword after Mercutio threatens him. Romeo begs them to stop and he reminds them what the prince has said about fighting in the streets. Seeing that there is no stopping them, Romeo puts himself between the two of them. Tybalt takes advantage of the situation and he’s able to thrust his sword beneath Romeo’s arm and into Mercutio. Tybalt and his entourage are quick to exit.
Mercutio curses them by wishing a plague upon both their households (the Capulets and the Montagues). He wants both sides to suffer for their feud. Benvolio asks Mercutio if he is hurt, and he says that he has been scratched. Romeo says that his wound can’t be too bad. Mercutio, though, says that if they ask for him tomorrow they’ll find him a grave man (a dead man). He curses the households again. Then, he asks Romeo why he stepped between them. Romeo states that he thought it was for the best.
Benvolio helps Mercutio away. Soon after, Benvolio returns with news that Mercutio passed away. Tybalt returns and Romeo immediately begins to duel with him. Tybalt, apparently, cannot win in a fair fight for Romeo kills him dead.
Benvolio urges Romeo to leave since the prince will kill him for his actions. Citizens ask which way Romeo went while the prince approaches. Benvolio, then, tells the prince the truth. He says that Tybalt was slain by Romeo after Tybalt killed Mercutio. The prince was a kinsman of Mercutio and he is, understandably, not happy with his death.
Lady Capulet is the next to enter. She is distraught of the sight of her dead brother’s child (her nephew, Tybalt). Benvolio is asked by the prince who started the fight. He replies using details. He also makes it look like Tybalt was the perpetrator of everything, which is true. Lady Capulet says that Benvolio does not speak the truth. She points out that Benvolio is a kinsman to Montague, after all, and he probably is painting Romeo in a pretty light.
The prince thinks out-loud as what the punishment should be. It is a tricky situation since Tybalt’s murder was justified since he killed Mercutio. Montague enters and defends his son’s action.
The prince has the same blood as Mercutio (they’re relatives) and Tybalt killed him. Romeo then justly killed Tybalt, a murderer. The prince is left without his kinsman Mercutio, but his death was avenged by Romeo. For that reason, the prince decides to go easy on Romeo. The prince decides to banish Romeo from Verona. He warns the Capulets and the Montagues that they will be fined for what took place. He also warns that if Romeo returns, he will find his last hour in Verona (he will be killed).
ROMEO AND JULIET -- ACT III, 1
BROWSE CONTENTS
by William Shakespeare
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