Explore the Attitude of Each of the Four Young Men (benvolio, Mercutio, Tybalt and Romeo) Involved in Act 3 Scene 1

Explore the attitude of each of the four young men (Benvolio, Mercutio, Tybalt and Romeo) involved in Act 3 Scene 1, referring very closely to the words and actions of each.

Act 3 Scene 1 can be seen as a turning point in the play of Romeo and Juliet as a whole. It is at this point that things start to go badly wrong resulting in the death of Mercutio and Tybalt. It might be thought that the four young men in the scene were to blame. I will explore each of the characters in turn to try and reach a conclusion.

Benvolio is perhaps the only character who is against fighting. This is first shown when he tries to stop the fight between the Montague and Capulet servants at the beginning of the play.

Part, fools!

Put up your swords; you know not what you do.

(1.1.62-63)

Then at the beginning of Act 3 Scene 1, Benvolio tries to persuade Mercutio to get off the streets:

I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire:

The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,

(3.1.1-2)

This quotation shows how Benvolio is worried about the prospect of a fight with the Capulets. He also realises that the heat of the day may cause tempers to flare up. Benvolio's own temper survives very well, despite Mercutio's constant provocation. Instead of quarrelling with Mercutio, he humours him.

Am I like such a fellow?

(3.1.9)

He knows that it is not he but Mercutio who is really the confrontational one.

When Tybalt arrives and starts to quarrel with Mercutio, Benvolio once again tries to act as the peacemaker.

Either withdraw unto some private place,

And reason coldly of your grievances,

(3.1.44-45)

However Mercutio and Tybalt ignore Benvolio. Benvolio stands powerless as Mercutio and Tybalt fight. He is too frightened to break up the fight, in contrast to his friend Romeo who steps between them.

When Tybalt stabs Mercutio, Benvolio, like Romeo, is slow to understand the severity of Mercutio's wound:

What, art thou hurt?

(3.1.84)

Benvolio does not think that Tybalt would have inflicted a serious wound on Mercutio.

However once Benvolio realises that "brave Mercutio's dead" (3.1.107), he no longer shows his usual peacemaking attitude, perhaps because he is distressed. He does not warn Romeo against fighting Tybalt. And when Tybalt falls, he is more concerned about protecting his friend Romeo than about the fact that two men lie dead:

Romeo, away, be gone!

The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.

(3.1.123-124)

At this point, the Watch arrive, closely followed by the Prince and the two families. Benvolio explains what has happened:

Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay;

Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink ...

(3.1.143-144)

Here, Benvolio seems to be defending Romeo "that spoke him fair". Later, however, Benvolio speaks of Tybalt more favourably:

... was stout Tybalt slain.

(3.1.164)

On this occasion, Benvolio seems to be attempting to present a fair view. However Benvolio is perhaps just trying to impress the Prince.

All in all, Benvolio fails rather miserably in his attempts to stop the other three young men from fighting. It is possible that a rather more forceful Benvolio might have been able to avert the catastrophe.

Mercutio, in complete contrast to Benvolio, is a very argumentative character. He does not want to be seen to be within the normal conventions of society. This is mirrored by the fact that, unlike the other characters who speak in blank verse, he usually speaks in prose:

Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as

any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as

soon moody to be moved.

(3.1.11-13)

Mercutio's use of prose shows that he does not like to be like others,