Romeo and Juliet

Throughout the works of William Shakespeare, the main character is complemented with another character that acts or serves as the protagonist’s foil. In Romeo & Juliet, the protagonist, Romeo, is fickle, idealistic, impractical and naпve. To balance Romeo as a character, Shakespeare creates Mercutio; a good friend of Romeo’s who acts as his conscience. While Romeo has an idealistic perspective of the world and more specifically of love, Mercutio balances Romeo’s weak points as a dreamer. Mercutio is pragmatic, sensible, and clever and a master on word play. Throughout the play, Mercutio mocks Romeo’s naпve and ridiculous fascination with love. Early in the play, Romeo goes on and on about his deep infatuation with the beautiful Rosaline. Come night at the Capulet ball, Romeo ‘falls’ in love with Juliet. Romeo’s inconsistency ultimately brings him to his demise. Shakespeare utilizes this literary device of creating two extreme characters to draw the characters and to complement each other and make them their own.

The first instance of this relationship that exists between Romeo and Mercutio is evident in ACT 1, SCENE 4. Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio are headed to the Capulet’s party. While Romeo is idealistic in his