Dear Mercutio

At first you would think Mercutio is the voice of reason in this play. He is constantly explaining to others that fighting is not the answer to all problems. However, I think Mercutio is a flip-flopper. In scene one of act three alone, he changes his views of fighting with other in almost a lightening quick pace. Immediately in the first scene of act three, Benvolio talks about fighting with others when there is no fight in sight. Mercutio describes Benvolio someone “that, when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the table…and by the operation of the second cup draws him on the drawer…” (III.i.4-8). Here, Mercutio is stating that after two drinks, Benvolio will be jumping at a sign of a fight with the waiter or with anyone in the matter. Instead, Mercutio is the one that does not need to fight to consider himself a man. When the Capulets arrive, Benvolio becomes excited at the prospect of a fight, and instead Mercuto “care[s] not” (III.i.35).
After the Capulets arrive and dialogue progresses though, Mercutio’s view on fighting seems to change. When Benvolio says that they are in the public eye and should not fight in front of others, he asks that they leave the area. Mercutio then says “I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I” (III.i.54). Romeo then enters, and of course mr. whiny-pants creates even more problems alone. Mercutio though protects Romeo and draws his sword to fight Tybalt so that Romeo would not die or suffer, leaving Juliet to deal with the pain. Tybalt and Mercutio begin fighting, however, Romeo now takes the role of the voice of reason, trying to have the two put the swords down to avoid all fighting. While Romeo tries to intervene, Mercutio is then stabbed by Tybalt. I think in this page alone, Mercutio flip-flops two or three times about the situation. At first, he curses both the Capulets and Montagues for their fighting, complaining of being hurt. Then he tells everyone that it’s just a scratch and he will be around tomorrow. Finally of course, Mercutio says yet another famous line from the play, “A plague a both your houses!” (III.i.105) Mercutio then dies, and I don’t think I ever understood what he wanted from everybody. Stop flip-flopping, and decide to be a man or a coward.