The Death of Mercutio

The scene which I found to be the most interesting because of it's endless supply of male bravado was Act 3 Scene I wherein Tybalt and Mercutio duel.  Tybalt comes looking for Romeo but, of course, Mercutio has some choice words to say to him in order to spark the powder keg between the two families.  After Tybalt asks Mercutio about Romeo's whereabouts, Mercutio answers by saying, "Here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make you dance. Zounds, consort!" (III,i,47-8).  I have found that Mercutio's rapier wit only makes the play more entertaining, but, in this case, it gets him into trouble.  When using the word "fiddlestick", Mercutio is no doubt referring to his penis, a reference frequently present in this play when male characters mock one another.  I find it amusing yet somewhat childish that a man, who knows what he's getting in to by taunting Tybalt, a notoriously short-fused member of the rival family, would mock him in reference to the male genitalia.  Although Mercutio is sticking up for his good friend Romeo, it is interesting to note that he is member of neither of the feuding families, but rather a kinsman of the Prince of Verona.  I find this interesting because Mercutio, a relative of the Prince who decreed the penalty of death for anyone causing trouble between the two families, knowingly instigates Tybalt in a sword fight.  This scene shows the pinnacle of male pride in the play, with Mercutio using his witty comments to lure the fiery Tybalt in to an altercation even though Tybalt doesn't initially wish to fight him.

Another interesting point in this scene comes after Tybalt wounds Mercutio and runs away, leaving the wounded Mercutio with Romeo and Benvolio.  Mercutio, after fighting Tybalt and accosting Romeo for his lack of masculinity when he chose not to engage in the duel, curses Romeo as well as both of the feuding families by saying, "A plague a both your houses!... Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm" (III,i,98-102).  After questioning Romeo's manliness and fighting for him, I find it deplorable how Mercutio is able to blame his wound on Romeo trying to stop the duel.  It is also interesting that Mercutio curses both the Capulets and the Montagues, yet he knew that the duel would end in one of two ways once he provoked Tybalt.  Mercutio, to me, is the most interesting character because of his intricacies and witty tongue, as well as the fact that he sides with the Montagues even though he has no blood connection with either family.  Although he instigates the fight knowing what the result would be, insults Romeo's masculinity, and blames him for getting wounded himself, the fact remains that Mercutio stuck up for Romeo in a duel which was set to ensue no matter who was involved, and he ended up giving his life for his best friend.