TYBALT:Gentlemen, good den. A word with one of you
MERCUTIO:And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something, make it a word and blow.
TYBALT:You will find me apt enough to that, Sir. And you will give me occasion.
MERCUTIO:Can you not take some occasion without giving?
TYBALT:Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo.
MERCUTIO:Consort'st with Romeo. What? Dost thou make us minstrels of us? Thou make minstrels of us! Look to hear nothing but discords Oh, here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make you dance Come, consort!
BENVOLIO:We talk here in the public haunt of men. Either withdraw unto some private place or reason, coldly of your grievances, or else depart, here all eyes gaze on us.
MERCUTIO:Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.
TYBALT:Well, peace be with you, Sir: here comes my man. Romeo! The love I bear thee can afford no better term than this. Thou art a villian.
ROMEO:Tybalt. The reason that I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting. Villain am I none, therefore farewell. I see thou know'st me not.
TYBALT:Boy, that does not excuse the injuries thou hast done me therefore turn and draw.
ROMEO:I do protest. I never injured thee, But love thee better than thou canst devise. Till thou shalt know the reason of my love. And so, good Capulet, which name I tender as dearly as my own be satisfied.
MERCUTIO:O calm, dishonourable, vile submission. Tybalt! You rat catcher. Will you walk?
TYBALT:What wouldst thou have with me?
MERCUTIO:Nothing, good king of cats. but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal. Come, Sir. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.
ROMEO:Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
MERCUTIO:Naughty boy.
MERCUTIO:Ah, come Sir. Your passado.
TYBALT:Oh, I am for you.
ROMEO:Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons. Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage! Hark. Friends! Friends! Part.
ROMEO:The prince expressly hath Forbidden bandying in Verona streets Halt Tybalt. Good Mercutio.
MERCUTIO:I'm hurt. A plague o' both your houses. I am sped. What? Is he gone and hath nothing?
ROMEO:What? Art thou hurt?
MERCUTIO:Ay, a scratch, a scratch Marry, tis enough. Where is my page? Villain, go fetch a surgeon
ROMEO:Courage, man;the hurt cannot be much.
MERCUTIO:No. No. 'tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church door, but it's enough. 'Twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow and you'll find me a grave man. Grave… A plague on both your houses!
MERCUTIO:What? A dog, a cat, a mouse, a rat? Scratch a man to death. a braggart, a rogue, a, a thief, a villain, that fights by the book of arithmetic! Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.
ROMEO:I thought all for the best.
MERCUTIO:Help me into some house, Benvolio, or I shall faint. A plague on both your houses. They have made worms' meat of me I have it! And soundly too
MERCUTIO:Your houses.
Young men from the Montague and Capulet families fight with tragic consequences.
Romeo tries to stop the brawl but Tybalt fatally wounds Mercutio.
Mercutio dies cursing both their families.
This short film is from the BBC series, Shakespeare Unlocked.
Teacher Notes
This is a key scene which marks the turning point in the play from which a series of tragic events lead to Romeo and Juliet's ultimate demise.
The scene enforces the themes that run throughout the play.
Remind students that the contrasting themes of love and hate run through the play. How are they highlighted in this scene?
Ask students to read through the scene and highlight all the words that relate to love in one colour, and those which relate to hate in another.
Then ask students to look in detail at the exchange between Tybalt and Romeo starting from the line, “Romeo, the love I bear thee…”.
Why does Romeo say that he loves Tybalt? What is the effect of Romeo's 'love' on the scene? And on Mercutio?
In this scene, although Mercutio is mortally wounded, he jokes about his injury.
Discuss with students how they would react to an injury like this.
Why does Mercutio apparently take it so lightly and how does this affect Romeo and Benvolio's reactions to his state?
Why do they think Shakespeare chose to put in these jokes?
What does it suggest about the environment of Verona and the way its young men behave?
Ask students to discuss Mercutio cursing both houses.
What effect does it have on the other characters, as well as on us, the audience, when he curses Romeo's family as well as Tybalt's?
This short film is suitable for teaching GCSE English literature and drama in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 4/ 5 in Scotland.
More from Shakespeare Unlocked - Romeo and Juliet
Act 3, Scene 1 - Death of Mercutio (workshop) video
Michael Fentiman discusses ambiguity in Shakespeare’s text. Does Tybalt intend to kill Mercutio?
Act 3, Scene 1 - Spoiling for a fight (workshop) video
The company discuss Shakespeare’s language and the reason for the fight.
Act 3, Scene 5 - Juliet is abandoned (workshop) video
The actors look at how Juliet becomes isolated from her mother, her father and her nurse.
About the 2011 RSC production. video
The cast discuss acting, directing and prop choices for this production.
Act 2, Scene 2 - Juliet's soliloquy (workshop) video
Mariah Gale and Sam Troughton explore the problem of Romeo’s name and Juliet’s solution.
Act 2, Scene 2 - Lovers unite (workshop) video
Romeo puts his life in danger by entering the Capulet orchard. Mariah Gale and Sam Troughton explore differing ways of playing the scene.
Act 2, Scene 2 - Romeo's soliloquy (workshop) video
Sam Troughton discusses how Romeo has no plan once he is discovered in the Capulet garden.
Act 2, Scene 2 - The Balcony. video
Romeo steals into the Capulet garden to find Juliet on her balcony, talking to herself.
