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Benvolio is the peace loving cousin and good friend of Romeo. Honest and good natured, it has been hinted that he has a short temper. Benvolio does not know that Romeo is in love with Juliet, and spends much of the first two acts comforting Romeo over Rosaline.
Prince Escalus is the Prince of Verona and kinsmen to Paris and Mercutio. Only wanting peace in his town, he is fed up with the Montague-Capulet battle, and will do whatever is necessary to keep the peace.
Tybalt is the short tempered cousin of Juliet. He loves to fight and will gladly kill and Montague in the name of Capulet.
Mercutio, friend of Romeo, is a relative of the Prince. He enjoys having fun, and is not afraid to mock others. He is annoyed with Romeo's constant talk of romance, and encourages Romeo to return to his social self. He dies by the end of the third act.
This quote expresses Mercutio's opinion on love. He tells Romeo that if love is giving you trouble, then fight and resist it. His belief to just immediately give up if something gives you trouble shows his lack of commitment,
As Tybalt himself said, he hates peace, and would rather fight than let things pass calmly.
"If love be rough with you, be rough with love;
Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down,"
- Act I, scene iv, lines 27-28
" What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word,
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:
Have at thee, coward!"
- Act I, scene i, lines 72-74
In this scene, Lord and Lady Montague and Benvolio come across a very depressed Romeo. He offers to talk to Romeo and find out the cause of his melancholy demeanor. Her, he shows that he wants to help his cousin feel better.
Prince Escalus calls his subjects beasts when he chastise them for fighting. This illustrates his hatred for the Capulet-Montague feud which causes chaos to the town.
"See, where he comes: so please you step aside;
I'll know his grievance, or be much denied"
- Act I, scene i, lines 164-165
"Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,—
Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts,
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple fountains issuing from your veins,
...
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart."
- Act I, scene i, lines 89-111
"This, by his voice, should be a Montague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave
Come hither, cover'd with an antic face,
To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?
Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,
To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin."
- Act I, scene v, lines 59-64
As soon as he recognized Romeo in the party, Tybalt immediately resorts to violence. His choices are affected by his emotions (mainly his hatred for the Montagues.)
This line is spoken by a citizen, proving that not only does Escalus acknowledge his position, but the citizens recognize him as the Prince of Verona."
"Up, sir, go with me;
I charge thee in the Prince's name, obey."
- Act III, scene i, lines 150-151
Mercutio's commentary during this scene, as well as most of his other appearances have him ridiculing other characters. His jests are very witty, full of puns, and at one point, he taunts the nurse with a song. His lively dialogues are an iconic part of his character
"Good Peter, to hide her face, for her fan's
the fairer of the two."
- Act II, scene iv, lines 112-113
Act III opens with Benvolio pleading to Mercutio and trying to convince him to leave the square. He doesn't want another fight to start which is inevitable should the two families meet since the hot weather tends to make people short-tempered.
His pleas illustrate his desire for peace and calm.
"I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire:
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,
And, if we meet, we shall not 'scape a brawl;
For now these hot days is the mad blood stirring."
- Act III, scene i, lines 1-4
Mercutio is chatting with Benvolio, and ridicules Tybalt's fencing, but through verbal irony, he ends up praising him. Due to his love for fighting, Tybalt became a master of fencing.
" More than Prince of Cats, I can tell you. O, he is
the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as
you sing prick-song, keeps time, distance, and
proportion; rests me his minim rest, one, two, and
the third in your bosom: the very butcher of a silk
button, a duellist, a duellist; a gentleman of the
very first house, of the first and second cause:
ah, the immortal passado! the punto reverso! the
hai!"
- Act II, scene lines 20-27
By sending Romeo into exile, Prince Escalus compromises Lord Montague's and Lady Capulet's pleas. This prevented any unnecessary chaos.
"And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence:
I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,
...
Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill."
- Act III, scene i, lines 202-213
When Mercutio and Benvolio encounter Tybalt in the square, Mercutio immediately has the urge to fight him. Despite the fact that Tybalt is only looking for Romeo and that the Prince explicitly explainded that there will be no more fights, Mercutio is adamant for a one. Mercutio is willing to go against his relative's words just to satisfy his own needs.
"And but one word with one of us?
couple it with something; make it a word and a blow."
- Act III, scene i, 40-42
In the same scene, Benvolio is trying to reason with Mercutio and Tybalt. His purpose is to avoid another conflict since he remembers Prince Escalus' warning. Though he does suggest fighting in a discreet area, he is trying his best to enforce the Prince's warning.
"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."
- Act III, scene i, lines 52-55
In this scene, Prince Escalus is trying to assess the situation. He makes an agenda and follows through with it. Organizing is part of his duty as the Prince of Verona.
"Seal up the mouth of outrage for a while, 3190
Till we can clear these ambiguities,
And know their spring, their head, their
true descent;
And then will I be general of your woes,
And lead you even to death: meantime forbear, 3195
And let mischance be slave to patience.
Bring forth the parties of suspicion.
- Act V, scene iii, lines 238-235
Tybalt's main characteristic is his love for fighting. He would never back down from a fight. Whether he started it (in most cases) or if challenged, he will gladly duel to the death.
"I am for you."
- Act III, scene i, line 86
When Romeo refuses to fight, Mercutio is furious. Instead of passively accepting Romeo's rejection, Mercutio wants a fight. He trades placidity for the thrill of violence.
"O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
Alla stoccata carries it away.
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?"
- Act III, scene i, lines 76-78
Benvolio's line (as well as his next few) involve him explaining situation to the Prince. Both the Prince and the Montagues know that Benvolio has a reputation for being honest. He will always state the truth when asked to. His honesty portrays his responsibility in relaying events without a bias.
"O noble Prince, I can discover all
The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl:
There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,
That slew thy kinsmen, brave Mercutio."
- Act III, scene i, lines 153-156