Mercutio Love Analysis

Mercutio and Romeo: Contrasting Views of Love

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the interpretations of love held by the character Romeo contrast greatly with the views of Mercutio. Mercutio is very dramatic and hot headed. His perceptions are vibrant and hasty, categorized by detailed thought and cautious evaluation. Romeo, ideal to his character begins his entrance in the play by self-pitying in his depression over Rosaline who does not return his love:

ROMEO. Why, such is love’s transgression.

Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,

Which thou wilt propagate to have it pressed

With more of thine. This love that thou hast shown

Doth add more grief to too much of mine own.

Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs;

Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes;

Being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears.

What is it else? A madness most discreet,

A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.

Farewell, my coz. (1. 1. 192-202)

The references Romeo uses to “fire” and “sea” portray more desire rather than love. Romeo visualizes himself as distorted to his situation, “Doth add more grief to too much of mine own” (1.1.196). He shows that he’s showering himself with self-pity and only pardons to forgive his faults because, he is still rather young. Whereas, if Romeo were an older character, I believe that the audience wouldn’t forgive him so easily being heartbroken over Rosaline. Mercutio's hotheadedness assists to deliver a contrast to which Romeo can be ingratiated.

MERCUTIO. And to sink in it should you burden love—

Too great oppression for a tender thing.

ROMEO. Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,

Too rude, too boist’rous, and it pricks like thorn. (1.4.23-26)

Romeo’s presentation of love i...

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...eo, bonjour. There’s a French salutation to your French slop. You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night. (2.4.39-47)

Above in the passage, the opening line ends with ‘flesh, flesh” that shows the realism that Mercutio displays. It references Romeo of being empowered, consumed, and taken over by love by comparing him to a “dried herring”.

In conclusion, Romeo and Mercutio hold dissimilar views on love by, thinking that one’s representation is greater to the other. It’s is rather difficult because, none of their perspectives saved them from their deaths. These two characters display such superior dramatic foils to one another, and bring an understanding picture of events within the play. Shakespeare used character foils greatly to depict how even though characters might have a strong friendship, their views on certain issues would always remain different.