The sharp clangs of the shiny, metal swords sound throughout the still air. One sword is fueled by burning anger, while the other is merely moving in self-defense, not choosing to cause such a racket. There is always going to be people in the world who are nothing alike… and many times those people don’t get along. A prime example of this is Tybalt and Benvolio, two characters in one of the world's most well-known tragedies. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio, a kindhearted peacemaker, and Tybalt, an impulsive swordsman, are character foils because of how their opposite traits complement each other.
The first character mentioned is Benvolio, a character who possesses a tranquil and caring attitude. When Benvolio happened to
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Almost directly after Benvolio put a stop to the fighting, Tybalt replied with, “What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, / As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. / Have at thee coward!” (1.1, 60-63). Tybalt distinctly states that he despises peace, something that Benvolio holds very dear. And directly after he mentions this, he continues with stating all of the other things he despises and then commands Benvolio to fight him. Tybalt is constantly out looking for an argument, and any excuse he can find to use his sword. Although Tybalt’s constant anger can be a bit unsettling, it is extremely crucial in this tragedy, as is Benvolio’s tranquil …show more content…
In fact, without it, many of the major plot lines would be incredibly different if Benvolio pertained some of Tybalt’s rage or if Tybalt shared some of Benvolio’s peace. Before Benvolio and Mercutio come upon Tybalt one afternoon, Benvolio tries to get out of it and mentions, “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 mad blood stirring.” (3.1, 1-4). Benvolio had prior knowledge that as Montagues, him and Mercutio would manage to get into a fight if they tried to stay where they were, surrounded by Capulets. He wanted to possibly escape the repercussions of what said fight might entail. However, Tybalt had very different plans. He purposely went looking for the two Montagues and started a brawl which, of course, resulted in Mercutio’s death. This death is a crucial part in the tragedy, for it is when Romeo causes another death, Tybalt’s, which gets him banished from Verona. Therefore, without this said character foil, none of this would have ever happened, and the plot line would drastically
Throughout the play Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare in the 16th century, there is consistent theme of conflict featured in terms of both mental, physical and emotional means. The way this dispute is embodied throughout the duration of the play alternates subject to subject to the character in question- but can be represented through many means.
Tybalt is related to Juliet, and is naturally a character foil to a relative of Romeo named Benvolio. Tybalt contains a quick temper, and makes a multitude of rash decisions. Tybalt also responds to disrespect with violence, and without much consideration. Benvolio’s name rings true to word that sounds similar:
Benvolio's eagerness to flee is shown in the line, 'I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire.' He makes a big effort to persuade Mercutio to go home as the heat will make them very agitated and there will be a shorter tolerance of each other if they meet the Capulets. Benvolio's explanation of this is shown in the line, "For now these hot days is the mad blood stirring. " Benvolio believes they would have no chance against the Capulets, as shown in the line, And if we meet we shall not escape a brawl.
The line “What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee, coward!” (Shakespeare, page 12) creates a mental picture of Tybalt as a very hateful person. He lets his hate and aggression overpower his common sense, as shown in this line from the Capulet’s Party scene:
When asked by Benvolio to make peace in the streets, Tybalt bluntly responds,” talk of peace, I hate the word. As I hate hell all Montagues.” This is the attitude of Tybalt throughout the play. He believes he is doing all for the best and uses violence as his tool. He gets angry at the ball with Romeo being there, “villain as a guest,” and believes it best to defend his family’s honor by later taking revenge. When Tybalt finds Romeo, he thinks it best to fight him and when he ends up killing Mercutio he believes he has done his duty by causing Romeo the same hurt he has brought Tybalt, “the injuries that thou hast done me.”
As a famous author once said, “You don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.” To clarify, it isn’t necessary to engage in every conflict that is encountered. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt is a truculent and unsympathetic man who tends to take the quarrel between the Capulets and Montagues a step too far. He soon is challenged with a fight he cannot beat. In this tragic play, Tybalt’s tragic flaw of aggressiveness guides him towards a bitter end.
Romeo, Benvolio, Tybalt, and Mercutio often times have their moments, whether they be comedic relief, tense segments, plot fillers, or simple information givers. It is overt Mercutio, Tybalt, and Benvolio is Romeo's best buds and foil. A foil is an opposing character who reveals information or traits about another character, mainly a protagonist. Mercutio is Romeo’s close friend and a blood relative of the Prince and Count Paris, Tybalt is Romeo’s enemy and a Capulet, and Benvolio is a Montague and a sweet one at that. Mercutio’s character arch is often times a jest one. Cracking jokes and teasing Romeo in the opening of the play. He is the one who gives us most of the information about Romeo’s wanted lover Rosalind, and foreshadowing towards
Mercutio can be blamed for Romeo and Juliet’s peril because he initiated the fight with Tybalt and forced Romeo to go to the Capulet’s party. At the beginning of the play, Romeo gets invited to the Capulet’s party by a servant, unless he was a Montague. At first, Romeo did not want to go, but Mercutio eventually convinced him under the pretext that Rosaline, Romeo’s love, was going to be there. The next day, Tybalt, a Capulet, went looking for Romeo because he knew that Romeo was at the Capulet party. Instead, he stumbled upon Mercutio and Benvolio and asked them where he could find Romeo. However, Mercutio did not want to tell him and insisted on having a duel. Tybalt killed Mercutio during the fight, and Romeo kills Tybalt because he has the need to avenge his friend. Unfortunately, Prince Escalus punished Romeo by banishing him from Verona. This made Romeo and Juliet’s love
Shakespeare cunningly gives the audience an early indication of Benvolio’s personality through his name. Benvolio translated literally means “good-will” or “well wisher” a role he consistently fills, although sometimes unsuccessfully throughout the play, striving to keep himself and others around him out of any conflict. In the very first scene of the play, Benvolio quickly establishes himself as the peacemaker as he tries to stop the fight between the Montague and Capulet servants by saying, “Part fools! Put up your swords, you know not what you do.”(I.i.64-65) Wanting peace he warns them to stop arguing before things evolve into a grave situation. In that statement, Shakespeare references the Gospel of Luke “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34), using his skillful use of the written language to allude that Benvolio was taking on a Christ like peacemaker role in the play. Benvolio’s moral convictions do not change over the course of the play. His stance on peace is evident in all three scenes. In Act III, as Mercutio and Tybalt begin to fight, Benvolio once again attempts to be the voice of reason, “We talk here in the public haunt of mean: eithe...
Put up your swords; you know not what. you do” and at saying this he beats down their swords which shows us. that Benvolio doesn’t want to start a brawl between the two houses. Then Tybalt comes in and starts to provoke Benvolio and the servants. and when Benvolio starts talking about putting away their swords and parting Tybalt replies “what!
Tybalt is a Capulet and very passionate about hating the Montagues. In Act 1 Scene 5 when Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio sneak into Capulet’s party, Tybalt recognizes Romeo and begs Lord Capulet to kick him out. “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, / A villain that is hither come in spite / To scorn at our solemnity this night” (1. v. 69-71). Later, Tybalt sees Romeo on the street and tries to fight him, convinced that Romeo has done something to him. Romeo doesn’t want to fight, and Mercutio steps in. Benvolio and Romeo try to stop them, but Mercutio gets fatally wounded. Tybalt’s devotion to his family ended up killing Mercutio, and Tybalt himself later ends up dead because of
Tybalt launched Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other into a downward spiral through his fiery attitude and his hatred for his enemy.
.However,as the play progresses,it becomes noticeable that Benvolio has changed through his character and makes different choices to help his friends,but as the same time deceives them.The text states that,”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 kinsman,brave Mercutio.”(3.1 144-147) Shakespeare forms him to be a leader when situations are not the best between the Capulets and the Montagues;he portrayed beginning when the “civil brawls”(1.1 92) first started breaking out in the streets.
If Romeo had not been banished, Romeo and Juliet would continue living a happy life together. Benvolio witnessed the entire fight, the authorities came, Lady Capulet wants Romeo dead which is completely blowing things out of proportion, and in the end, poor Romeo is banished even though he was defending himself and trying to get justice for his best friend’s heinous death. Lady Capulet states, “Benvolio is part of the Montague family. His loyalties to the Montagues make him tell lies. He’s not telling the truth. There were twenty Montagues fighting in this awful riot, and together those twenty could only kill one man. I demand justice. You, Prince, are the man who can give me justice. Romeo killed Tybalt. Romeo must die” (3.1.153). This proves that because of Tybalt’s actions, Romeo was punished, and unfairly banished from Verona. Only one can imagine what it must feel like to be banished from their love, from their family, from everyone. This fact led to their death. This was not the end of Tybalt’s wrong doings however. He had one more trick up his sleeve, even for being
Who supported the idea of Romeo and Tybalt fighting? Who didn’t defend Mercutio when he was fighting with Tybalt? Benvolio did. Benvolio is the cause of all the deaths in the play “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.” Benvolio didn’t think right when he convinced Romeo to go to the party. He didn’t think of the consequences. Benvolio knew Romeo would fight with Tybalt. He should’ve of thought of the consequences again. Finally, he didn’t try to save Mercutio when he fought. I understand that he is a peaceful gentleman, but sometimes you have to take risks to save