In-class writing
Part one --
In Act 3 Scene 1 who is really responsible for Mercutio’s death: Mercutio, who provoked the fight, Tybalt who stabbed him, or Romeo who got between them? Use specific evidence (direct quotes) from the play to back this up.
In my opinion, Romeo is responsible for Mercutio's death. At first, Tybalt comes and asks to talk with Romeo and insults him by saying, "thou art a villain". Romeo wasn't angered by him and just asked him not to fight, to keep the peace. Tybalt doesn't agree with him and just wanted to fight with him. However, Mercutio was outraged and challenged Tybalt by asking Tybalt to fight with him. Tybalt can't stand such an embarrassment and started to fight with Mercutio. The fight was a tie and no one could hurt another. Nevertheless, Romeo doesn't want any conflict between Montagues and Capulet. Therefore, Romeo went between the two and held Mercutio so that he can't fight with Tybalt anymore. Just at that moment, Tybalt raised his sword and stabbed Mercutio. After that, Tybalt ran away. When Benvolio and Romeo asked Mercutio if he's ok, he said"a scratch, a scratch." However, he knew that it was not just a scratch. Mercutio was very sad, and even more disappointed by Romeo. He said to Romeo and Benvolio, "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man." He also said to Romeo, "Why the dev'I came you between us? I was hurt under your arm." He was soo said. He balmed Romeo for stopping him to fight Tybalt. If Romeo didn't go and hold him, he could even kill Tybalt instead of being hurt by Tybalt. In my opinion, it was Romeo's fault because he could have had some other ways to stop the fighting and let the two separate without hurting them to the death. Romeo wasn't supposed to let Mercutio started the fight either.
Part two --
How would you stage this as a director? Be specific.
If I was the director of the scene, I would make the fight be in an open space and have the characters have enough space to move around and actually fight angrily to show how big the conflict of the two families is. The music would be aggressive with a fast pace so that people can feel the extreme tension among the characters too. The color of the scene will be mostly dark color to emphasize the sadness and hatred included in the scene. I would also like to insert some scenes where Romeo and Benvolio go and physically try to stop the fight before Romeo go and hold Mercutio to stop him from fighting. In that way, the audience can actually see how much Romeo want the fight to stop and remain peaceful. Standing and yelling at the people doesn't help and makes Romeo seem not wise and not caring enough. After Tybalt was hurt, I'd like to change the music to a slow, sad song. And I will DEFINITELY let Romeo show more of his sadness towards Mercutio's death. The lights will eventually fade away to show the lost of Mercutio's life too. Then, the scene changes and Romeo go and revenge for Mercutio.
In Act 3 Scene 1 who is really responsible for Mercutio’s death: Mercutio, who provoked the fight, Tybalt who stabbed him, or Romeo who got between them? Use specific evidence (direct quotes) from the play to back this up.
In my opinion, Romeo is responsible for Mercutio's death. At first, Tybalt comes and asks to talk with Romeo and insults him by saying, "thou art a villain". Romeo wasn't angered by him and just asked him not to fight, to keep the peace. Tybalt doesn't agree with him and just wanted to fight with him. However, Mercutio was outraged and challenged Tybalt by asking Tybalt to fight with him. Tybalt can't stand such an embarrassment and started to fight with Mercutio. The fight was a tie and no one could hurt another. Nevertheless, Romeo doesn't want any conflict between Montagues and Capulet. Therefore, Romeo went between the two and held Mercutio so that he can't fight with Tybalt anymore. Just at that moment, Tybalt raised his sword and stabbed Mercutio. After that, Tybalt ran away. When Benvolio and Romeo asked Mercutio if he's ok, he said"a scratch, a scratch." However, he knew that it was not just a scratch. Mercutio was very sad, and even more disappointed by Romeo. He said to Romeo and Benvolio, "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man." He also said to Romeo, "Why the dev'I came you between us? I was hurt under your arm." He was soo said. He balmed Romeo for stopping him to fight Tybalt. If Romeo didn't go and hold him, he could even kill Tybalt instead of being hurt by Tybalt. In my opinion, it was Romeo's fault because he could have had some other ways to stop the fighting and let the two separate without hurting them to the death. Romeo wasn't supposed to let Mercutio started the fight either.
Part two --
How would you stage this as a director? Be specific.
If I was the director of the scene, I would make the fight be in an open space and have the characters have enough space to move around and actually fight angrily to show how big the conflict of the two families is. The music would be aggressive with a fast pace so that people can feel the extreme tension among the characters too. The color of the scene will be mostly dark color to emphasize the sadness and hatred included in the scene. I would also like to insert some scenes where Romeo and Benvolio go and physically try to stop the fight before Romeo go and hold Mercutio to stop him from fighting. In that way, the audience can actually see how much Romeo want the fight to stop and remain peaceful. Standing and yelling at the people doesn't help and makes Romeo seem not wise and not caring enough. After Tybalt was hurt, I'd like to change the music to a slow, sad song. And I will DEFINITELY let Romeo show more of his sadness towards Mercutio's death. The lights will eventually fade away to show the lost of Mercutio's life too. Then, the scene changes and Romeo go and revenge for Mercutio.
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