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.
Part two --
How would you stage this as a director? Be specific.
Part One --
In the scene where Mercutio is killed (Act 3 Scene 1) I feel that it is his own fault for starting a fight out of nothing in the first place. In the beginning of the scene Benvolio is trying to avoid any violent confrontation and he wants to keep the peace around the two families “I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire.The day is hot, the Capels are abroad,And if we meet we shall not scape a brawl,”(Excerpt From: Shakespeare, William. “Romeo and Juliet Untranslated (Enhanced Edition).” v1.0. The New Book Press, LLC, 2014. iBooks.) Here Benvolio clearly states that he wants them to leave, and warns that it is hot and he is tired but he also fears that because of the heat it will go to their head and they will 'brawl' or fight because of this immense heat. However, Mercutio pokes and stabs at Benvolio with his words to prove that he has no fear of anything coming or going as to cause a fight to break out. When, an enemy to the Montagues, Tybalt, comes into the scene he begins to stab words and emotions at the two so that a fight would break out between them. Tybalt rage, though, is not aimed at Benvolio and Mercutio, he wants Romeo, he wants Romeo because that is the source of Tybalt hate. Because as much as they are still Montagues Romeo is a direct descendant of Lord Montague, so he is far worse than the others. By living, Romeo, to Tybalt, signed his own death certificate. When Romeo comes in to break up the fight and Mercutio ends up being wounded and dying for the anger and hate meant for Romeo he is the one to blame. Because, he pushed Romeo to go to the party, which is where we see Tybalt pick up and assert his hate from Romeo. Mercutio does seem to be an instigator by being the one to start fighting with Tybalt, but he has a lot of ego and pride that he carries, and that load was too heavy for him to put down. While Tybalt, still had this burden he knew how to throw it at any moment in order to become quicker and more nimble in order to win the fight. Mercutio is at fault for his death because he knew going into it that he was fighting an uphill battle that would cause his death, he knew the weight on his shoulders slowed him but even wit that he wanted to prove something, everything else aside. All logic thrown from the window and swiftly the battle began. Mercutio also knew that what he was doing and saying in all of the rest of his life would catch up to him and this is where it did.
Part Two--
If I were to stage this scene, I would have Mercutio stand up on a bench when Tybalt walks in to show that he thinks of himself more, but as the words begging to get thrown I would spotlight Mercutio and Tybalt while having Tybalt rise to stand next to him and Benvolio lower, and hidden more in the dark. They would both then come back to ground level and be on equal plains. I would have a rising volume of music with short staccato notes and when Romeo comes into the scene I would have him and Benvolio share a softer spotlight while the rest of the stage would be dark, as Romeo grew with conviction in his words I would separate his spotlight from Benvolio and brighten it. Then, the music would rise again in volume and the temp would speed. When Mercutio gets stabbed the music would quickly stop and there would be three really bright spotlights, one on Mercutio who would stand for a minute before falling to knees and finally succumbing and collapsing into the ground for death, one on Tybalt who would be shocked for a moment before a smile would grow on his face and he would remove his sword in a villain like manner and back away a few steps, Finally I would have Romeo in another spotlight that would have a red tinge to it to show anger and his grown hate for nothing, he would stand there for a few seconds before backing up by stumbling like he was the one hurt and then his face would change and the whole stage would light up in a flash of red before Romeo begging is anger on Tybalt and revenge would begin.
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