Examples Of Foil Characters In Romeo And Juliet
Romeo Mercutio Character Foil The play Romeo Juliet presents a few specific
character foils. The characters Romeo Mercutio develop a unique foil; Mercutio, the
player, and Romeo, the lover. Both characters have unique characteristics that set
themselves apart, but all in all, bind them together.
Romeo is one of the main characters in the play. Romeo is romantic and has a
passion to love and be loved. He uses words to express his love. Firstly, for
example, in Act 1 Scene 5, If I profane with my unworthiest hand, this holy shrine,
the gentle sin is this; my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand. To smooth that
rough touch with a tender kiss. (W. Shakespeare 837) Romeo longs to be with Juliet,
and in a way, invites her to his love. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He is a player and has a different outlook on love. Primarily, in Act 1 Scene 4,
Mercutio says If love be rough with you, be rough with love; Prick love for
pricking, and you beat love down. (W. Shakespeare 829) He suggests that Romeo
disregard love, and in addition, to have sex to get over it. Also, one possible
reason that Mercutio despises love is that he s possibly heartbroken. Secondly, in
Act 1 Scene 4, he describes Queen Mab as one who gives people what they want,
in her dreams. For example, On courtiers knees, that dream on curtsies straight; O
er lawyers fingers, who straight dream on fees; O er ladies lips, who straight on
kisses dream. (W. Shakespeare 830) These dreams are insignificant, and as a result,
Mercutio tells Romeo about Queen Mab; his dreams about Juliet are insignificant.
Finally, Mercutio is apparently jealous of Romeo. Throughout Romeo and Juliet,
his lines label him as a pessimistic non lover. In Act 2 Scene 4, Mercutio says Alas,
poor Romeo! He is already dead, stabbed with a white wench s black eye, shot
through the ear with a love song, the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow
boy s butt shaft. And is he a man to encounter Tybalt? (W. Shakespeare 858) He
says that of all Romeo has been through, he can t even go up to Tybalt. So, Mercutio
is possibly jealous of Romeo because he can t