Subjects:
He does various things during the course of the play to restrict Romeo and Juliet being together. He challenges various other characters such as Benvolio and the lead character Romeo. I will consider in particular the aggression of Tybalt and the determination of his nature. Tybalt also has a huge effect on the audience via his actions and his conversation almost makes the audience fear his next appearance. Without Tybalt’s presence Romeo and Juliet may have had a better chance to be together.
The first scene in which we meet Tybalt is Act 1 Scene 1 in which Tybalt acts very aggressively and it is clear to the audience that Tybalt shall be a main catalyst.
The first few lines he uses are insulting by describing his servants as ‘heartless hinds’
This implies that the servants are like female servants squabbling and that Benvolio is one for associating with
. . .
The audience also learns that Tybalt comes from the Capulet family which is in rivalry with the House of Montague – Romeo and Benvolio’s House.
Within the ball a Montague, Romeo, asks a serving man if he knows the name of a particular fair lady.
Tybalt gives up his argument with the Lord but his last words were
“I will withdraw, but this intrusion now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall”
Tybalt may have withdrawn under the authority of the Lord, but with Romeo’s intrusion he shall not forget, and is compelled by his passion to actively seek revenge and shall not rest until Romeo is injured or killed for this intrusion on him personally, or his family. A villain that is hither come in spite, to scorn at our solemnity this night”
This implies that Romeo has come to mock the Capulet’s when he is there in a spirit of love, compared to Tybalt’s instant assumption toward hate.
“Come hither; covered with an antic face to flee and scorn at our solemnity?”
which shows that Romeo’s being there is an intrusion, merely to scorn and sneer at their celebration, while Romeo is only entranced by Juliet’s beauty and can see nothing else. Tybalt also says:
“Turn thee, Benvolio, Look upon thy death” which suggests that Benvolio has no hope of beating Tybalt in a duel. This also questions Benvolio’s masculinity which in
13th Century Verona would be one of the worst insults you could say. Put up thy sword or manage it to part these men with me.
Further, from this moment on, the audience are now primed to expect Tybalt to be a catalyst for potentially violent events in future interaction between the family schisms.
Shortly afterwards, Tybalt says
“Fetch me my rapier, boy”
Rapier meaning sword indicates that this scene is going to be dramatically exciting, making the audience anticipate his future actions. This is evidence that Tybalt believes that actually killing Romeo is not a crime, even before God.
The next time we encounter Tybalt in the play is Act 1 Scene 5 in the Great Hall in the Capulet’s mansion where Lord Capulet is hosting a ball in which everyone is welcome but the Montagues. ”
This quotation shows us that Tybalt has no intention of helping him, shortly after says
“Have at thee coward” which insults Benvolio again and then Tybalt attacks him.
Essay's Topics
All research is for reference purposes only.