Romeo and Mercutio as Foils
Using Act 1, Scene 4 compare and contrast Romeo and Mercutio. Record your ideas in the chart below and use evidence from the text to
help explain your ideas.
Romeo Mercutio Evidence from the Text
Mercutio attempts to advise Romeo into Romeo Is love a tender thing? It is too
dancing and to avoid thinking about this. He rough,Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks
Upset about Rosaline, still feels melancholy. tells Romeo to be rough with love till he like thorn.
Romeo refuses to take Mercutio’s advice. beats it, as he states…
His sadness overcomes any feeling of Mercutio If love be rough with you, be
happiness or joy, therefore leading him to rough with love. Prick love for pricking, and
refuse dancing. you beat love down.—
Romeo stays consistently fearful about Mercutio is pushing Romeo to go to this Romeo I fear too early, for my mind
the idea of sneaking into the party, he party and dismiss his emotions just to misgives Some consequence yet hanging in
fears that there may be severe have fun. Mercutio is not fearful and the stars
consequences. acts like nothing can stand his way.
Mercutio I mean, sir, in delay. We waste our
lights in vain, like lights by day. Take our
good meaning, for our judgment sits Five
times in that ere once in our five wits.
Romeo does not seem like the type to Mercutio mocks Romeo because he sees Mercutio Tut, dun’s the mouse, the
joke around nor mock his friends, him as a scared timid mouse. Mercutio constable’s own word. If thou art dun, we’ll
because his sadness overshadows any is joking around messing with Romeo draw thee from the mire, Or—save your
other emotions he could feel. trying to encourage him to dance and reverence—love, wherein thou stick’st Up to
the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho!
have fun.
Romeo For I am proverbed with a grandsire
phrase,I’ll be a candle holder, and look
on.The game was ne’er so fair, and I am
done.
Romeo is more the type to not speak a Mercutio says anything that comes to Mercutio’s speech about Queen Mab
lot, I see him as more introverted as he his mind which is evident in his speech which was pretty much irrelevant.
appears to be shy and more insecure. about Queen Mab the fairy.
When Mercutio started to feel strained Mercutio starts to feel strained and Romeo Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace! Thou
and stressed in his speech, Romeo steps stresses out as he gives his speech talk’st of nothing.
in to stop the speech and calm Mercutio about Queen Mab the fairy.
down. Romeo cares about his friends.
Writing:
As you were completing the work above, what did you discover or start to wonder about Romeo as you contrasted him with
Mercutio? Explain your ideas. Be sure to use evidence from the text to explain your ideas.
In the play Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio acts as a foil towards Romeo. In contrast to Romeo, Mercutio is introduced as a
character who is focused on having fun and ignoring ideas of fear, dismissing Romeo’s dark attitude. On the contrary lays
depressed Romeo, shattered due to his love for Rosaline. When Mercutio and Benvolio plan on sneaking to a masquerade, they
are compelled to face Romeo’s fear and worry. Romeo remains consistently doubtful and overwhelmed by his worries and
fears, worrying that severe consequences may emerge at the masquerade, such as death. Opposing to Mercutio, who views
the party as a way to have fun. Mercutio and Romeo’s banter revolve around the concept of mockery; however Romeo’s
emotions overshadow any feelings of happiness: “Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks
like thorn.” Overtime, the audience can infer that Romeo’s persona highlights the themes of melancholy, depression, and
timorous, while Mercutio’s nature centers on the idea of mockery, joy, and taunting.
