Key Quotes

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Key Quotes - Mercutio (Acts 1-2)

Here are key quotes from Mercutio in Acts 1-2:

Act 1, Scene 4

'If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.'
- This quote highlights the difference in personalities between Romeo and Mercutio. Romeo is a romantic and loves the idea of love; Mercutio feels that love is momentary (lasts moments) and purely sexual – he does not take love seriously.

Act 2, Scene 1

'I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes… her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh.'
- Again, Mercutio shows that he does not take Romeo’s romantic feelings seriously at all. Instead, he makes crude (rude, in a sexual way) comments about Rosaline’s body. This strengthens the idea that he thinks of women as sexual objects and does not really think about love.
- He says this after Romeo has met Juliet. It is interesting that Romeo does not tell his best friend about Juliet. So here, Mercutio still thinks that Romeo is in love with Rosaline.

Key Quotes - Mercutio (Act 3)

Here are key quotes from Mercutio in Act 3:

Act 3, Scene 1

'Dishonourable, vile submission'
- Tybalt insults Romeo by calling him a 'villain'. During the Elizabethan era, this word was very insulting to someone’s honour.
- We would expect a man at this time to reply and defend himself. Mercutio steps in and fights Tybalt because Romeo does not defend his honour. This fight leads to Mercutio’s death.

Act 3, Scene 1

'A plague o’ both your houses.'
- Mercutio fights to defend his best friend’s honour. This is part of the reason why Mercutio wishes a 'plague' on both families as he dies.
- The noun 'plague' has very negative connotations. England had experienced several waves of bubonic plague. The plague killed thousands of people.
- So, Mercutio wishing such a horrible fate on these two families adds to the tragedy. Even Romeo’s best friend (and an ally of the Montagues) has had enough of the feuding (fighting).

1Context

1.1Context

1.1.1Tragedy & Setting

1.1.2Relationships

1.1.3Religion & Fate

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context

2Plot Summary

3Key Characters

3.1Romeo

3.1.1First Impressions & Juliet's Effect

3.1.2Character Development

3.1.3Reactions & Key Quotes

3.2Juliet

3.2.1First Impressions & Character Development

3.2.2Tragic Character

3.2.3Key Quotes

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Romeo & Juliet

3.3Mercutio

3.3.1Characterisation

3.3.2Key Quotes

3.4The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt

3.4.1The Nurse

3.4.2Benvolio

3.4.3Tybalt

3.5Friar Laurence

3.5.1Characterisation

3.5.2Key Quotes

3.5.3End of Topic Test- Mercutio, Nurse & Benvolio

3.5.4End of Topic Test - Tybalt & Friar Laurence

3.6Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.2Grade 9 - Key Characters: Extract Analysis

4Key Themes & Concepts

4.1Power & Danger of Love

4.1.1Romeo's Loves

4.1.2Friendship & Family

4.1.3Violent Love

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Love

4.2Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.1Violence, Conflict & Suicide

4.2.2Exam-Style Questions - Violence & Death

4.2.3Fate & Destiny

4.2.4Gender

4.2.5End of Topic Test - Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.6Grade 9 - Key Themes

5Writing Techniques

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Language, Rhythm & Rhyme

5.1.2Symbolism & Imagery

5.1.3Dramatic Irony & Soliloquys

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

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