3.3.2

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

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

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

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

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).
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1

Context

1.1

Context

1.1.1Tragedy & Setting1.1.2Relationships1.1.3Religion & Fate1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context1.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Era1.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Location
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Prologue

2.1.1Prologue
2.2

Act 1

2.2.1Scene 12.2.2Scene 1 Quotes2.2.3Scene 22.2.4Scene 32.2.5Scene 42.2.6Scene 52.2.7End of Topic Test - Prologue & Act 1
2.3

Act 2

2.3.1Scenes 1-22.3.2Scene 32.3.3Scene 42.3.4Scenes 5-62.3.5End of Topic Test - Act 2
2.4

Act 3

2.4.1Scene 12.4.2Scene 22.4.3Scenes 3-42.4.4Scene 52.4.5End of Topic Test - Act 3
2.5

Act 4

2.5.1Scene 12.5.2Scenes 2-32.5.3Scenes 4-5
2.6

Act 5

2.6.1Scene 12.6.2Scene 22.6.3Scene 32.6.4Scene 3 - Quotes2.6.5End of Topic Test - Acts 4 & 52.6.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Drugs2.6.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Knowing about the Wed2.6.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Order of Deaths
3

Key Characters

3.1

Romeo

3.1.1First Impressions & Juliet's Effect3.1.2Character Development3.1.3Reactions & Key Quotes3.1.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Age3.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Banishment3.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Naivety
3.2

Juliet

3.2.1First Impressions & Character Development3.2.2Tragic Character3.2.3Key Quotes3.2.4End of Topic Test - Romeo & Juliet3.2.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Real People?3.2.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Montagues vs Capulets
3.3

Mercutio

3.3.1Characterisation3.3.2Key Quotes
3.4

The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt

3.4.1The Nurse3.4.2Benvolio3.4.3Tybalt
3.5

Friar Laurence

3.5.1Characterisation3.5.2Key Quotes3.5.3End of Topic Test- Mercutio, Nurse & Benvolio3.5.4End of Topic Test - Tybalt & Friar Laurence3.5.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - What is a Friar?
3.6

Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.1Grade 9 - Key Characters3.6.2Grade 9 - Key Characters: Extract Analysis
4

Key Themes & Concepts

4.1

Power & Danger of Love

4.1.1Romeo's Loves4.1.2Friendship & Family4.1.3Violent Love4.1.4End of Topic Test - Love
4.2

Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.1Violence, Conflict & Suicide4.2.2Exam-Style Questions - Violence & Death4.2.3Fate & Destiny4.2.4Gender4.2.5End of Topic Test - Violence, Fate & Gender4.2.6Grade 9 - Key Themes4.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Type of Play
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Writing Techniques

5.1.1Language, Rhythm & Rhyme5.1.2Symbolism & Imagery5.1.3Dramatic Irony & Soliloquys5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques5.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Wherefore
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Main Quotes by Act

6.1.1Act 16.1.2Act 26.1.3Act 36.1.4Act 46.1.5Act 5
6.2

Main Quotes by Character

6.2.1Romeo6.2.2Juliet6.2.3Mercutio6.2.4Friar Laurence6.2.5Nurse6.2.6Benvolio6.2.7Tybalt

Practice questions on Key Quotes

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Key Quotes from Mercutio Acts 1-2:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    What does the following statement from Mercutio show?<br> _'I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes… her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh'_ True / false
  3. 3
    Quotes showing how Mercutio speaks about Rosaline:Fill in the list
  4. 4
    What part of Rosaline does Mercutio =not= describe?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    Key Quotes from Mercutio in Act 3: Fill in the list
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Characterisation

The Nurse