Mercutio

  Mercutio is the most memorable character in the play of Romeo and Juliet. Mercutio's involvement in scenes always contains a cunning, edgy presence to the play. Even though he was killed early on in the play he did many memorable things compared to other characters, his clever sense and wit gave him the ability to distract characters and steal attention in the scenes. Mercutio is a realest and his constant jokes, and jabs at both Romeo's Love and Tybalt's Confidence show both a humorous side but a shadowed opinion of true love and the power of fate being almost nonexistent. Mercutio's most memorable moments was Act 3 Scene 1; the Challenge against Tybalt Prince of the Cats that lead up to the pivotal moment of Mercutio's death. Also Act 1 Scene 4; The Queen Mab Speech.


   The challenge between Mercutio and Tybalt is a memorable part in the play due to the fact that he makes a mockery out of Tybalt in front of his kinsman. In Act 3 Scene 1; Mercutio ridicules Tybalt both directly to him but also indirectly in scene 2 when speaking to Benvolio. The humorous taunts and sarcastic smack talk were sure to be remembered in the play. In this part of the scene Mercutio makes an impression on the crowd that he is a very bold and likable character, using his advantage of not being apart of the Montague or Capulet house.  Act 3 Scene 1 is a memorable part the Mercutio because this is also the scene where his character comes to an end. Mercutio's clever replies, and thirst for violence distracts the audience from the challenge that Tybalt gives Romeo, this scene leads up to the pivotal moment of his death. This is a memorable scene in the play not only because of the at first friendly harrassment but because Mercutio's personality shines through the lines and actions of the play; His actions of fighting for Romeo show a fraternal love yet a disappointment for Romeo. As seen in Act 3 Scene 1: 
Mercutio:
 "Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses! 
They have made worms' meat of me: I have it, 
And soundly too. Your houses! "
This is hinting at the fact that he blames particular people for his death and not a bigger power like Fate.
Some other  examples of his most memorable lines are:
Mercutio :
"And but one word with one of us? couple it withsomething; make it a word and a blow. "
shall use me hereafter, drybeat the rest of the
eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher
by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your
ears ere it be out."

Mercutio:
"Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine 
lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you"

  Although some people may argue and say that Mercutio is not the most memorable character in the play, and that he is not memorable because he is not a main character or involved in memorable scenes like The Balcony Scene in Act 2 Scene 2.  Which makes more profit than the Queen Mab speech, turning the lines of the play into household decor, where as it is less likely to have Queen Mab Quotes in a house.The so called famous scene is the most memorable part of the Play and that Mercutio has no involvement due to the fact that Romeo and Juliet are talking to each other indirectly and directly. Using lines from the play
Romeo:
"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east and Juliet is the sun! 
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief"
Juliet:
"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? "
Juliet:
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose 
By any other name would smell as sweet;"

  Despite the fact that some may argue that Mercutio is not the most memorable character, the Queen Mab speech in Act 1 Scene 4 portrays a different opinion. The famous Queen Mab speech in Romeo and Juliet both shows a realistic and interesting side to Mercutio, a combination for a memorable scene involving a rather memorable character. The Queen Mab speech  truly shows Mercutio's belief and an interesting point of view; although Mercutio is Romeo's friend he mocks the idea of Romeo's love and tells Romeo it is not fate, or a higher power but "Queen Mab". In the 1996 movie of Romeo and Juliet, the Queen Mab is portrayed as ecstasy, a drug that makes you hallucinate and feel sort of bubbly and very affectionate. This is also a representation of what Mercutio is actually trying to say in the speech, he is telling Romeo that Dreams are actually our own selves as human beings tricking us into what we want, that there is no such thing as signs of fate, and that a Dream is simply a figment of our highest desires and imagination.  The hallucinations in the drugs represents the things Romeo see's in dreams and the dreams itself, and all the things he sees is a reflection of what he really wants. The affection you feel from the ecstasy are actually just teenage hormones, like it is when a person dreams of something they are sexually attracted to. There are some examples in the following lines of the Queen Mab speech:
Mercutio:

Through lovers' brains, and then they dream of love;
O'er courtiers' knees, that dream on court'sies straight,
O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees,
O'er ladies o' lips, who straight on kisses dream,
Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues,
Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are: (80)
Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose,
And then dreams he of smelling out a suit;
And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig's tail
Tickling a parson's nose as a' lies asleep,
Then dreams, he of another benefice:

"This is that very Mab
That plats the manes of horses in the night,
And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs,
Which once untangled, much misfortune bodes:
This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,
That presses them and learns them first to bear,
Making them women of good carriage:
This is she--"

   Mercutio is a wild character who often has multiple mood changes; a character with a sharp wit, and humorous tone. Mercutio is a realest in many aspects and the his cunning words sting the people around him, especially young Romeo. These are the factors that make Mercutio the most memorable character in the play, he is not just a joker in the play used for humor relief but has a serious side to himself. Mercutio was the opposing force of fate, the rebelious character who chose not to believe in any of it. Mercutio may not be a main character and have died early on in the play, but he is the most memorable character in Romeo and Juliet.

p.s someone help me with my citing!!!

Essay topics

I have chosen the topic below:
"D) Mercutio is often considered one of Shakespeare's best characters and yet he is killed quite early in this play. Discuss how the relationships Mercutio is in influence his behaviour/choices, and discuss WHY you think so many people (including me) find him interesting and pleasure to watch/read. What do you think Shakespeare would say about his character Mercutio? Would he like him? Would he think he was brave, honourable, immature, ignorant, or wise?"

I chose this topic because I felt everyone would do A or B, and this one really interested me. I think that I chose this because Mercutio is an interesting character, he's not in love or focused on love like most of the people.  I also feel people find him interesting because he's a realist, and neither a Montague or Capulet. He's a crazy person who parties, and fights, doesn't believe in fate.
However I think I can dig deeper into the character of Mercutio and am interested to learn more about the connection between him and the audience.

The second topic I wanted to do was C.

C) Shakespeare often uses characters to summarize the play for the audience (who were often illiterate and inebriated) both at the beginning and the end of the play. Often these characters provide insight into what may be the author's personal position on the topic/theme of the play. Which character in Romeo and Juliet do you think best represents William Shakespeare's possible thoughts on love and relationships? Provide quotes and explanations of your choice, as well a connections to research about Shakespeare's life as a play writ and the complications that provided in sharing his opinions.

What is Love? Perspective of Lady Capulet

Lady Capulets Soliloquy on Love:

 "I don't understand why Juliet is hesitant to wed Paris. I was younger than she, when i concieved her, and I turned out great. I did not lose anything but gain money, and power; I have the best parties and I have enough money to last myself a lifetime. I greatly appreciate my life filled with parties, and luxeries."

 "So why does my daughter not want to wed such a handsome and wealthy man, Paris? Can she not see what fortune it will bring her and our family, she has nothing to lose exactly like me. He is handsome, and she is a beautiful gentlewoman just like I am. She would only make him complete. Doesn't Juliet want to live a divine, elegant life of Status and wealth, what more can she want?"

 "Maybe she actually longs for true love... I wonder what would have happened if I was not married and beared juliet at such a young age. I never truly longed for love but now that I think of it, I'm not sure if I am truly happy with Mr. Capulet. I am happy that I have luxerious parties but what if I actually have a problem. Deep down all the drinking, partying and drugs are what I use to cover up my desire for true hapiness. I just want her to be happy, I wouldn't want her to end up like me but this is important to her father."

 All this thinking is giving me a headache, I need some damn medicine. Where is my Nurse..."

Mid Term Reflection

For the Mid Term It is broken down into 4 parts and then I will acess myself a percentage. 

For the first part it is based on attendance, general self regulation, being on task in class. I think for the most part my attendance is great, I'm always on time for class, and have only missed a 2 or 3 classes because of medical reasons, however when I miss a class I always try to get caught up on things! Here is a proof, the time I wasn't in class but had asked Mr. Neuf right after class what I had missed after looking on edmodo! This shows that even though I'm not at school I can still self regulate myself when it comes to school work.

for this portion i give myself a 23/25.

The next category is based off of assignment completion, From the 15 assignments to due, did I do them? Although there are about 10 posts on my blog, the other assignments were not to be done on the blog but on commenting on the class site, and also in google documents. I have completed all but one commenting assignments posted by Neuf, and also all the ones to do on blogs; although some aren't on my blog i still did them here is proof 

for this I give myself a 24/25

The 3rd part is based off of the wuality of my assignments, have I done my best work? Put effort in? How does it compare with my class mates and how can it improve? With my assignments, I do try and and put effort in, and try anf do my best with each piece of work. Sometimes I don't know if I'm doing my best because English is a easy subject for me and I try pushing myself all the time, and would definitely like to change that, and also trying to structure my posts a bit more, getting more technical. 

I think someone really smart in class Is Anu! and i'm going to compare her work with mine using the tattoo post. and sorry if you're reading this anu I don't want it to be creepy or anything. 

Her post looks like this 

I comend Anu on doing such a great job all the time! Now this is my post 

For this assignment we both showed 2 pictures, and both posts took up 5 screen shots. I think she does great and it's surprising to see me do sorta as well as her because I think she's really smart! However I think hers is more structured so I may take points of for that. However I think my quality of work is great compared to some in the class. I give myself a 23/25

The last category is class contribution and how has my presence improved the learning of others. So in this category at the start of the course I would say I am doing horrible. but I have actually stepped out of my comfort zone and helped around! I have some proof: 

Gaby and I made a comment together that helped people figure stuff out. 

ok so I think I have definitely improved based on helping the class learn, and I have kept it up, however a part I lack in is commenting which NEEDS TO CHANGE.  For this portion I give myself a 22/25. 

Overall, if you add up each section the toal percentage is 92%. If you dont agree, comment below why because the opinion of others matters. 

Chorus

While researching the chorus, I found it is used as a type of narration. It is usually a small group of people or person who comments on the main action in a dramatic tone. They usually do the prologue and epilogue.

this is the chorus:

"Two households, both alike in dignity

(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene),"

I translate this as : 2 families; The Capulets and Montagues, both similar in dignity. Dignity meaning the state or quality of being worthy of honor and respect, I found this on Google and also saw similar lines in Ryan A's Post!

Dignity also can mean a sense of pride in ones-self. So in this case both families think very highly of themselves. The part in brackets is telling you that the play/ story takes place in Verona, Italy. 

" From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."

I think this means a really old grudge, or rivalry between the families turns into a whole new kind of violence that it progressing in a bad way. And because it is a whole new level of resentment, they are getting people involved that  aren't even a part of the grudge in the first place. (for example: Mercutio was neither a Montague or Capulet but found himself in the middle of the feud.)

"From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,"

Decedents or Children from the two unfortunate families that are enemies, become lovers, and take their own life or commit suicide.

"Whose misadventured piteous overthrows

Doth with their death bury their parents' strife."

The unfortunate incident created a removal of power from both families (meaning both families had something taken away from them) Their death ended their parent's conflict.

"The fearful passage of their death-marked love

And the continuance of their parents' rage,"

The frightening process of their death due to love, and angry parents.

"Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove,

Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage—"

The anger of the parents can only be resolved by the death of their children, this will be the 2 hours you will watch on the stage.

"The which, if you with patient ears attend,

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend."

If you listen carefully and are patient, what we didn't say here we will work hard and explain the rest. ( meaning what ever they didn't say will be explained on the stage in the 2 hours you watch it.)

To a Stranger pt.4

In my opinion I think that the poet is talking to a stranger who he sees. No I don't think it's a random stranger picked from a crowd, I think it was a stranger that he met but and felt as if they were reincarnated from one person specific in his life, perhaps one of his lovers or anyone else in his life. But the connection and essence is so strong that he doesn't feel as if they were a stranger. I think this because when doing research he believed in reincarnation and also in the poem it reads

the first line leads me to believe that he could have felt the person was reincarnated or had very very similiar things. And the lines "we flit by eachother, fluid, and affectionate, chaste and mature" which means very natural and friendly, but also grown up, and not meeting in a sexual tense, because when you meet a stranger you don't immediately tell them "you remind me of someone i used to love" he hopes to see this presence that reminds of someone. This also tells me that the stranger he mat can not only be chaste and mature but also someone who is affectionate and fluid.

Another thing that makes me think he is taking about reincarnation is these lines:

In the lines above I think he's trying to say "I have to wait, and there will be no doubt that he will meet another person that reminds me of someone."

I think in the lines below he uses "he" or "she" because he's talking about being reminded of not just one specific person but many people. He and She is not definite and can be anyone. The spirit and essence from reincarnation isn't just one person, or a forbidden lover. I think this poet is talking to a stranger that reminds him of someone he once knew, and that this can be any stranger, and any person. 

So in conclusion I don't think he is talking to a specific person, but can represent anyone and maybe everyone in his life. He is talking to someone most likely a stranger that reminds him so strongly of someone. 

How is your heart pt.4

   In my personal opinion I think the poet is better off being content than wanting more materialisticly, and relationship wise     

Although you can argue that he should want more because he is a human, and you shouldn't be living like that, and that you should experience relationships. 

You also need to keep in mind that there are more than just him who live a life like that, and he doesnt really care for relationships, because the ones that he's experienced (the relationship between him and his dad, and his dad and his mom's relationship.) have always ended badly. 

A pro to being content is that he doesnt have to worry about people pretending to be his friend for fame and fortune... unless you count some of the prostitutes he was with. 

Another Point people could argue is that shouldn't he want to be sober, and not be a drunk like his dad? Well to him maybe alchohol is a form of power, or a form of how he escapes the temptation of wanting more. He doesnt want to be like his dad.

You could also say that materialisticly he should own a house, car, or something like that to get him by. However money does not buy you happiness, and he doesn't want to be rich, and long for a life he doesnt have; like his father did. He saw the way his father strived for more and how his father acted out because of it. This is clear in the poem he wrote called "My Father" 

the specific words "a man like that" as if he did not want to be associated with it.  Also in the poem this stanza reads 

"caught between my father and the bums" Both the bums and his dad wanted nothing more than to be rich, and he wanted nothing more, so he was caught between them. He didn't want to be so stuck in wanting something that he would act out like his dad or just stay on the streets like bums, and so he made his way getting drunk, waking up in dirty motel rooms, sleeping with prostitutes, and seeing his so called "ugly" self in the mirror was him saying I am not happy, not sad but it's better than wanting more and ending up like that. 

In my opinion I think this poet is better off being content because he has a good reason for it; the poet is content based on his personal experience and that is wha he values more. He doesnt want a car, or a house, or a relationship, and his life, whether being an alchoholic or a weird dude who sleeps in ratty motels he is content because he doesnt want to end up like his father who ultimately failed and was hungry for power. To the poet I think he got power from the satisfaction.