Mercutio
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Mercutio is a character in William Shakespeare's famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet A relative of the Prince and a good friend of the Montagues, or, specifically, the son of Montague, Romeo, and Romeo's cousin Benvolio. Mercutio is apt to make long, drawn out speeches (the most famous of which is the Queen Mab speech), and is generally thought to be a free spirit.
Mercutio is stabbed when Romeo attempts to stop his swordfight with Tybalt. He dies, but not before cursing both the houses of Montagues and Capulet (of which Tybalt, as Juliet's cousin, is a member): "A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me...". His line describing his wound, "'Tis not deep as a well, nor wide as a church door, but 'tis enough, 'twill serve," has become famous. He makes a pun before he dies: "Send for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man!" In revenge Romeo slays Tybalt and is "exiled hence" from Verona, the Italian city state wherein the story takes place.
Mercutio's name is related to the word "mercurial," meaning "having an unpredictable and fast-changing mood," a fairly accurate description of Mercutio's personality. The word "mercurial" itself derives from the Roman messenger god Mercury, whose namesakes include the fast-moving planet Mercury; and the metal mercury, a liquid at room temperature. Mercury is also the closest planet to the Sun, and Romeo is referred to as the Sun many times in the play. The point when they are closest together is when Mercutio dies. Just as Mercury would burn up if it ever got too close to the Sun.
[edit] Performers
Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud alternated the roles of Romeo and Mercutio in a 1935 stage version.
John Barrymore portrayed Mercutio in George Cukor's film Romeo and Juliet (1936) opposite Leslie Howard as Romeo.
John McEnery portrayed Mercutio in Franco Zeffirelli's film Romeo and Juliet (1968).
Harold Perrineau Jr. portrayed Mercutio in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 version.
