Mercutio and Benvolio: Contrasting Friends
Mercutio bursts with life through his playful, witty language. His famous line "prick love for pricking" showcases his love of wordplay and sexual innuendo, adding bawdy humour to the play. Even as he dies, his dark joke "look for me tomorrow and you will find me a grave man" demonstrates his refusal to surrender to sentimentality, making his death all the more tragic.
In stark contrast, Benvolio appears as the voice of reason. His language includes imperative verbs like "part, fools" when commanding servants to stop fighting, highlighting his peacekeeping nature. Prince Escalus trusts him to provide a truthful account of events, showing his reputation for honesty and level-headedness.
Shakespeare uses different speech patterns to distinguish these characters. Mercutio's elaborate speeches about Queen Mab reveal his imaginative, slightly sinister worldview, while Benvolio speaks in more measured, practical terms. His promise that Romeo will "think thy swan a crow" when comparing Rosaline to other beauties shows his pragmatic approach to his friend's lovesickness.
Writing technique: Notice how Shakespeare uses iambic pentameter in Benvolio's speech to add musicality and charm, contrasting with Mercutio's more unpredictable language patterns. This subtly reinforces their different personalities!