Tybalt

• "Prince of Cats"-Mercutio uses to describe Tybalt (overview)

  Tybalt stalks around proudly ready to fight anyone. The name Tybalt comes from a folktale where Tybalt is the sly cunning cat, this is what people in the Elizabethan era would be reminded of
• "Fetch me my Rapier boy"-Tybalt (Act 1:5- Capulet's ball)


  Tybalt is always ready to fight, and as soon as Romeo comes to the party he instantly takes offence. (Elsewhere in the play- the first time we are introduced to him is in the fight scene showing his impulsiveness)
• "Tis He that villain Romeo"- Tybalt (Act 1:5- Capulet's ball)


  Tybalt describes Romeo as a villain however there is dramatic irony as we feel that he is the villain
• "I'll not endure him"-Tybalt (Act 1:5- Capulet's ball)


  Shows how unwilling Tybalt is to let go of offence. He often acts without consequence due to the theme of masculine honour that he feels obliged to show. context - men in the society had to show strength and honour and Tybalt showed this by engaging in the feud
• "Now, by the stock of my kin, to strike him dead, I hold it not a sin"- Tybalt (Act 1:5- Capulet's ball)


  We can see Tybalt is loyal to the family feud and is willing to defend the Capulets at whatever cost (He dies in the end fighting). He uses RHYMING CUPLETS showing his overconfidence
• "This is a Montague our foe"-Tybalt (Act 1:5- Capulet's ball)


  Tybalt is loyal though we could argue that he only wants to kill Romeo for his own satisfaction and prove he is the strongest fighter in Verona context -proving strength was important for men
• "Virtuous and well-governed youth"-Capulet to Tybalt , about Romeo (Act 1:5- Capulet's ball)

  Capulet doesn't want a big fight at his party, but Tybalt feels mortally offended, even though Romeo only came to see some girls! Tybalt seems to act without consequence, and is the instigator of a chain reaction
• "You are a saucy boy"-Capulet to Tybalt (Act 1:5- Capulet's ball)


  Tybalt is being disrespectful to his uncle who has put on such a big party, ruining it by his arrogance that Romeo came just to tease him. "Boy" suggests immaturity and Tybalt would have taken offence to this as he often uses this as an insult to others
• "I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitt'rest gall"-Tybalt (Act 1:5- Capulet's ball)


  We could argue that Tybalt is showing no respect for Capulet because whilst he agrees not to cause a scene there and then, he vows to carry it on at a later date. This foreshadows how he wont be able to let it lie and will eventually die as a result of his foolishness
• (Elsewhere in the play- showing how Tybalt acts without considering the consequence)


  Act 1:1 where he tries to fight Benvolio and the prince turns up, similar to how he would have happily caused a scene at Capulet's party to fight Romeo
• "Therefore turn and draw"-Tybalt to Mercutio (Act 3:1)


  Again Tybalt is being impulsive and not considering the consequence of what would happen if he killed Mercutio (which he does) who is related to the Prince
• "Boy"-Tybalt to Mercutio (Act 3:1)


  Tybalt uses the word "boy" to aggravate Mercutio and get a reaction out of him. Tybalt is a symbol of the Capulet's younger generation that is a result of the feud
• "Thou art a villain"-Tybalt to Romeo (Act 3:1)


  Tybalt is calling Romeo a villain which is ironic as he is the villain of the play. Romeo responds that he has reason to love Tybalt which juxtaposes Tybalt who will not back down
• "Turn and draw"-Tybalt to Romeo (Act 3:1)


  Tybalt seems to repeat this verse a lot showing his aggressiveness. He no longer talks in rhyming cuplets but shifts from blank verse into prose showing his change in mood
• "This shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done to me"-Tybalt to Romeo (Act 3:1)

  Tybalt uses exaggeration because really Romeo has done nothing to Tybalt, it has all been his misunderstanding. Tybalt constantly clashes with fate to instigate the chain of reactions in the play, by his killing Mercutio, Romeo cannot contain himself and as a result, kills Tybalt
• tybalts death


  Tybalt represents the hostility beneath the surface of the society. His death ensures that more deaths follow whilst the couple's death ensures the killing and the feud come to an end