ASEBL Journal – Volume 11 Issue 1, January 2015
with proper citizenry and ancestral traditions with state decree. Mercutio, in defending
Romeo (whom Mercutio presumes is not up to the task of defeating Tybalt), exhibits
proper citizenship in protecting another citizen (a friend rather than a kinsman) from
danger. Though Tybalt challenges Romeo and calls him a “villain” (3.1.115), Romeo
refuses to fight on the grounds that (unbeknownst to Tybalt) they have become inlaws, or like a “cousin” to one another, a response suggestive of the traditional model
(5.3.101). Watson suggests a newer tradition, stating that Romeo, in addition to being
newly in-law to Tybalt, is behaving as a proper Christian when, by refusing to fight,
he “turns the other cheek” (quoted in Utterback, 1973, p. 110), and though Romeo
does blaspheme and, angered, kills Tybalt, Watson’s reading is not inconsistent with
viewing Romeo and Juliet’s marriage in the new tradition of proper citizenry, each
having forgiven (or ignored) ancient feuds (traditions) and treating each other’s house
kindly (as fellow citizens), all of which is compatible with the Christian tradition (see
below). Regardless, Romeo, attempting to pacify Tybalt, states:
I do protest I never injured thee,
But love thee better than thou canst devise
Till thou shalt know the reason for my love.
And so, good Capulet, which name I tender
As dearly as my own, be satisfied. (3.1.67-71)
By stating he tenders the name “Capulet” as dearly as his own, Romeo signals a willingness to cooperate with Tybalt, and likewise indicates to Tybalt (though Tybalt does
not know the reason for Romeo’s affection), and Shakespeare, to the audience, that
Romeo and Juliet’s marriage will be made public, which will, if Friar Laurence is correct (see below), end the feud disturbing Verona to the point that the Prince declares
its continuance a capital offense. Such a marriage would also be seen as a prelude to
the birth of offspring who would be kin to both Montagues and Capulets, thus uniting
the families. As Mercutio and Tybalt fight, Romeo evokes the state decree in an effort
to part them, in effect honoring the Prince’s instruction to cease the feud above the
ancestral instruction to perpetuate it. As Romeo attempts to separate them, Mercutio,
defending his friend and fellow citizen, is “hurt under [Romeo’s] arm” (3.1.105). In
response, Romeo demands that Tybalt, “take the ‘villain’ back again” or fight, though
even in his anger, Romeo offers Tybalt a bloodless solution of apology (3.1.127).
Tybalt refuses, and in the ensuing fight, Romeo kills him. Though the Prince agrees
that Romeo has effectively implemented the law (the will of the Prince, who would
have executed Tybalt for killing Mercutio), he banishes Romeo for taking the law into
his own hands (rather than ceding justice to the state).
Prince Escalus, representative of the new state model of society, does not ignore the
fact that his kinsman was slain, reprimanding the houses for his loss, stating:
I have an interest in your heart’s proceeding;
My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding.
But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of mine. (3.1.190-193)
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