What is Mercutio's role in Romeo and Juliet?

Shakespeare uses Mercutio and the Nurse to explore the relationship between comedy and tragedy inRomeo and Juliet. These characters, in their comic roles, serve as foils for Romeo and Juliet by highlighting the couple's youth and innocence as well as the pure and vulnerable quality of their love. read more

The comic lightens the whole death, destruction, and despair thing. Mercutio is also the reason why Romeo even meets Juliet. In addition, after Romeo, due to Mercutio, trespasses on the Capel ball, Tybalt challenges him {Romeo}, and Mercutio answers instead. read more

Video: Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet: Character Analysis, Personality & Traits Every hero needs a best friend. In this lesson, we'll learn about Mercutio, Romeo's loyal comedic foil, who loses his life in a duel in order to protect the Montague name. read more