Mercutio’s CharacterMercutio’s Character

RolesRoles

Adam: Character Outline – IT ExpertAdam: Character Outline – IT ExpertDavid: Visual Techniques – Team LeaderDavid: Visual Techniques – Team LeaderSam G: Character Relationships – Time KeepSam G: Character Relationships – Time Keep

Character OutlineCharacter Outline

By Adam

AppearanceAppearance Mercutio is an African-American, which contrasts the Mercutio is an African-American, which contrasts the

rest of the characters in the movie because they are all rest of the characters in the movie because they are all Caucasians, which is a direct link to being an outsider.Caucasians, which is a direct link to being an outsider.

He is of a medium-build, which is no different from He is of a medium-build, which is no different from anyone else which shows that he is equal to everyone anyone else which shows that he is equal to everyone else.else.

He wears white, which contrasts to everyone else who He wears white, which contrasts to everyone else who wears all sorts of different colours. This relates to the wears all sorts of different colours. This relates to the idea that Mercutio doesn’t belong to any of the houses idea that Mercutio doesn’t belong to any of the houses but still has a deep belief in religion just like the people but still has a deep belief in religion just like the people of the houses.of the houses.

We also see Mercutio wearing women's clothes, which We also see Mercutio wearing women's clothes, which re-enforces the idea of Mercutio being an outsider and re-enforces the idea of Mercutio being an outsider and his personality of being really immature.his personality of being really immature.

PersonalityPersonality

Mercutio is an outsider, not belonging to any of the Mercutio is an outsider, not belonging to any of the houses, so he feels he should be different.houses, so he feels he should be different.

He is a bit of a comedian, all ways mocking He is a bit of a comedian, all ways mocking someone or something. Like he dressed up as a someone or something. Like he dressed up as a Drag Queen and he was being highly sarcastic Drag Queen and he was being highly sarcastic when he was pretending to be scared of Tybalt.when he was pretending to be scared of Tybalt.

He has a different idea on love from Romeo, he He has a different idea on love from Romeo, he doesn’t really believe in the idea of love, he thinks doesn’t really believe in the idea of love, he thinks women just really serve him for sex. Unlike Romeo women just really serve him for sex. Unlike Romeo and his romanticism idea’s on love.and his romanticism idea’s on love.

Key Scenes & EventsKey Scenes & Events

When we first meet Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend, When we first meet Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend, we see his character of a joker straight away as he we see his character of a joker straight away as he is dressed up as a Drag Queen. is dressed up as a Drag Queen.

Not too long after we first meet Mercutio we hear his Not too long after we first meet Mercutio we hear his speech about his idea on love and how he doesn’t speech about his idea on love and how he doesn’t really believe in it.really believe in it.

When he dies, trying to save Romeo’s Honour by When he dies, trying to save Romeo’s Honour by fighting Tybalt for him which is important because fighting Tybalt for him which is important because we see him doing one of the most noble things he we see him doing one of the most noble things he could do for his friend which shows how loyal he is could do for his friend which shows how loyal he is to Romeo.to Romeo.

Strengths & WeaknessesStrengths & Weaknesses

Mercutio’s main strength is that he doesn’t really Mercutio’s main strength is that he doesn’t really care about what other people think so he is mentally care about what other people think so he is mentally free to do whatever he wants. This gives Mercutio free to do whatever he wants. This gives Mercutio has an advantage over the members of the houses has an advantage over the members of the houses because he doesn’t have to impress anyone or up because he doesn’t have to impress anyone or up hold any honour.hold any honour.

His main weakness, as we can see because it gets His main weakness, as we can see because it gets him killed, is when his friends get insulted, he can’t him killed, is when his friends get insulted, he can’t control himself, he is so loyal that he will do anything control himself, he is so loyal that he will do anything to defend them. This shows that even though that to defend them. This shows that even though that he doesn’t belong to their family, he still puts his life he doesn’t belong to their family, he still puts his life on the line to save them.on the line to save them.

ChangesChanges

Mercutio is more of a static character and Mercutio is more of a static character and doesn’t really change at all. He is more of a doesn’t really change at all. He is more of a contrast to everyone else because the other contrast to everyone else because the other people make changes because of him.people make changes because of him.

He doesn’t change because of his personality He doesn’t change because of his personality and his philosophy on life, like all he really and his philosophy on life, like all he really needs is his friends and that’s it.needs is his friends and that’s it.

Helps to teach usHelps to teach us

Don’t purposefully leave your gun behind when Don’t purposefully leave your gun behind when going to fight someone.going to fight someone.

That you don’t have to belong to a family to have That you don’t have to belong to a family to have a good reputation, as we see he is friends with a a good reputation, as we see he is friends with a lot of the Montague’s and must be friends with lot of the Montague’s and must be friends with the Capulet’s as well if he was to be invited to go the Capulet’s as well if he was to be invited to go to their party.to their party.

Character RelationshipsCharacter Relationships

By Sam G

Relationship with RomeoRelationship with Romeo Romeo and Mercutio are best friends.Romeo and Mercutio are best friends. The power is neutral in the relationship because Mercutio chooses The power is neutral in the relationship because Mercutio chooses

to be and they both equally lead each other neither of them is the to be and they both equally lead each other neither of them is the most powerfulmost powerful

The relationship changes because Mercutio was Romeos best The relationship changes because Mercutio was Romeos best friend then he curses both of the fighting families “Plague be on friend then he curses both of the fighting families “Plague be on both your families” both your families”

This relationship helps us understand that the two families fighting This relationship helps us understand that the two families fighting can cause innocent civilians harm and in this case death.can cause innocent civilians harm and in this case death.

This relationship is shown by the close ups on the eyes of the two This relationship is shown by the close ups on the eyes of the two characters when Mercutio dies, it is also shown when Mercutio is characters when Mercutio dies, it is also shown when Mercutio is first seen in the film and he makes Romeo laugh, also at the start first seen in the film and he makes Romeo laugh, also at the start the writing on the screen shows they are best friends.the writing on the screen shows they are best friends.

Relationship with BenvolioRelationship with Benvolio Mercutio holds the power in this relationship because Mercutio holds the power in this relationship because

Mercutio is the strong guy that isn’t afraid of a fight and Mercutio is the strong guy that isn’t afraid of a fight and Benvolio is scared at any chance of a fight.Benvolio is scared at any chance of a fight.

This relationship doesn’t change other than the fact that This relationship doesn’t change other than the fact that Mercutio dies because Benvolio wasn’t very sad when Mercutio dies because Benvolio wasn’t very sad when Mercutio dies.Mercutio dies.

This relationship shows us that people outside the This relationship shows us that people outside the Montague family can still join the family and be seen as Montague family can still join the family and be seen as more important than Montagues. more important than Montagues.

Luhrmann shows this relationship by the way Benvolio Luhrmann shows this relationship by the way Benvolio backs away from a brawl and Mercutio embraces the backs away from a brawl and Mercutio embraces the oppourtunity.oppourtunity.

Relationship with TybaltRelationship with Tybalt The power in this relationship is Neutral because Tybalt and The power in this relationship is Neutral because Tybalt and

Mercutio aren’t friends or enemies they just live in the same Mercutio aren’t friends or enemies they just live in the same town as each other.town as each other.

This relationship doesn’t change. Mercutio is killed but Tybalt This relationship doesn’t change. Mercutio is killed but Tybalt didn’t kill him for hate but for love. Tybalt loves his sister but didn’t kill him for hate but for love. Tybalt loves his sister but hates her husband and Mercutio attacks Tybalt to defend his hates her husband and Mercutio attacks Tybalt to defend his friend. friend.

This relationship shows us that people can kill others that they This relationship shows us that people can kill others that they aren't mad at because they are mad at someone else and the aren't mad at because they are mad at someone else and the person killed is just there at the time.person killed is just there at the time.

Luhrmann shows us this relationship by how angry Tybalt was Luhrmann shows us this relationship by how angry Tybalt was at Romeo he also shows that Mercutio doesn’t want to kill at Romeo he also shows that Mercutio doesn’t want to kill Tybalt because Mercutio drops his gun , also before Romeo Tybalt because Mercutio drops his gun , also before Romeo arrived Tybalt didn’t start fighting showing his target war arrived Tybalt didn’t start fighting showing his target war RomeoRomeo

Visual TechniquesVisual Techniques

By David

CostumeCostume

Costume: Mercutio’s costume shows us who he Costume: Mercutio’s costume shows us who he his in relation to the other characters in the film. his in relation to the other characters in the film.

For example when Mercutio turns up to the For example when Mercutio turns up to the Capulet Party he is wearing high heels, shiny Capulet Party he is wearing high heels, shiny mini skirt, woman's makeup and a skimpy top: mini skirt, woman's makeup and a skimpy top: all women's clothing. all women's clothing.

This shows us that he is an outsider and stuck This shows us that he is an outsider and stuck between the two groups.between the two groups.

It is also shown when in the opening scene It is also shown when in the opening scene

ColourColour

Mercutio also contrasts to the rest of Mercutio also contrasts to the rest of Mercutio boys because of his skin colour Mercutio boys because of his skin colour and the different clothes that he wears and the different clothes that he wears compared to the rest of the group. The compared to the rest of the group. The rest of the boys are Caucasian whereas rest of the boys are Caucasian whereas Mercutio is African-American. This Mercutio is African-American. This contrast directly shows him as an outsider.contrast directly shows him as an outsider.

Camera Shots & techniquesCamera Shots & techniques

When the Montague boys are together there are When the Montague boys are together there are lots of med shots of the whole group with lots of med shots of the whole group with extreme close ups of Romeo but there is also extreme close ups of Romeo but there is also extreme close ups of Mercutio.extreme close ups of Mercutio.

This shows us that Mercutio and Romeo are This shows us that Mercutio and Romeo are close friends, but also contrasts to the fact that close friends, but also contrasts to the fact that Mercutio is an outsider because he relates well Mercutio is an outsider because he relates well with the “Boys” and isn’t thought of as an with the “Boys” and isn’t thought of as an outsider within there little group.outsider within there little group.

Casual ClothesCasual Clothes

Mercutio doesn’t wear the colourful beach Mercutio doesn’t wear the colourful beach shits with flowery prints like Benvolio and shits with flowery prints like Benvolio and the other boys ,he wears a clean white the other boys ,he wears a clean white throughout the film but still wears the throughout the film but still wears the clothes in the same way reinforcing the clothes in the same way reinforcing the fact the he is different but still part of the fact the he is different but still part of the group and perhaps has different beliefs in group and perhaps has different beliefs in life.life.