Matthew Barnes How Does Shakespeare Explore The Theme Of Masculinity in Romeo and Juliet with particular reference

to the two fight scenes (Act 1 Scene 1 and Act 3 Scene 1)?

Romeo and Juliet was seen in Shakespeares time as a tragedy. Today people look at it as a romance as well as a tragedy. It is set in the Tudor times and in the Italian city of Verona. Even though it is a romance, there is a lot of action that explores the theme of masculinity. Shakespeare explores masculinity in different ways throughout the play but two scenes that are based heavily on the theme are the two fight scenes. The first is the opening scene and the second is after the Romeo and Juliets wedding following the Capulets party. These fights are of course very masculine and the attitude towards the women in the opening scene also shows masculinity. Shakespeare creates four male characters that appear in the fight scenes that are completely different in character. The only thing that links their character is that they want to appear masculine in the way that fight and act. Benvolio is Romeos cousin. He is very keen on keeping the peace and is often the one that will be breaking up the brawls that go on between the Montegues and the Capulets. The way that he acts could be seen as more feminine than masculine but he could also just be a good man who is trying to stop another civil brawl. In Act 1 Scene 1 he says, Part, fools. When he says fools it suggests that he thinks that all of their fighting is for nothing and getting them nowhere. This would be seen as a sensible thing to do as the Prince has threatened to throw them out of the city if there is another brawl. However, in the same scene he says, I do but keep the peace. This suggests that he might be scared of fighting which would has been seen as a feminine characteristic opposed to a masculine one. He also says but which could mean that his only job is to stop there being a brawl. This is backed up in Act 3 Scene 1 when he is trying to persuade Mercutio away from a possible encounter with the Capulets. He says, I pray thee, good Mercutio, lets retire. This is said in a frantic way and he is almost begging him not to have a fight. A reason for this could be because he sees it as his duty to stop these brawls. If that is all he is used for in the city and a brawl did start, he might be abused or forgotten. After the second and final fight in Act 3 Scene 1 he disappears and never comes back as there are no more fights. This also points towards him been there just to break up or prevent the fights. In the build up to the second fight he says, withdraw unto some private place,. He is asking them not to fight in the public area and if they want to they have to find a private space. This shows that he might not care too much about the fighting but he does not want it to happen in a public place. Shakespeare obviously chose his name very carefully. The name Benvolio means peace and also sounds like benevolent which means intending to do good. Tybalt is Juliets cousin and serves under Lord Capulet.. He is very sleek and likes to sort things out with his sword, not his mouth. His name, like Benvolio, has a meaning that sums up his character. Tybalt is the name given to the King of Cats in a fable. Cats are stealthy, ruthless and agile which is how Tybalt goes about his business. In both Lurhmanns and Zeffirellis films Tybalt is portrayed as a sleek, well groomed and ruthless person. He has reason to fight with his sword as he appears to be respected by the whole city as been very skilled with it. This is a way of showing off his masculinity by fighting for everything, even the most trivial thing. He insults Romeo and wants to fight him just because he turned up to the party and he is willing to put his life on the line for these simple matters. In Act 2 Scene 4 Mercutio describes him as The very butcher of a silk button and A duellist!. These are both indications of how skilled he is. The first suggests that he could cut off a button from a jacket and the second being a term used by fencers who are very skilled with a sword. Another way he shows off his masculinity and maybe exposing others is by mocking anyone how doesnt want to fight him. He says to Benvolio Drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word,. This is questioning why he has his sword out and is not willing to fight, showing up Benvolio and making himself appear more masculine by never wanting to back out of a fight. He also says he hates the word peace which maybe implies that he goes around

Matthew Barnes looking to start a fight as he enjoys them and uses it as a chance to show off his masculinity. In the second fight scene he again tries to undermine others, in this case Romeo, to make himself appear more masculine. When Romeo arrives Tybalt greets him with Boy, this suggesting that he is more superior, stronger and more masculine. In the second part of the second fight scene Romeo kills Tybalt, getting revenge for Tybalt killing his friend, Mercutio. Mercutios death is very strange as everyone believes that he is just joking around, when he is actually dying. In contrast, Tybalt is still angry and bitter to his last words. Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence. This saying that Romeo, who accompanied Mercutio to his death, shall end up in the same place. The hatred he has for Romeo, particularly as he showed Tybalt up at the party, is so great he is willing to make a threat with his last words. This also implies his masculinity. Most people would say goodbye or ask for their loved one to be told they loved them. But Tybalt, a fighter to the end, doesnt. Mercutio is one of Romeos friends. He is a character that likes to mock what people say and is very good at word play. Mercutio does not appear in the first fight but he plays a huge part in the second. He and Benvolio enter in Act 3 Scene 1 and he immediately starts making jokes of what Benvolio says. Tybalt arrives and Mercutio is the first to respond as he is not shy of using his own mouth. Heres my fiddle-stick; heres that shall make you dance. He uses word play to almost wind Tybalt up. Tybalt is only interested in the fighting, not playing around with words. He draws his fiddle-stick or sword. A fiddle-stick is also the name for a bow of a string instrument. He then goes on to say that he will make him dance with it referring to the music and his sword skills. Later in that scene he refers to Tybalt as a Rat-catcher". Cats like to catch rats and he is reminding him of where his name derives from, King of Cats. Rats are also known to be dirty animals that tend to carry disease. This is typical of his word play, insulting others and taunting them. The fact that he likes to use words could be seen as feminine seeing as he does not want to go into a fight. But maybe the teasing is just to wind up the enemy before they fight to try and distract them. In Act 2 Scene 4 he says to Tybalt make it a word and a blow suggesting that he does want to fight, after winding him up with wordplay. This does show masculinity as he does not run away or back down from the fight. Another way in which he keeps up his jokey nature and shows masculinity at the same time is when his is dying. After Tybalt cut him he says a scratch referring to his wound which ultimately kills him. He continues to stagger around making puns until he runs out of energy and falls down dead. Even when he was hurt he says it is only a minor injury and that it doesnt hurt that much. This is him trying not to show any pain which is a masculine thing to do. The audience would have enjoyed his wordplay and but when he died they would be reminded of the seriousness of the play and that people will die. He says A plague o both your houses! four times before he dies; this suggesting that he blames both of them for the fighting resulting in his death. Although this implies he disagrees with the fighting he asks for someone to kill Tybalt. Is he gone, and hath nothing? suggests that Tybalt has got away with killing him without any injury. This showing that his masculine pride has been dented as he allowed Tybalt to escape. Romeo, a Montague, is the main character in the play who falls in love with Juliet, who happens to be a Capulet. This creating unease between the two families resulting in more fighting. Like Mercutio, we do not see Romeo in the first fight. When he appears for the first time in the second Tybalt is looking for him. His first response is Therefore farewell; as he is trying to avoid a fight. Although it might be sensible trying to avoid fighting with someone as skilled as Tybalt, this could still be seen as cowardly and feminine. When talking about Juliet he later says Thy beauty hath made me effeminate,, suggesting that Juliet has turned him soft and he would not want to lose her by risking his own life. He is also like Benvolio as he tries to prevent Mercutio from fighting Tybalt. When he says put thy rapier up. he doesnt want a fight. But unlike Benvolio, this could just

Matthew Barnes be because he knows Tybalt would win and he does not want to lose Mercutio. It could also be seen as a strength as he refused to start a fight even after been taunted. However all of his anti fighting attitude goes after Mercutio dies. He says fury be my conduct now! stating that he is angry and wants revenge. He goes ahead and kills Tybalt showing his skills with a sword and showing bravery to fight a man who is regarded highly as a fighter. These are both masculine characteristics. He also shows that as well as being in love with Juliet, masculine friendship is very important to him. This also supports the theme of masculinity. He spends most of his time with them and is willing to put his marriage and life on the line to get revenge for Tybalt killing Mercutio. The world which Romeo and Juliet live in is male dominated. If there is a disagreement between two families it is settled by the men in the masculine way of fighting. The women never try and resolve it by talking and whenever they try and get involved in stopping the fights they are just dismissed. Lady Capulet says to her husband in the first fight Why call you for a sword? Lord Capulet replies by demanding for his sword. Lady Capulet also asks the Prince for Romeo to be avenged as she cant handle it herself. This shows what a masculine society they live in. The films give you the best idea of the atmosphere, clothing and fighting. In both films the Montague boys and Capulet boys had distinguishing clothing, even if it was Hawaiian tee-shirts. In the earlier and more accurate film they had different coloured leggings. The atmosphere in Zeffirellis film was created by the characters and the crowds around them. The crowds were cheering them on and creating and tense and exciting atmosphere. In Lurhmanns version the music and lighting effects had a far bigger impact on the atmosphere. The fighting will have been different in all three versions, including the original play. The play would have had simple sword fights that would have been choreographed but there could not have been any added effects. In the earlier film the fight were more ritualistic, more so when Mercutio fought Tybalt than when Romeo did. The Zeffirelli film also had sword fights but they were more complex as they could be rehearsed and filmed from different angles creating the desired effect. In Lurhmanns film they used guns to keep up the modern feel. They did however bring it back to a duel by removing all but one bullet. This reminds you of a sword fight and creates a much more serious atmosphere. They only have one shot to save their lives. In conclusion, Shakespeare uses the fight scenes to show the masculinity of the characters. This is done through their actions and their words. He also shows that some characters are not all masculine and show a feminine side to them by either backing down from a fight or trying to prevent one from starting. The use of swords and the fighting brings out the masculine side of the characters as well as then insulting each other by using rude language.