Question

read the excerpt from act ii, scene iv of romeo and juliet
benvolio: tybalt, the kinsman of old capulet,
hath sent a letter to his father’s house.
mercutio: a challenge, on my life.
benvolio: romeo will answer it.
mercutio: any man that can write may answer a
letter.
benvolio: nay, he will answer the letter’s master,
how he dares, being dared.
mercutio: alas! poor romeo, he is already dead,
stabbed with a white wench’s black eye; shot
through the ear with a love - song; the very pin of
his heart cleft with the blind bow - boy’s butt - shaft,
and is he a man to encounter tybalt?
why does shakespeare include mercutio’s teasing
words?
10
○ to explain the history of the feuding families
○ to criticize romeo’s neglect of his duties
○ to condemn the established ritual of sword fighting
○ to contrast the seriousness of tybalt’s challenge

Explanation:

1. Analyze each option:

• Option 1: The history of feuding families is not explained by Mercutio's teasing; the feud is established earlier.
• Option 2: Mercutio's words are teasing, not criticizing Romeo's duties. Romeo's focus on love is different, but Mercutio's teasing is more about contrasting with Tybalt's challenge.
• Option 3: Mercutio's words don't condemn sword - fighting rituals. His focus is on Romeo's state compared to Tybalt's challenge.
• Option 4: Tybalt's challenge is serious (a letter of challenge to fight), while Mercutio's teasing (saying Romeo is "dead" from love, not battle) contrasts the seriousness of Tybalt's challenge with Romeo's preoccupation with love.

Answer:

D. to contrast the seriousness of Tybalt’s challenge