Act 3 Scene 1 - Romeo : Key Quotations and Analysis

( 1 ) “Tybalt, the reason that I have to love these doth much excuse the appertaining rage.”
: “the reason that I have to love thee” → has some kind of obligation to love Tybalt. Links
with previous quote. Loves Juliet enough to try to love his family’s mortal enemy.

( 2 ) “This day’s black fate on more days doth depend. This but begins the woe others must
end.” / “Oh, I am fortune’s fool!”
: ① Foreshadowing, Knows that his avenging of Mercutio will cause further damage. But still
avenges anyway → shows his love / loyalty for Mercutio.
② “Black fate” → black = dark connotations. Shakespeare foreshadows the death of Tybalt.
③ “Fortune’s fool” → Romeo realizes that he is the victim of fortune. Now he has no control
over fate and he has ruined his future with Juliet + blames the murder of Tybalt on fate.

( 3 ) “Got his mortal hurt in my behalf”

: Unable to escape bias against Capulet, as he is ignoring how Mercutio initially insulted
Tybalt. Shows affection toward Mercutio.

( 4 ) “O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate”

: “effeminate” didn’t just mean acting like woman in this case, but Romeo’s love of Juliet →
hanging around Juliet and loving her so much makes Romeo womanly, which prevents him
from replying to Tybalt’s aggressiveness.

( 5 ) “My reputation stained with Tybalt’s slander.”

: feels like he has an obligation to avenge Tybalt for Mercutio to “clear his reputation”.

( 6 ) “Villain am I none.”
“ Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again That late thou gravest me, for Mercutio’s soul is
but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or
both, must go with him.”
: “take the “villain” back again” → changed his attitude towards Tybalt after Mercutio’s
death, which shows his affection towards Mercutio