Tybalt

Question 1

‘peace? i hate the word, as i hate hell, all montagues and thee.’ - tybalt, act 1 scene 1

Answer 1

• Tybalt’s first appearance which links him with hatred + violence, thus linking back to the prologue already.
• Tricolon which narrows down the focus + suggests that he hates Benvolio the most
• Tybalt is a fiery and rash character while Benvolio a Capulet tries to deescalate the situation before him “I do but keep the peace”.
• This juxtaposes with Tybalt, making his reaction all the more overwhelming.
• Shakespeare uses the rule of three to emphasise Tybalt;s hatred towards the Montagues.
• This is also a tool by Shakespeare to illustrate to the audience the extent of bad blood between the Montagues and Capulets.

Question 2

‘i will withdraw, but this intrusion shall now seeing sweet convert to bitterest gall’ - tybalt, act 1 scene 5

Answer 2

• Tybalt is forced by lord capulet to be patient + not kill romeo straight away - but he will have his vengeance soon enough as the play progresses
• Tybalt is essentially saying here that he will ‘back down’. *However, ‘gatecrashing the party’ may seem like a trivial thing now but it will not end well for Romeo.
• It is possible that Shakespeare is again trying to foreshadow the negative impacts of the lovers meeting. * More directly Tybalt’s remarks foreshadow the fight between Tybalt and Romeo which leads to the death of two characters, Mercutio and Tybalt

Question 3

‘now by the stock and honour of my kin, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin’ - tybalt, act 1 scene 5

Answer 3

• Tybalt is saying that Romeo’s presence is disrespectful to his family’s honour.
• He uses this to explain that if Tybalt was to kill him it would not be a sin because killing to protect honor is justifiable under the law.
• Shakespeare again introduces the idea of male pride and honour and its importance.
• Although Tybalt believes that it would not be a sin to kill Romeo it is unclear if there is actually any Biblical support for this.
• It is possible that this may be a case of religious law and personal desires clashing.

Question 4

‘it fits when such a villain is a guest. I’ll not endure him’ - tybalt, act 1 scene 5

Answer 4

• Tybalt describes Romeo as a “villain” which suggests that Tybalt believes himself to be the hero.
• Also, Tybalt is a hyper-masculine character and so believes that by not enduring Romeo he is somehow protecting the honour of his family

Question 5

‘Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a villain’ - tybalt, act 3 scene 1

Answer 5

• Tybalt confesses his hatred for Romeo, Tybalt mirrors Act 1 scene 5 calling Romeo a “villain”
• The term “villain” suggests that Romeo is the enemy because he is from another family.
• This is ironicbecause through Romeo’s marriage to Juliet they have joined families. * While Tybalt believes that he is defending his family’s honour from Romeo, the reality is that Romeo and Tybalt are actually from the same family and so their loyalties now lie with each other.