Comparison of Mercutio’s Death Scene
There is only one was that a scene is written but multiple ways, that a scene is portrayed. One may choose to artistically represent a scene in the traditional way that it is written. Others, may choose to modernize the scene for it to become more appealing to the general public. The way that a scene is creatively represented affects the character and how it’s importance is implied into the story line. This is true, for the scene of Mercutio’s death in Act III Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet. The comparable movies versions of 1968 and 1996 portray the idea of Mercutio’s eradication in entirely different ways. The 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet illuminates that every action is a matter of life or death whereas…show more content… The 1965 version exemplifies the importance of the characters and their background. Since the supporting cast treats Mercutio and Tybalt’s swordplay as a playful interaction, the tone of Mercutio’s death is set. The endless jostling of swords continuous to lengthen the scene an indication, that no one is meant to be hurt. Since the friends of Mercutio don’t believe that he is injured including Romeo himself even stating, “Courage, man, the hurt cannot be much.”(III.1.99) Due to the fact that Mercutio is constantly deceiving others around him, the image that he has created for his death, is not consequential. His death is treated as an uncommon and ill-fated occurrence in the 1968 version even though, Romeo and Juliet incorporates the death of many characters. The 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet never gets past the comedic act of Mercutio even in the aftermath of his death. The 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet on the other hand, implies the idea of death from the beginning. Starting, from the use of guns, not swords in order to inflict pain as well as the seriousness of the spectators around them. The separate ways that Mercutio’s death is indicated is important because of the concept that separate scenes can cause different interpretations of Mercutio as a character and what his demise
