Because Romeo continues to be lovesick for Rosaline, Mercutio teases him for being such a stereotypical hopeless lover. Romeo. I would encourage an actor to focus on one thought at a time and let the piece grow and build on itself. And being thus frighted, swears a prayer or two O simple!” (117). Or shall we on without apology? And then he dreams of cutting enemy throats, A street. Dans une autre rue de Vérone, Paris presse Capulet, le père de Juliette, de donner une réponse à sa demande en mariage de Juliette. Mercutio also informs Romeo that dreams "are the children of an idle brain," which is another way of saying that Romeo is an idiot and his dreams about Rosaline are ridiculous (1.4). He has barely finished one sentence before leaping onto the next idea. SCENE IV. Finally Romeo confesses that he thinks it is unwise to attend the party because of a dream he had…. This is the essence of his quick wit. Examining them closely reveals aspects about Mercutio’s views on humanity, particularly women. A street. Another key quote by Mercutio when he is talking to Tybalt when he comes, “And but one word with one of us? Sometimes she gallops across the nose of a man who attends a royal court, Mercutio is the one most likely to pick a quarrel for no good reason! MASKERS: party guests who, for intrigue and excitement, wear masks. While every interpretation is valid, for me, a maniac who rants for the sake of ranting misses the mark. Over men’s noses as they lie asleep: /, Her wagon spokes made of long spinners’ legs, / Romeo, watching the dance, is caught by the beauty of Juliet. /, Sometimes she driveth o’er a soldier’s neck, / Mercutio teasingly thinks his dream is the result of a visit from Queen Mab. Write. Act 1, scene 4. Romeo and Juliet: Act 1, Scene 4. Tickling a parson’s nose as ‘a lies asleep, / When his attempts seem to fail: Enter Mercutio; cousin to Prince Escalus of Verona. Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love; /, O’er courtiers’ knees, that dream on curtsies straight; / If we break down the monologue into smaller beats and thoughts, we are able to gain real clarity on what Mercutio is saying and find key indicators into what state of mind he is in. Benefice: A Church position that entitles the recipient to income and property. 2. Mercutio: No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for … If you look at the context scene as a whole, there’s a very specific point that this mercurial character is making. Ce document a été mis à jour le 17/02/2012 Copyright © 2020 • StageMilk | an ARH Media PTY LTD website. Benvolio spends his opening scenes with Romeo, persuading him to attend the party so that he may “examine other Beauties” and “forget to think” of Rosaline. A street. Mercutio. Get an answer for 'What does Mercutio mean in Act II, scene 4, lines 16-24, of Romeo and Juliet? Queen Mab is entirely Shakespeare’s invention and therefore the invention of Mercutio in the moment. /, This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs, Her straps are made of the smallest spiders web, /, This is that very Mab MERCUTIO.—C'est toujours cette pâle cruelle, cette Rosaline, qui le tourmente tant que pour sûr il deviendra fou. There’s some gentle trolling of Romeo, before Mercutio launches into a long…, Romeo and Juliet (Characters in the Play), Romeo and Juliet Act 2 Scene 2 (The Balcony Scene), Romeo and Juliet Act 5 Scene 3 (Final Scene). Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues. But often the angry Mab infects their lips with blisters, Not even half the size of a small round worm, Start studying Romeo and Juliet: Act 1 Scene 4 Quotes. Romeo, Benvolio, Mercutio, and others from the Montague household make their way to the Capulet feast.With their masks concealing their identity, they resolve to stay for just one dance. It is perhaps an indication of the wild nature of Mercutio’s dazzling thought pattern by this point. Benvolio spends his opening scenes with Romeo, persuading him to attend the party so that he may “examine other Beauties” and “forget to think” of Rosaline. BENVOLIO The … Scene IV. Which, in a sense, turns out to be true. Il envoie ensuite son serviteur dans la ville pour inviter les personnes dont le no… Scene 4. Quotes; Forums; Search; Periods & Movements; Quizzes; Summaries; Subscriber Login ; Literature Network » William Shakespeare » Romeo and Juliet » Act 1. Or shall we on without a apology? and find homework help for other Romeo and Juliet questions at eNotes We later find out that Romeo fears going to the party because he’s afraid that if he does, that he might die. Required fields are marked *. In this next scene, Mercutio demonstrates his genius for mockery. A street. Her whip is made from the bone a cricket and a transparent thread. (Romeo; Mercutio; Benvolio; Maskers; Torch-Bearers) Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, and a few others approach the Capulets’ house, wearing masks and intent on crashing the party. Act, Scene, Line (Click to see in context) Speech text: 1. Over people that go to royal court, who dream about curtsying, Healths: Toasts, as in to ‘cheers’ some one. The cover, of the wings of grasshoppers, / On the surface it may appear that Mercutio is simply a ranting lunatic. Her carriage is an empty hazel nut, In essence, Mercutio’s point is that dreams mean nothing – they aren’t reality. Spell. Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues, Sexual connotation: The sweet meat between ones legs. BENVOLIO.—Il n'est pas rentré chez son père; j'ai parlé à son domestique. I,4,513. After his speech, Mercutio points out to Romeo that dreams are “nothing but vain fantasy.” It was only through breaking it down into bite size pieces that I began to see more clearly how deftly Mercutio is able to move from one thought to another. Lazy finger of a maid: Proverbially, Maid worms would breed in the fingers of lazy maids. A WAAPA graduate from 2012, over the past decade he has worked professionally for Bell Shakespeare, Belvoir Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company. Acte I, scène 4 Roméo, Benvolio, Mercutio, Masques et porteurs de torche Avant d’entrer au bal, Roméo n’a plus envie d’y aller, et encore moins de danser, guidé par la tristesse et un mauvais pressentiment. ROMEO. Mercutio, unlike Romeo, doesn't believe that dreams can act as portents. Alderman: Wealthy or influential member of a local council. Joiner: Carpenter. Making them good at bearing children: Many of the ideas, words and phrases possess double meanings. Mercutio teasingly thinks his dream is the result of a visit from Queen Mab. Pulled by a team of atom sized creatures natalee_meldrum. Sweatmeats: Confectionary or candy. Because their breath has been polluted by confectionary. Romeo has just expressed concern about going to … Stage Milk / Monologues Unpacked / Mercutio Monologue (Act 1, Scene 4). Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub, / Damien's greatest passion is the process of creating and telling stories. Romeo: In bed asleep, while they do dream things true. A street. Act 1 Scene 4 - Mercutio is shown to concentrate less on love and more on physical touch which could represent that his heart has been broken once before. Her whip, of cricket’s bone, the lash, of film; /, Her wagoner, a small grey-coated gnat, / Not half so big as a round little worm, / Once you understand what the characters are saying, the scene is quite funny and even downright dirty. BENVOLIO.—Tybalt, le neveu du… Menu. If we break it down, however, we can learn that although wild and certainly spontaneous, it is also a carefully constructed response to Romeo’s belief about the truth of dreams. Queen Mab was a fairy that gave people their dreams. Her traces, of the smallest spider web, / Or shall we on without a apology? BENVOLIO.—Je t'en prie, cher Mercutio, retirons-nous. We'll have no Cupid hoodwink'd with a scarf. Learn. SCENE IV. I,4,509. O’er ladies’ lips, who straight on kisses dream, / Taken as a whole, the monologue may appear like a wildly impulsive rant. That presses them and learns them first to bear, Summary and Analysis Act I: Scene 4 Summary. Gravity. The wagon cover is made of grasshoppers wings, Specifically, what she does is give you specific dreams about who you are and what you are feeling or thinking. Mercutio. 'When maids lie on their backs... Making them good women of carriage' Act 1 Scene 4 - Mercutio doesn't respect women. Making toasts, drinking from an extremely deep glass, and then shortly, Which once untangled, brings a lot of bad fortune. Mercutio is describing Tybalt as an outgoing and determined individual, although with strong self loving that will cause him to fish for compliments off others. What clue does the give you about Mercutio’s character and his state of mind? Mercutio gently taunts Romeo, provoking him about his mood and his ideas of ‘love’: “You are a lover, borrow Cupid’s wings and soar with them above a common bound”! True, I talk of dreams, Which are the children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain fantasy (1.4.) Entrent BENVOLIO, MERCUTIO, UN PAGE et des VALETS. Then he dreams of an high-paying Church position. The Queen Mab speech in Act I, Scene 4, displays Mercutio's eloquence and vivid imagination, while illustrating his cynical side. Mercutio: O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you…. Romeo and Juliet: Act 2 Scene 4 Quotes. And sometimes comes she with a tithe-pig’s tail Romeo. Scene IV. Here’s Mercutio’s monologue again, translated into modern english to further your understanding of the text. Still melancholy, Romeo wonders how they will get into the Capulets feast, since they are Montagues. When his attempts seem to fail: Enter Mercutio; cousin to Prince Escalus of Verona. And sometimes she comes with the tail of a pig, gifted to the Church, Our 7x sold out online acting course returns soon. Verona. Mercutio begins to gently mock Romeo, transforming all of Romeos statements about love into blatantly sexual metaphors. In shape no bigger than an agate stone Gnat: A small bug or two winged fly, like a mosquito. Queen Mab: A tiny creature. Romeo, Benvolio, and their friend Mercutio, all wearing masks, have gathered with a group of mask-wearing guests on their way to the Capulets feast. Romeo refuses to engage in this banter, explaining that in a … She’s the miniature “fairies' midwife,” who visits people in their sleep and fulfills their desires (however good or bad) in dreams. For this monologue, look at how many thought changes are noted. MERCUTIO.—Tu ressembles à ces hommes… (The Three Musketeers in a 2012 production from Oregon, which was set in the 1840s). Benvolio. Romeo is melancholy, and uneasy, having had a premonitory dream; Mercutio takes the mention of dreams as an excuse to embark on a fantastical riff on the subject. For example, in act 1 scene 4 Mercutio is joking around with his friends about love and other happy concepts. And in this state she gallops night by night. According to Mercutio's Queen Mab is the fairies midwife, she delivers fairy babies,dreams to people. Learn more and register your interest at our online acting course page. He is discovering all of the thoughts and images as he says them. (You’ll note the Space between “And sleeps again” and “This is that very Mab”. | Certified Educator During Act I scene 4 of Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio is accompanying Romeo and a bunch of friends to the Capulet party. Making them women of good carriage: /. Her collars, of the moonshine’s wat’ry beams, / When that concern is brushed aside, he states that he will not dance at the feast. Act 1, Scene 4 is a great scene. And stiffens the elven-made locks in gross filthy hairs, Romeo and Benvolio approach the Capulets’ party with their friend Mercutio and others, wearing the disguises customarily donned by “maskers.”… Act 1, scene 5. Of holes in fortifications, ambushes, Spanish blades, This is deliberate as it is the only internal full stop in the monologue. Foul sluttish hairs: Sexual connotation: Referring to region around female genitalia. Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; If love be rough with you, be rough with love; For I am proverb'd with a grandsire phrase; O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. I’d bet my life on it that Shakespeare wasn’t letting a character just rant for the sake of it. Benvolio is agreeable and good-natured throughout the play. Your email address will not be published. Thou talk’st of nothing. Not I, believe me: you have dancing shoes With nimble soles: I have a soul of lead So stakes me to the ground I cannot move. Mais il est finalement convaincu après avoir ri des plaisanteries de Mercutio sur la « Reine Mab », la fée des rêves qui s’immisce chez tous les dormeurs. Mercutio is of royal blood. Detailed Summary of Act 1, Scene 4 Page Index: Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and others: Mercutio tries to persuade Romeo to dance at Capulet's feast, but Romeo insists that he is too sadly love-lorn to do anything but hold a torch. Get an answer for 'What are some puns said by Mercutio in Act 1, Scene 4 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?' ), O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you: /, She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes Also, in act 2 scene 1 he makes fun of Romeo for being in love. Then falls asleep again. Her creature’s collar straps are made of pale watery moonbeams, /, Sometimes she gallops o’er a courtier’s nose, Mercutio says he had a dream the night before, too—he and Romeo have both been visited by “Queen Mab.” Benvolio asks who Queen Mab is, and Mercutio, in a lengthy speech, spins a fanciful tale about the “fairies’ midwife” who comes to people while they sleep on her hazelnut chariot to make them dream of sweet things and to play little pranks on those who make her jealous or cross. Causes them sexual nightmares and teaches them how to bear the weight of a lover, Of healths five fathom deep; and then anon Usually sexual with dark undertones. Through the brains of lovers and makes them dream of love. SCENE. / Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and others / ROMEO / What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are. Scène précédente Un lieu public. O’er lawyers’ fingers, who straight dream on fees; / Some experts have regarded Mercutio as the character that Shakespeare was writing in preparation for Hamlet. Collar: The collar of the creature that is connected by the straps to the wagon. Tickling the nose of a clergyman as he lies asleep, Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. Or shall we on without a apology? No matter the dreamer; everyone must eventually wake to discover that they are neither a valiant hero, rich courtiers, or kissing beautiful women, but snivelling wrecks, poor and diseased or simply themselves. That plaits the manes of horses in the night, Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. / Or shall we Click again to see term 1/4 STUDY. Il l’invite cependant à un bal costuméchez lui. Act 3, Scene 1 Quotes Romeo: Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much. [Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six [p]Maskers, Torch-bearers, and others] Romeo. After spending the first act in a state of unrequited love for Rosaline, a somewhat depressed Romeo is very reluctant to go. Damien Strouthos is an actor, writer and director. And in this royal coach she gallops, every night, 2. Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades, / Le jour est brûlant, les Capulet sont dehors, si nous venons à les rencontrer, jamais nous n'éviterons une querelle, car dans ces chaleurs où nous sommes le sang bouillonne avec furie. Neither Romeo or Benvolio are invited and intend to sneak in, which is an incredibly dangerous move considering the recent flare up in the feud between the Montagues and Capulets. The first key quote by my character, Mercutio in Act 3 Scene 1, is when he is talking to Benvolio before Tybalt comes, “The fee simple? Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Capulet argue que Juliette est encore trop jeune. Mercutio uses Queen Mab as the vehicle that delivers to sleeping people, their deepest desires in the form of dreams. And then he dreams of seeking out some one who will pay a fee for his services. 1 What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? This quote shows how Mercutio is getting upset at Benvolio for talking nonsense to him and he is starting to get angry. Mercutio only stops himself when Romeo can’t take any more and interjects, trying to calm him down, saying: “Peace, peace good Mercutio peace. This page contains the original text of Act 1, Scene 4 of Romeo & Juliet.Shakespeare’s original Romeo & Juliet text is extremely long, so we’ve split the text into one Act & Scene per page. In shape no bigger than an agate stone (1.4.) And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats, / Everything he complains about regarding his friend Benvolio's character does not apply to the young man. (Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and others) ROMEO What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? Again the Chorus’s speech is in the form of a sonnet. Act 1. Given the context of the speech, it seems like Mercutio is suggesting that, like Queen Mab, dreams (especially Romeo's) are small and insignificant. Old grub: Old larvae-like insect that bores holes. Suit: A deal that one may earn money from. Drawn with a team of little atomies There’s some gentle trolling of Romeo, before Mercutio launches into a long, passionate speech about Queen Mab, the queen of fairies. On the forefinger of an alderman, / That plats the manes of horses in the night Which once untangled much misfortune bodes. One who joins wood together. Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio (a friend of Romeo’s) all rock up to the Capulet feast wearing masks. Test. Sexual connotation: Lazy women using their fingers. Oh, now I see Queen Mab has been with you: She is the midwife of fairies and she comes This is that very same Mab (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Your email address will not be published. And being so scared, he prays once or twice You mean the Queen Mab speech. To which Mercutio replies: “True, I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain, begot of nothing but vain fantasy”. And sleeps again. Fairies predominate in the dream world Mercutio presents, and dreams are merely the result of the anxieties and desires of those who sleep. What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? Terms in this set (7) "he' the courageous captain of compliments!" To really grasp the context of this monologue, I think it’s important to understand why Mercutio starts speaking in the first place. A point that he becomes desperately intent on making. There have certainly been many portrayals of him in this light. After his speech, Mercutio points out to Romeo that dreams are “nothing but vain fantasy.” Overhearing… Act 2, chorus. Romeo, with his closest friends Mercutio and Benvolio are on their way to the house of Capulet to attend a masked party. This is that evil spirit, when virgins lie down on their backs, The monologue is tricky because of its density of imagery and double meanings. All acts & scenes are listed on the Romeo & Juliet original text page, or linked to from the bottom of this page.. ACT 1, SCENE 4. Created by. Benvolio gets them back on track, but Romeo, feeling better now, fears that going to the ball might have ominous consequences. Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes, Flashcards. PLAY. Bred from the fingers of a lazy maid. : or shall we just go in and dance without any explanation? But before we get stuck in, let’s talk about breaking down the thoughts first. Agate stone: An ornamental stone, like quartz. Act I, Scene 4. And then dreams he of smelling out a suit; / Time out o’ mind the fairies’ coachmakers. Mercutio, unlike his friends, is invited to the party and so you can imagine is very keen to go: “Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance”! Some have noted that Shakespeare had to kill Mercutio off otherwise his energy and bravado very well may take over the rest of the play! A street. Over lawyers fingers who straight away dream about making money, Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy, I will bear the light. Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and others ROMEO What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? She’s the miniature “fairies' midwife,” who visits people in their sleep and fulfills their desires (however good or bad) in dreams. Made by the carpenter squirrel or old larvae insect, For as long as anyone can remember they’ve been the coach makers for fairies. In later literature, she was known as Queen of the fairies. But that is what also makes it extraordinarily enjoyable to watch or perform. Pricked from the lazy finger of a maid; /, Her chariot is an empty hazelnut, / And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs, Tithe-pig: A pig offering made to the Church as part of the tithe (one tenth of one’s annual earnings to support the Church). /, And in this state she gallops night by night Match. Perhaps like a spiders web. Her wagon driver is a small bug wearing a grey coat, 1. this speech: i.e., a written speech. She drums in his ear, and immediately he wakes in shock, Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six other MASKERS; TORCH- BEARERS. Then dreams he of another benefice. Over ladies lips, who straight away dream about kissing, But He, that hath the steerage of my course, Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio (a friend of Romeo’s) all rock up to the Capulet feast wearing masks. Elflocks: Tangles of hair, superstitiously believed to be tangled by elves. Capulet welcomes the disguised Romeo and his friends. Mercutio and Benvolio . But all dreams, perhaps being too good to be true, must come to an end. On the forefinger of a councilman, Some of his Film and Television credits include, I am Woman (2019), Frayed ABC (2018) and Wonderland (Channel 10 (2013)). However, even on his deathbed Mercutio makes dark jokes and puns. In shape, no bigger than a stone made of agate Sometimes she drives over a soldiers neck, Commentaire de texte de 18 pages en littérature : William Shakespeare, Roméo et Juliette, Acte I scène 4 : commentaire. Lash of film: Thin, transparent cord. After spending the first act in a state of unrequited love for Rosaline, a somewhat depressed Romeo is very reluctant to go. Across men’s noses as they lie asleep: Her wagon’s spokes are made of long spiders legs,