I am Mercutio, a valuable friend to that of Romeo and a proud fighter for the Montague family! Were it not for me, how else would Romeo have moved on from that wench called Rosaline? Would he have gone to the party and met the fair lady Juliet without I? I am glad for the good I have done, but I am ashamed by the harm I have caused.
The burning hatred between the houses of Capulet and Montague was, as always, fueled by the actions of men. I do not claim to be a martyr, for the true martyrs in Verona’s story are Romeo and Juliet, however I played no small part in the conclusion of the feud. As I died I remember saying in anger “A plague of both your houses! They have made worm’s meat of me. I have it, and soundly too. Your houses!” In truth though, my real murderer was the feud itself, and if not the feud, then it was I. Benvolio told me that picking a fight with Tybalt was a terrible idea, or that I should go were the crowds wouldn’t gather, but I told him “Men’s eyes were made to look, and let them gaze. I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I.”
Were I not a citizen of Verona, perhaps the duration of the feud would have been longer, but I ultimately think it was destined to end. Were it not I that died, It would have been another Montague, or another Capulet. For the feud was not exclusive to Tybalt and I.
