In Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, there are many characters that make mistakes and exercise bad judgment.  For some characters no harm is dealt by their poor decisions but most characters have consequences.  Some characters’ consequences are very severe. Several characters’ consequences are even death.  The individuals’ deaths and the flaws that killed them are what make Romeo and Juliet a tragedy.

            If I were a character in Romeo and Juliet I would be Mercutio. Mercutio is a great character. He is Romeo’s friend and is a comic foil to him.  Mercutio constantly teases Romeo about his love because he is anti-romantic and sees love exclusively as a physical pursuit.  Mercutio is also very important to the plot because his more serious death marks the play’s transition from a comedy to a tragedy. 

            If I became Mercutio I would do everything he would normally do.  Mercutio is a perfect character in this unique play.  Changing anything would change the story a lot.  I would tease Romeo, make jokes, and probably even fight Tybalt just like Mercutio did.  There is one thing I would change though.

            I would change the way Mercutio died.  Mercutio died suddenly while standing behind the person trying to break up the fight.  If I could I would change the story so that Mercutio dies more honorably.  I would have it so that Mercutio dies from a wound before Romeo can intervene.  After Mercutio dies, then Romeo would slay Tybalt.

            Like many characters in Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio makes mistakes. He is headstrong and quick to start a fight.  When given the chance he started a fight with Tybalt, he took it without thinking of the consequences.  Romeo tried to break up the fight but somehow Tybalt thrust under Romeo’s arm and killed Mercutio.  This was very sudden and if I could, I would change the story so that Mercutio dies more honorably.