Thursday, 16 October 2008

What does Mercutio say about Tybalt's style of fighting?

Whenlearns thathas sent
a letter to 's houselikely a challenge to fight, because Romeo went to the Capulet's party the
night beforehe describes Tybalt's particular style of fighting, saying,


He fights as you sing prick-song, keeps time, distance, and
proportion. He rests his minim restsone, two, and the third in your bosom. The very butcher of a
silk button, a duelist, a duelist, a gentleman of the very first house of the first and second
cause. Ah, the immortal passado, the punto reverso,
the hai!

In other words, Mercutio
believes that Tybalt fights like one might sing if one were performing, paying attention to
elements like timing and distance and proportion and all other formal concerns. He breaks when
he ought to and he kills by the book. He is precisecan hit a small mark, like a button, with his
weaponand he is a master duelist. He has been taught how to be a very fine fencer, and he knows
all the necessary moves to make his kill: the forward thrust,...

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