Romeo and Juliet Group

Question:

blondie1994
blondie1994
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In "Romeo and Juliet", who sent whom what specific challenge?

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Posted by blondie1994 on Tuesday December 16, 2008 at 12:01 PM and tagged with challenge, characters, romeo and juliet.

Answers:


  1. yaday Teacher

    eNotes Editor

    During Act I scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt spots Romeo at the Capulet ball. Tybalt, who hates “all Montagues” as he “hates hell,” wants to start a brawl immediately but is stopped by Lord Capulet(1.1). Later in Act 2 scene 4, while in a public place, Benevolio and Mercutio are conversing together, and Benevolio announces that Tybalt “hath sent a letter to [Romeo’s] father's house”(2.4.7). It is a challenge to fight. During the Elizabethan Era, keeping one’s reputation was of utmost importance. Such dishonor had ramifications on one’s family name.

    However, this challenge is what ultimately causes Mercutio and Tybalt’s deaths. Because Romeo has been recently married to Juliet, he is related to Tybalt. However, Tybalt is unaware of this. Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt at first causing Mercutio to intervene. From there, Romeo tries to pry the two apart and Tybalt wounds Mercutio mortally. In a fit of rage, Romeo slays Tybalt.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo/

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    Posted by yaday on Tuesday December 16, 2008 at 3:29 PM