It's hard for audiences not to dislike the belligerent Tybalt, who seems to have an irrationally deep hatred for Romeo. At the Capulet ball, for example, Tybalt recognizes and wants to go after Romeo, even though Lord Capulet , the host, tells him not to. Tybalt shows his hostility...
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by saying “when such a villain is a guest: I’ll not endure him.” He also vows that he will "strike [Romeo] dead.” When they meet on the hot streets of Verona in act 3, Tybalt says:
the hate I bear thee can afford / no better term than this—thou art a villain.
Even though Romeo, newly married to Tybalt's cousin Juliet, does everything he can to avoid a quarrel, Tybalt is determined to fight, as is Mercutio.
When the fight leads to Mercutio's death, we can't help but share in Romeo's frustration: Shakespeare has made Mercutio a high energy, dynamic, witty, and likable character whose demise disturbs us. We can easily understand why Romeo might kill Tybalt to avenge his friend's death.
Shakespeare seems to have wanted audiences to dislike Tybalt. He offers no backstory or insights into Tybalt's character to raise sympathy for his hatred of Romeo. He has Tybalt kill one of the play's most popular characters. The only hint we have that Tybalt might have been more than a violent, thuggish hothead is Juliet's grief over his death—but by then it is too late to get to know him.
What is the audience's first impression of Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet?
The audience is first introduced to Tybalt in act 1, scene 1, when he arrives on the scene to discover that the Capulet and Montague servants are fighting as Benvolio attempts to break them up. Tybalt immediately pulls out his sword and threatens to kill Benvolio, who responds by saying that he is simply trying to keep the peace. Tybalt then comments that he hates the word "peace" as much as he hates the Montagues and proceeds to fight Benvolio. Tybalt is initially depicted as a hot-headed, violent man who prefers to take action rather than talk things out. Tybalt is also portrayed as a vengeful man with a fierce temper who absolutely hates the Montague family. Tybalt is a flat character in the play and remains a violent, hateful man. He harbors a grudge against Romeo for attending Lord Capulet's ball and even attempts to kill Romeo later in the play.
What is the audience's first impression of Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet?
We first meet Juliet's cousin Tybalt in Act 1 Scene 1 when he joins in the street fight with Benvolio and the Capulet and Montague servants. This is a brief appearance, followed by another cameo of sorts in Act ! Scene 5 at the Capulet feast.
In both early scenes, Tybalt is revealed to be loud and quick-tempered, handy with his wit and his sword. Drawn as such, Tybalt is a very useful character for Shakespeare, who uses other characters to bring the lovers together. At the Capulet feast, Tybalt recognizes Romeo's voice and swears vengeance against him for crashing the party.
When Tybalt encounters Mercutio in Act 3 Scene 1, he (Tybalt) has been looking for Romeo to answer a challenge. Romeo appears but will not fight Tybalt, who is now his cousin through marriage to Juliet. Mercutio is enraged by Romeo's cowardice and fights Tybalt himself, gets killed, and prompts Romeo to kill Tybalt. This turns out to be the climax of the play; once Romeo kills Tybalt, there is no chance for the lovers to be together.