Mercutio is kind of like that buddy we all have who is amusing so we keep him around even though he's a troublemaker. That this character is volatile should not be much of a surprise to the careful reader. As his name suggests, Mercutio has a temper that reacts like the element mercury, a substance that heats and cools quickly. As the tragedy unfolds, one of the first unravelings comes from Mercutio's hand. Without his rash actions, things may have turned out very differently. Be sure you understand Mercutio's role in the play by taking our exclusive quiz. Each of our questions is ranked so that you can understand the level of difficulty. See how your score compares with others who have also taken this quiz. Give it a try!