Romeo: Is love a tender thing? it is too rough,
Too rude, too boisterous; and it pricks like thorn.
Mercutio: If love be rough with you, be rough with love;
Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.
—Romeo and Juliet,
William Shakespeare
What is Romeo’s attitude toward love?
What is Mercutio’s attitude toward love?
How does Mercutio act as a foil for Romeo?
What does the foil show about Romeo?
Romeo’s attitude toward love can be described as negative and harsh. He sees love as too rough, rude, and boisterous, comparing it to a prickly thorn.
Mercutio’s attitude toward love is more combative and defiant. He advises Romeo to be rough with love if it is rough with him, suggesting that love should be met with resistance.
Mercutio acts as a foil for Romeo by presenting a contrasting perspective on love. While Romeo sees love as a painful and negative experience, Mercutio encourages him to fight back against love’s hardships.
The foil of Mercutio shows that Romeo is more sensitive and melancholic in his approach to love, while Mercutio is more practical and resilient. It also highlights Romeo’s tendency to view love in a negative light, emphasizing his tendency for pessimism.