Verona Times
Article written by: Tristen Smith
Breaking news: The double duel
Here is what actually took place here on this horrific day, Tybalt encounters Benvolio and Mercutio wandering the streets of Verona when he stops and talks to them. Benvolio initiates somewhat of a fight by saying, “By my head, here come the Capulets."(Shakespeare 3.1.33) the fight begins when Tybalt argues with Mercutio and draws his sword and so does Mercutio. They duel until one has deceased. Mercutio is the unlucky one in this case. Romeo watched this happen and had felt it was his fault that Mercutio had died because he had tried to break up the fight but Tybalt had stabbed Mercutio under his arm. In result, even though Romeo married, Romeo duels Tybalt as an act of revenge. To begin the fight, Romeo says, "Alive in triumph- and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fiery eyed be my conduct now..."(Shakespeare 3.1.118-120) this engaged the fight and caused Tybalt to be killed. During the aftermath, the prince heard of the violence and come to sort the issue. The Capulets had blamed Romeo of this murder and the prince had then banished Romeo form Verona. This ultimately happened because of their family feud and natural hatred for each other. Also the summer heat had turned their accidental encounter had turned their unexpected gathering into a violent fight to the death with 2 casualties.