A ct 3, S cene 1

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Mercutio accepts Tybalt’s challenge to a fight. He is fatally stabbed by Tybalt and dies cursing the feud between the Capulets and Montagues.

Benvolio tries his best to avoid a fight but is unable to stop the brawl that ensues. Later, he tells the prince about what has happened, trying to emphasize Romeo’s nobility.

A furious Tybalt finds the Montagues and Mercutio and tries to provoke Romeo into fighting. He kills Mercutio and then is killed by an enraged Romeo in revenge.

A citizen of Verona who is hanging out with Tybalt when he runs into the Montagues.

Romeo allows Mercutio to fight Tybalt in his place, but later, angry after Mercutio’s death, kills Tybalt in revenge before fleeing.

A citizen who comes upon the scene and demands to know what has happened to Mercutio and Tybalt.

The prince arrives at the scene of the fight and is told the story of what has happened. He decides to banish Romeo from Verona as punishment for killing Tybalt.

The Capulets demand that Romeo be executed for murdering their nephew Tybalt.

The Capulets demand that Romeo be executed for murdering their nephew Tybalt.

The Montagues argue that Romeo acted in self-defense and should not be punished.

The Montagues argue that Romeo acted in self-defense and should not be punished.

Tybalt, still looking to punish Romeo for his appearance at the Capulets’ party, runs into Mercutio and Benvolio. He provokes Mercutio into a duel, while Benvolio tries to stop the fighting. Romeo enters, and Tybalt calls him a villain. Romeo, having just married Juliet (who is Tybalt’s cousin), swears he’s not, but Tybalt challenges him to draw. Mercutio draws first, then Tybalt, and they eventually fall to fighting. Romeo tries to break it up, but Tybalt reaches under Romeo’s arm and fatally stabs Mercutio, who curses the Montagues and the Capulets for their continuing feud. A grieving Romeo fights Tybalt and kills him. Knowing that he’ll face death if he stays in Verona, Romeo flees. The Prince, the Capulets, and the Montagues arrive. Benvolio explains what happened, and Lady Capulet calls for Romeo’s death. The Montagues argue their son was merely defending himself against an instigating Tybalt. The Prince strikes a compromise, saying that he’ll spare Romeo’s life, but that he must leave Verona forever.