advice from 400 years ago
- Page 178: "So little is the price of a mans life in our daies, and so great is the pride and wrath of vaine and foolish men..." This quote could be helpful to Mercutio and Tybalt. It could apply to Mercutio for picking a fight with Tybalt, and it could apply to Tybalt for letting his pride get in the way of rational decisions. For example: his involvement in the fight lead to his death. This quote is especially important because Mercutio and Tybalt's egos caused them to fight in the first place, which eventually led to their deaths.
- Page 178: "...but by the sacrifice of death, either one or both must die, or at the least they hazard their lives in a wicked combat." All three of the men could have taken this advice, because each of them were involved in a fatal fight. Mercutio was killed while fighting Tybalt, Tybalt was killed while fighting Romeo, and Romeo killed Paris in a fight. Although one of them could have simply walked away from the fight, they chose to continue until someone ended up dead. Romeo lost a friend, Tybalt lost his own life, and the Prince lost two of his kinsmen. This quote could be connected to the first quote (above) because Tybalt and Mercutio refused to walk away from a fight. When people (usually men) fight today, it is not common to be injured to the brink of death, although it can happen.
- Page 178: "The common people (saith Seneca) admire courageous gentlemen, and they that are old are honoured, but quiet men are counted cowards." This could apply to Tybalt, because rather than resisting Mercutio's taunts, he allowed himself to be provoked and gave into the fight. The quote could still apply today, because many people are teased simply for being sensible and resisting a fight.
- Page 186: "...so if our gentlemen would consider when they ought to fight, what indeed belongeth to their honour, and what a lamentable issue commeth of such rash, venturous and beastly fighting..." Mercutio, Romeo, and Tybalt all should have considered "when to fight", because if they had done so, the lives of Mercutio, Tybalt, and Paris would have been saved. Often the men picked fights over small issues, without considering the consequences. Rather than explaining the problems the men had with each other, they chose to fight. The same applies to modern times, because often people fight over minor issues.
- Page 186: "...there was a sober staied gentleman a Courtier, who went in and out as his place required with his sword by his side, but he medled with no man, and gave no occasion of brawle..." Mercutio, Tybalt and Romeo could have followed in this man's footsteps by using their swords responsibly. Instead of only fighting for self defense, the men often fought with each other as if it was a game, and lives were not at stake.
- Page 186: "...so if Parents would instruct their children to quiet meekness, and to abstaine from quarrels, and quarrelling company; and underhand arme them with skill & courage to defend themselves..." The parents of Montague, Romeo, and Tybalt could have taken this advice, and taught their sons not to be so violent. If the Capulets and Montagues had not been rivals, the parents of the men likely would not have taught them to rely on swords to resolve their issues. If this was the case, the three men probably wouldn't fight so often. The same could be said for modern times, because often children take after their parents' habits.