It Shall End

Act 5 Scene 3

      Rereading my last post, I realize how angry and out-of-sorts I was. It was just that Mercutio's death had hurt me so and I was vengeful in my thoughts. Now though, I know not how to feel. Romeo. Juliet. Montague. Capulet. A picture is worth a thousand words, but those four words are worth more than any number of pictures. Romeo, dead by his own hand lay by Juliet, dead by her own. Word spread like wildfire the morning after the incident. Long story short, Romeo married Juliet and then, in their love for each other, they killed themselves. If you don't understand what I'm talking about, do not be discouraged as the first time I was spoken to of this event I was extremely distraught and confused. How many more must we lose? Tybalt, Mercutio, Romeo, Juliet, and even Country Paris is dead! Dead I say! Death has made its presence known for much too long in Verona! Everyone has suffered! Everyone has paid! I cannot believe that this is what it took, the death of the heirs to both houses, to solve the ongoing dispute between the Montagues and the Capulets. It is done. "Golden statues," speak the villagers, "Peace within!" A brotherhood, it would seem, has blossomed between Lord Capulet and Lord Montague, ending their strife and longing for the other's blood. No one is sure what is in store for the Montagues, the Capulets, and those poor innocent villagers caught in the middle of a bloody battlefield, but a future of peace is hopefully on the horizon.

--Benvolio

They Care Not for Their Own

Sometime After Act 4 Scene 2

      How the Capulets' continue their lives like nothing has occured is beyond me. A wedding? How absurd! As if their own kinsman's death is just old news, Juliet is being wed to County Paris on Wednesday! Too soon is such a wonderful celebration after such a horrific tragedy. The death of Mercutio has plagued the entire house of Montague, with not one chime of laughter or joyful joke lighting up the shadowed corners where unspoken regrets stay. Had I only stepped in, this would have never happened. The last few moments with Mercutio continue to replay in my head like a broken record: Romeo stepping between Tybalt's sword and Mercutio's soft body just too late while I stand watching, no help to the now-dead loved ones at all. But no, the house of Capulet does not hold on to life-long friendships stolen by death's cold hands, but continues with celebration. They must have no kindness, no feelings, no compassion. Yes, that must be it! How else do you explain the rush to which Lord Capulet wishes to marry Juliet and County Paris? At one time I used to think it was completely unreasonable to constantly hate the Capulets, but I completely understand now. Those gorbellied fool-born pigeon eggs do not deserve to even breathe the same air as us humble Montagues. How they make me so angry! Had I only assisted Mercutio in battle with Tybalt...I thought much too highly of the son of Capulet, believing that he would never do such a horrific deed as to kill my best friend. Alas, I was wrong. Hail Montague, and death to all Capulets!

--Benvolio

An Eye for An Eye

Act 3 Scene 1

     Ay, how could it be? How could something so dreadful occur? Looking back, I know I felt it coming about, I just didn't realized who would pay the price before it was too late. Mercutio dead by Tybalt's hand and Tybalt dead by Romeo's. It was all so quick; I simply blinked and around me lay pools of blood. Blood of an enemy and blood of a friend. The sun beat down so strong that everyone seemed so irritable. No wonder Mercutio was so looking for a fight, but oh did he look in the wrong place. To think, all that morning he did nothing but make mindless comments concerning my "eagerness" to quarrel with any man who breathes to hard. ME? If anything, I do my best to end these idiotic feuds. It is himself whom ought to be accused of jumping into a battle too quickly. It was not his time, he sun not yet set on his life. Damn Tybalt, damn Romeo, damn Mercut--how do I say this? How do I speak so lowly of my own kinsman, one who is dead! Oh Mercutio, OOH Mercutio! Had Romeo not arrived, the feud could have been avoided entirely, but it is not fair for me to blame Romeo. No one man can be truly and rightfully blame for the entire catastrophe. Romeo did try to stop the feud as I did though.

      Alas, Mercutio lay wounded at the end of Tybalt's sword, pierced right where Romeo's tall build did miss, right in Mercutio's chest. We called for a surgeon, but none arrived in time. Mercutio was...was....dead, dead within seconds. I turned first to Romeo. Where Mercutio had been my best friend, Romeo had been Mercutio's. Immediately, I watched as cold vengeance swarmed into Romeo's eyes, replacing my cousin with a beast I did not know. He stood and ran. I was much too late when I caught up with Romeo... and Tybalt's dead body. All I am is too late. Had I been wiser, had I been quicker, had I been braver this would have never happened! Ay me!

      Seeing the bloody, lifeless body of the once arrogant Capulet, I told Romeo to run. He would be charged with death surely, or worse if there was such a thing. As if on cue, Price Escalus arrived with his train. Not only was another public dispute clearly on the list of "do not dare do" things, but Mercutio was also a relative of Prince Escalus. Examining the Prince's face in an attempt to determine the upcoming punishment, I saw his eyes droop at the sight of Mercutio's dead body. As if nothing had happened, he immediately resumed his posture and turned towards his audience of Montagues, Capulets, and innocent bystanders. After much dispute, a final punishment was drawn. Romeo: banished. What of his parents? What of the Montagues? I have not seen Romeo since I last saw Tybalt. I pray each night that Romeo is safe and that Mercutio has found peace.

Romeo's Letter

Act 2 Scene 4

      What a party last night! Women and music and champagne all in one room made for such a lovely night. I do not believe we were even noticed as out-of-place, as we seemed to fit right into the crowd of Capulets. The masks helped of course, but I still do believe it was my incredible dancing that allowed us to slide by as "invited" guests. I still have no idea where Romeo disappeared to after the masquerade. I wish to say he was with Rosaline, but now he seems completely unfazed when her name is mentioned compared to earlier where, whenever she was alluded to, he would begin to pronounce his undying love for her. Speaking of Romeo, a servant told me he received a letter from Tybalt today while Mercutio and I were hanging out. A challenge, we believe, was what Tybalt had so daringly sent to Romeo. Do not get me wrong, Tybalt is a wonderful swordsman, but he is too hot-headed and too enticed by what is considered popular to really be a true opponent to Romeo, especially when Romeo is an even better swordsman than Tybalt. Mercutio does not believe that Romeo will accept the challenge. He believes that being so obsessed with Rosaline and all has taken up so much of Romeo's day, as well has taken his manliness. With all the time he spends sulking I do wonder how he manages to make meals. When Romeo did arrive, words flew around the air between him and Mercutio as they traded very strong opinions. I was completely mature about the entire situation, until Mercutio dragged me into the bickering. I wanted nothing to do with it, really. Trading insults with Romeo and Mercutio interests me not. Nope, no sir. Still, not being able to resist a chance to poke fun at Romeo, I participated anyway. Soon the Capulet Nurse arrived and I nearly went insane. That women has no idea what to do with herself, and honestly neither do any of us. That crazy old fool was so busy flirting with Romeo (yuck) that she completely forgot to relay whatever message she had for Romeo until he reminded her as she was about to leave. Silly old woman, what can you do?

Capulet's Celebration

Act 1 Scene 4

      It was not easy convincing Romeo to attend the Capulet's masquerade. Once again, he was in such a sulk, and I was truly afraid he would turn down the slave's invitation. Finally, he agreed to go only in hopes of seeing his precious Rosaline. I do believe, though, that by the end of the night he will think of another's beauty. Romeo is so quick to give his heart to another, that he will surely find another young woman to which he will devote his adoration.
      Before the party, Romeo and I met up with Mercutio and a couple others who had been formally invited. How I got tied up with someone like Mercutio is still a mystery to me, but he is still our best friend and no amount of sexual innuendoes or sarcastic mockery could change that. His consistent disregard for what is expected almost excites me.
      Even on such a night Romeo was still in the foulest of moods, complaining about his heavy heart forbidding him to dance. How foolish he can be sometimes. I swear, he loves so carelessly almost as if any day now he'll fall down dead. Of course, this was exactly the type of thing Mercutio was looking for. In hindsight, I should have seen Mercutio's outburst coming, as he usually cannot control them. All he wanted was to arouse Romeo, to get a reaction out of him, but Romeo would not bow. I swear, they act like children when they are near each other. They acted especially so when, just as we were about to head towards the party, Romeo spoke of a dream forewarning him not to attend. The excuses he comes up with are outrageous. I assume Mercutio shared my views for Romeo's incredulous reasoning since, after hearing Romeo mentioning how he was rethinking the party because of a dream, he immediately jumped into his "dream" of Queen Mab, comparing his completely irrelevant dream to what Romeo sees as a warning. Such an interesting character Mercutio is. His playful ridicule directed towards Romeo soon took a rather...well...dark turn. I sometimes forget that Mercutio is not exactly who he seems to be. None of us are really. His obscure past leaves the reasoning for his mockery and, what comes across as hatred of the idea of love, a mystery. I do wish to help him through whatever nightmare he may have endured, but he seems to hide behind a shell of collectivity and playfulness, allowing no one behind to where he holds an insecurity.
      We eventually left for the masquerade with Romeo in tow and Mercutio slightly on edge, or maybe I was the one on edge with the fear that Mercutio may have an outburst again. We decided that we would not specifically introduce ourselves, Romeo and I, as we did not want to start anything being Montagues and all. I do in fact hate the whole "let's make a huge deal that one person has entered the building by introducing everyone to them" speech made every time someone arrives, so I had no problem with that anyway. I do believe this party will be quite enjoyable.

--Benvolio

I Do but Keep the Peace

Act 1 Scene 1

      For what it's worth, I tried to stop the feud. It has gotten so bad that even now, the servants brawl over...over what? It has been so long that I don't even remember the reason for our strife. Oh Gregory, oh Sampson, those logger-headed canker-blossoms. They fight for their pride but they have no dignity. I thought I had a chance to end the quarrel until Tybalt Capulet came. To think, I actually believed that he would help me in finding a reasonable conclusion. Ay, was I wrong. His hatred for all Montagues blurs his moralities and any sense of peace. I had no choice but to engage in the fray myself. To make matters even worse, Lord Capulet and Lord Montague both joined the feud, completely embarrassing both houses in front of the whole village. How are our houses ever suppose to agree if our masters cannot even see past our cursed bloodlines?

      Finally, Prince Escalus arrived with his train. Death, he claimed, would be the penalty if another public dispute occurred. He left immediately, taking Lord Capulet with him and breaking up the horrific display. Prince Escalus only wants what is best for the village, something both houses have yet to realize. I only try to keep the peace, but obviously I am not enough.

      Not so long after, Romeo came about. My cousin was in a familiar mood, one of sorrow and nostalgia. His greeting only brought on more of his saddened state. Rosaline: the one woman who seems to cause Romeo such heartache, and the rest of us a headache. I must say, though, how dumbstruck I was when I heard of her vow for eternal virginity. I guess it is insensitive of me to snicker at his heartbroken behavior, as I have never been in his predicament, but he is not himself. His usual high-spirits have been trampled into the dirt, replaced by continuous groaning. "Forget to think of her," I say, "examine other beauties." But still, he continued to whine, insisting that he would never be able to forget his Rosaline.

--Benvolio