Mercutio (character)

Mercutio is a character created by William Shakespeare who appears in Romeo and Juliet and in many of its adaptations, such as Romeo and Juliet: the Musical. He was probably named for Marcuccio Guertio, a rival to Romeo in Giulietta e Romeo by Luigi Da Porto. He is known for his bold personality and sometimes raunchy witticisms. He is discussed in The Catcher in the Rye.
== In Canon ==
=== In Shakespeare ===
Mercutio is Romeo and Benvolio's saucy friend who dies in a duel with Tybalt Capulet after Romeo refuses to accept the challenge.
=== In Roméo et Juliette ===
In Roméo et Juliette: de la Haine à l'Amour (2001), the original version of the musical, Mercutio's role is expanded upon somewhat. He is described as insane but is portrayed as sophisticated and also believes the others are repressed in ways which he is not. Philippe D'Avilla, who is bald and older than most Mercutios, portrayed him, giving him a slightly sinister air of sophistication. 
In Rómeó és Júlia, the Hungarian version, he is portrayed by Zoltán Bereczki. "La Follie" was cut, as were any references to his mental illness, and he was given some additional lines. He is extremely energetic, dances constantly, sings, raps, does flying leaps, and makes numerous jestingly elaborate bows. At one point, he kisses Romeo and tries to kiss Benvolio but doesn't seem serious about it. He also caresses Tybalt's face at one point during their duel. 
In the 2010 French revival, Roméo et Juliette: Les Enfants de Vérone, John Eyzen portrayed him very differently than D'Avilla had. Eyzen's Mercutio has long, flowing hair, is very unstable, revels in unpredictability and danger to a greater degree than Zolicutio, and seems to have a love/hate relationship with Tybalt, who he flirts with while fighting. This was likely influenced by Austrian RuJ, where Tybalt kisses Mercutio after mortally wounding him, and the addition of "La Reine Mab (Je Reve)" and the alteration of "La Follie", Mercutio's solo songs. Later in the run, Eyzen cut his hair; his later portrayals are less popular
In Romeo e Giulietta - Ama e Cambia il Mondo, where he was played by Luca Giacomelli Ferrarini with Manuel Bianco as an alternate, Mercutio is deeply depressed and explicitly in love with Romeo, and he passionately kisses Romeo on the lips before dying.
In the Toho productions, Mercutio dies in Benvolio's arms rather than Romeo's. "La Reine Mab" is changed to be about the Capulet ball, and "La Follie" is cut, making his character more straightforward and benignly quirky.
== In Fandom ==
=== In General ===
Mercutio is an extremely popular character. In the R&J Shakespearean tag on Ao3, he is the most tagged character. In the French and Hungarian musical subfandoms, he is less tagged than Tybalt but still a highly popular subject for art and fic.
The majority of fans and some scholars interpret him as gay or bi.
He is most frequently shipped with Benvolio or Tybalt, followed by Romeo. Fans who ship him with Romeo often do so as a one-sided ship where Romeo does not love him in return.
The most fandom-popular Mercutio actors from versions using the play's script are Harold Perrineau, who played him in Romeo + Juliet, and John McEnry, who played him in Romeo And Juliet (1968).
One major criticism of the character in and out of fandom is that in some productions, he sexually harasses the Nurse. This is sometimes downplayed, both by actors and in fan content, and has not largely affected the popularity of the character.
=== RetJ/ResJ Fandom ===
To differentiate between different versions and runs, musical fans referring to Mercutio sometimes specify by using a specific spelling (ex: Mercuzio from the Italian musical) or by mashing Mercutio's name together with that of the actor who played him (ex: Zolicutio, from the first Hungarian run, played by Zoltán Bereczki). A common trope in fan art which also sometimes appears in fic is for different Mercutios to meet each other. The most popular versions in fan art are Zolicutio and John Eyzen's Mercutio during the part of the run when Eyzen had long, wavy hair. 
A number of fans headcanon him as transi’ve said it before and i’ll fucking say it again. mercutio transgender @madwhenyrdreaming or as exemplifying gender in a special way.i'm sorry i can't be him by @crazyw3irdo
Multiple fans have compared Eyzen's Mercutio to Dionysus,@princeanon's WIP Romeo & Juliet Percy Jackson AU, one example of this phenomenonMercutio and Benvolio as Dionysus and Hermes (which makes Romeo Apollo, very fitting) @anonymousgeekhere since the latter is a god of wine, theater and madness; is sometimes depicted with longer, curly hair in ancient statuary;Statue of Dionysus, dating to the 2nd century CE; found in Cyrene, Libya, at the Temple of Dionysos and is associated with the color purple via grapes. This has been referenced in fic.Where do we go now that they're gone? by Kittycatts 
Some headcanon that Mercutio is attracted to and has slept with Lady Capulet, which occasionally makes its way into fics and art.Day 2: having relations with your mom lol by @dailymercutio 
== Fan Works ==
=== Shakespearean Fandom ===
==== Writing ====
* The Madness of Love by Meltha (Mature, backstory, one-sided Rocutio)
==== Art ====
* I just think that he by @artsyanarchist (Harold Perrineau)
==== Miscellaneous ====
* I do think hands down the best Shakespearean death goes to mercutio by @astrangergivingthestrangewelcome
* Harold Perrineau Mercutio monologue appreciation by @andromeda3116
* Harold Perrrineau GIFS
* Mercutio Is Definitely A Wizard... by LemonMaster 66 (R+J specific meta)
=== Musical Fandom ===
==== Writing ====
==== Art ====
* mercutio by @apfel-strudelz (resj)
* Drawings of Mercutio by @musical-trash-goblin (resj)
* Overture by @mercutiosometimes
* ill and getting worse. by @artsyanarchist (retj)
* Collides by @sheenstbr (multi)
* Day 11: If you’re Mercutio and I’m Mercutio, who is driving the plane by @dailymercutio
* John Eyzen as Mercutio by @lowey0316 (retj)
* drawing dead musical gays by @linda-lindt (retj)
* my favorite by @artsyachaion (retj)
* Mercutio by @shadowofqueenmab (retj)
* Mercutio and Tybalt Illustrations by @kiffenart (retj)
* I haven't posted in a hot minute by @artsyanarchist (retj)
==== Miscellaneous ====
* My interpretations of Mercutios from some RetJ productions I've seen by @dinatela
* resj mercutio compilation by @crazyw3irdo
* Tag yourself meme Mercutio edition by @elzza
* mercutio's lament song by Lucia Pearl
== Archives and Links ==
* Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet) tag on Ao3
== References ==
Category:Romeo and Juliet
Category:Characters