Queen Mab in Romeo and Juliet

A detailed Summary of Queen Mab in Romeo and Juliet

"A dream is a wish your heart makes," according to Cinderella. Are dreams and fairytales an idealistic notion, or are they actually conceivable? In the play, Romeo and Juliet, Romeo's best companion, Mercutio makes a speech reflecting upon the essence of dreams and fantasy. Basically, it provides a brief comic relief through its mocking tone towards Romeo's latest infatuation. Romeo is obsessed with Rosaline who barely knows of his existence. Mercutio gibes Romeo through his famous monologue, which provides explicit imagery. Romeo remarks that he had a dream and Mercutio adds that he also had a dream. In Mercutio's description of his dream the readers grasps a distinct image of Queen Mab, a fairylike figure who exploits and changes the dreams of people to those of mischief and materialism. Mercutio's perception of Queen, the true nature of his character and the fact that dreams is the product of "routine thoughts of the day" are exposed and represented through this one monologue.

1.Mercutio presents the image of Queen Mab very clearly, and his perception of her is strange and interesting. 2.Touted "the fairies mid-wife", Queen Mab possesses a name which is already ironic due to its wor

1.Mercutio's true character is revealed through this monologue, including his attitude toward life. 2. In essence, Queen Mab is an evil being, although at he proposition of a queen, the connotation is one that is positive and lovely. 3. Twisting, complex and unpredictable is Queen Mab, in a way; she is similar to Mercutio himself. 4. At the beginning of the play, Mercutio continuously jeers Romeo for his love for Rosaline, saying, "if love be rough with you, be rough with love" (Shakespeare 1.4.27). 5. He is not understanding and patient, though he is willing to give petty and wrongful advice like that of above. 6. What kind of friend is he? 7. His view on life is one of great intricacy; he is confusing and demeaning. 8. Mercutio uses this monologue to poke fun at his friend Romeo, to get him to realize that his feelings for Rosaline are as materialistic and fake as the dreams of Queen Mab. 9. The dreams are inconsistent, and unbelievable. 10. Ranging from, "lover's brains, and then they dream of love/...And then dreams he of smelling out a suit/...And then dream he of cutting foreign throats...(Shakespeare 1.4.70,78,83). 11. The dreams are strange and confusing, as is Mercutio as a person. 12. He is inconsistent, one moment he is mocking Romeo, the next, giving him advice. 13. Through it all, Mercutio and Queen Mab share one common bond, the fact that they are evil. 14. The queen provides sleepers with artificial dreams, thus causing them great distress. 15 Mercutio, on the other hand is neither sensitive nor understanding of Romeo, and mocking him adds to the fact he is mean and corrupt, without even realizing he is. 16. Mercutio is evil, yet not evil-minded, as he does not realize his words or action; he is another confused youth, struggling to fathom life as a whole.17. Mercutio's attitude on life is such, artificiality rules all, and it will be the downfall. 18. He likens Romeo's love for Rosaline with dreams; they are ideal, not real. 19. Dreams are not used to improve, but to provide in the time you are sleeping, nothing more. 20. Mercutio believes that life is full of artificiality and idealism, like Queen Mab and her dreams, and he is not tolerant of

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Approximate Word count = 1477
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English