It is not by chance that Mercutio's name is derived from mercury, a poisonous and volatile element which is quick to respond to changes in temperature and is therefore used in thermometers. Furthermore, the planet Mercury is the closest to the sun and therefore very hot. Mercutio's hot temper therefore makes his name more than apt.
The best examples of Mercutio's quick temper are found in his confrontation with Tybalt, a Capulet, and Juliet's cousin, in Act 3, scene 1. Tybalt has forwarded a written challenge to Romeo. Mercutio is aware of the challenge and when he and Benvolio encounter Tybalt who seeks to have a word with one of them, he replies:
And but one word with one of us? couple it with
something; make it a word and a blow.
Mercutio's aggression is obvious. He tells Tybalt that a word is nothing and that he should add 'a blow' i.e. a physical confrontation, to make their meeting worthwhile.
Tybalt replies in the affirmative, that he is more than happy to indulge in a fight and that Mercutio would give him enough reason to do so. Mercutio, in response, asks Tybalt whether he cannot fight without being provoked. When Tybalt tells him that he 'consorts with Romeo,' Mercutio intentionally misinterprets the word as meaning that they are a troupe of singers. He then forwards a challenge:
look to hear nothing but
discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall
make you dance. 'Zounds, consort!
He extends the minstrel metaphor stating that if they were minstrels, they would be out of tune and play discordant sounds. He then refers to his rapier as a fiddlestick which he will sway to make Tybalt and his companions dance. He uses the expletive 'Zounds', to indicate how upset he is for being referred to as a mere minstrel. Mercutio is obviously looking for a fight.
Benvolio obviously does not want to make a public scene and asks that they move to a more private place where Mercutio can make his grievances known. Mercutio stubbornly refuses:
Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;
I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.
He is intent on causing a fracas in spite of the Prince's earlier warning that any public brawl between the houses of Capulet and Montague or their adherents, will be severely punished. At this point, Romeo arrives.
When Tybalt refers to Romeo as 'my man', Mercutio feels insulted and tells Tybalt that Romeo could only be his man if he should lead him to the field of battle where they can fight.
Tybalt issues a challenge to Romeo, which he refuses. He instead expresses his love for him. He asks him to be satisfied by this. Mercutio is angered by what he believes is Romeo's cowardly and feeble response. He shouts:
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
Alla stoccata carries it away.
He uses a fencing term meaning to direct one's rapier (at an opponent) and make a thrust. He then draws his sword and challenges Tybalt to a duel. He asserts that he will kill him and cudgel the remaining eight lives he has, for Tybalt is a cat with nine lives. Tybalt takes up his challenge and draws his sword.
Romeo tries to intervene and asks Mercutio to replace his rapier, but Mercutio refuses. The two men start their duel with Romeo shouting at them to stop and to heed the warning from the Prince. His intervention leads to Tybalt gaining an advantage and he mortally wounds Mercutio who later dies of his injury.
This event spells a dramatic turning-point in the play, for Romeo later avenges Mercutio's death by killing Tybalt. He is then banished from Verona or forfeit his life. All the successive events hereafter are a direct consequence of this incident.
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