In the play Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio's death functions as a major turning point that establishes the major concerns of the play. In this scene, Shakespeare uses techniques to juxtapose the central themes of hatred, violence, and love to establish a sense of tragic loss, which also foreshadows the inevitable and devastating ending that awaits the two lovers. The themes of hatred and violence represented through the feud between the two families significantly determines the formation of the tragedy. When conflict arises between Mercutio and Tybalt, Romeo attempts to intervene to stop their fight, but fate seemingly conspires to bring about Mercutio's death. At this point, the sense of tragedy lights up in the audience's mind. Shakespeare achieves this effect through his playful and comic characterization of Mercutio. In Death, his comic characterization is juxtaposed with sadness, transforming the play from comedy to tragedy. The evocative image “a plague on both your homes” ominously implies to the audience that this is only “the beginning” of the tragedy. The metaphorical reference to the word “plague” also consolidates the occurrence of the tragedy and expresses the destruction of love in the work. Romeo's line "I protest that I never hurt you, but I love you better than you can imagine" highlights Romeo's desire to end the conflict with Tybalt. However, it is unsuccessful. This describes the struggle of love in the face of deeply rooted hatred. As we can see, the impact of the feud between the families has led to Tybalt's hatred against Romeo (and all the Montagues), and leads to the death of Mercutio, which in terms brings us to the advent of tragedy. In the death scene of Mercutio , Shakespeare uses characterization and dramatic irony...... middle of paper ......does not wake up, Romeo will soon take his own life. The scene in which Juliet wakes to find Romeo dead is symbolic in reiterating the tragic, yet overwhelming control of fate over star-crossed lovers. Thus, Mercutio's death triggered a chain of tragic incidents and thus establishes the main concerns of the tragedy. Mercutio's death as a turning point had a great impact on creating the main concerns of the tragedy. His death triggered a chain of tragic incidents, ultimately leading to the death of the ill-fated lovers. This turning point shifts the play from comedy to tragedy, consolidates love's defeat against violence and hatred, and reiterates Shakespeare's message of destiny's control over destinies. Therefore, the death of Mercutio, the climatic turning point is significant in the development of the main concerns of the tragedy.