Before diving into the question of Mercutio’s sexuality, let’s first acknowledge one key fact: Mercutio is a fictional character from Romeo and Juliet, penned by none other than William Shakespeare. If that comes as news to you, congratulations — you’ve stumbled upon a very niche corner of the internet! As with any fictional character, how Mercutio is portrayed depends entirely on the actor, director, and the vision of the production. Since the plays publication in 1597, Mercutio has been reimagined countless times, from traditional portrayals to gender-flipped versions. So, is there a definitive answer to who Mercutio truly is? Not really — but one thing is certain: he’s pivotal to both the plot and to Romeo.
Interestingly, Mercutio is one of the few characters, other than Romeo and Juliet themselves, to also appear in The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet, the 1962 poem by Arthur Brooke that served as Shakespeare’s inspiration for the play. In Brooke’s version, Mercutio is charming but poses no threat to Romeo’s courtship of Juliet — more of a supporting gay best friend, perhaps?
Now lets address the rainbow-coloured elephant in the room. This article deliberately takes a closer look at Mercutio to explore potential homosexual traits in a character from centuries past. After all, if you look hard enough, you can find subtext just about anywhere! Some of the connections to the LGBTQ+ themes may be tenuous at best, but other could add a fascinating queer lens to one of Shakespeare’s most exuberant characters. Because really, aren’t all queens outrageous? Here, we’ll dig into Mercutio’s dialogue and behaviour to see if there are any clues that point us toward an answer to the big question: Is Mercutio Gay?
What do we actually know about Mercutio’s romantic life? Is he single, courting, in a relationship, or married? The truth is, we don’t know for certain. Shakespeare doesn’t hand us any direct answers in the text, but we do know Mercutio is of noble blood, being a relative of Prince Escalus. Still, a few passages could be interpreted to suggest a romantic connection between Meructio and Benvolio.
“Mercutio and his brother Valentine.”
The most straightforward reading of this line would be: “Mercutio has a brother, and his name is Valentine.” Fair enough. Valentine is a perfectly plausible name, particularly in Italy, where Saint Valentine himself hails from. But this is Shakespeare we’re talking about — a cunning linguist who loved to play with Roman saints, Norse gods, and a hefty dose of innuendo. Could there be more to this than a mere sibling?
As we all know, thanks to that faithful day of perpetual loneliness on the 14th of February, Valentine is the patron saint of love. Valentine’s Day has been celebrated since the 14th century (or since 496 AD, depending on your source), so Shakespeare would have been well aware of the connotations. Now, the word “Brother” in this instance could certainly mean a literal brother, but could it also refer to a close friend? After all, it isn’t just 90’s urban kids who called their friends “my brother.” Could “Mercutio and his brother Valentine” be reinterpreted as “Mercutio and his male lover”?
The line appears in a letter read by Romeo, listing guests for the party that Mercutio and Benvolio attend together. Yet Benvolio’s nae isn’t mentioned at all. Coincidence? Could this be a sly hint at something deeper between Mercutio and Benvolio? There is always method in Shakespeare’s madness, and he rarely wastes words! — But also this invitation was for the Capulet party and Benvolio — a Montegue — wouldn’t have been on the invite, so maybe not. But why not believe he was invited as Mercutio’s lover, but not named out of spite for the name (which we know exists!).
One of the reasons Mercutio is such a beloved character is his playful and vivid language. But when yo take a closer look at how he talks about women versus how he describes Romeo, a clear pattern emerges. He uses affectionate terms for Romeo, while expressing disdain for women and the idea of conventional love. Sure this could be the defiance of a rebellious teen, or the words of a pompous virgin. It could even be the frustration of a jealous friend. But maybe, just maybe, these are the words of someone who harbours deeper feelings for Romeo — someone who wants to push women aside in favour of a love between two men.
Take these comparisons:
“Gentle Romeo,” “Rose-cheeked Romeo,” “Poor Romeo”
Versus…
“Pale, hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline,” and “Hide her face, for her fan’s the fairer face.”
There’s a stark contrast here — Mercutio’s warm and affectionate language toward Romeo stands in direct opposition to his harsh dismissal of women. It’s almost as if he’s trying to teach Romeo that he’s not truly in love with Rosaline, but is merely blindsided by her looks.
Then, there’s Mercutio’s famous fruit monologue — a bawdy comedy bit that, once dissected, is not only peak Shakespearean filth but also loaded with innuendo. The medlar fruit, which Mercutio encourages Romeo to sit beneath, is said to resemble a bum hole. Yes, a bumble. I’ve left you a handy reference image below. Why is Mercutio pointing Romeo towards this imagery? And why does he refer to Rosaline as an “Open arse,” I would say that an arse is a deviation from what one might call the “usual target”?
Mercutio wraps this all up by saying he’s going to bed, then casually inviting Romeo to join him. While it could all be teasing, the homoerotic subtext is unmistakable. Maybe it’s just bawdy humour, but didn’t we all make outlandish jokes about our sexuality before coming out the closet?
"If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.
Now will he sit under the medlar tree,
And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit
As maids call medlars, when they laugh alone.
Romeo, that she were, O, that she were
An open arse, thou a poperin pear!
Romeo, good night: I’ll to my trucke-deb;
This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep:
Come, shall we go?”
Right, So Mercutio is gay because he doesn’t like Rosaline and says Romeo would be better off with an open arse that looks like the fruit of a Medlar tree… Is that it?
Let’s take a look at the historical context to see how Mercutio’s potential queerness fits into the time period. First off, we’ve got the Buggery Act of 1533, which made certain “buggering” activities punishable by death. But this wasn’t just aimed at men having sex with men — it also covered sex with animals and sexual conduct with children. Interestingly, there were only 56 recorded executions under this law, and it was often used to frame people for political or personal reasons. The general attitude of the time was more “don’t ask, don’t tell” — as long as it was done in private, people were willing to turn a blind eye. It wasn’t until the 1800s that the laws in England became stricter, criminalising homosexuality even behind closed doors.
But that’s beside the point when we remember Romeo and Juliet is set in Italy, not England. And Italy at the time had a very different take on things. Italian society, especially in the Renaissance, still held onto some rather ‘Roman’ ideals about same-sex relationships. Historian Michael Rocke notes that during the 14th century, most Italian men had engaged in homosexual relations at some point in their lives. In fact, Italian Renaissance theatre even featured references to same-sex relationships, especially among women. So, being “a little bit gay” wasn’t exactly a scandal in the 1500s. Men were expected to marry women, but perhaps still engage in what the Ancient Greeks called Pederasty (relationships between older men and younger boys).
Shakespeare himself was fascinated by god, mythologies, and practices from other cultures. Romeo and Juliet is full of references to figures like Cupid, Venus, Echo, and Aurora. So why not throw in a nod to Ancient Greek Pederasty? After all, Mercutio’s age is never specified. He could be an older figure of renowned (an Erastes) taking care of an mentoring the younger Romeo (his Eromenos). In that light, Mercutio’s protectiveness over Romeo later in the play might stem from something more than friendship. It’s not about being “gay” in the modern sense; it could be another layer of tradition and affection that Shakespeare was playing with. “I’m not gay, I’m just following a Roman Tradition!” At least that’s what I keep telling my mother…
When all is said and done, Mercutio is undeniable fixated on penises, arses, and erections. Even more than that, he seems more concerned about where Romeo is putting his than his own actions at times. Let’s take a look at some of Mercutio’s most phallic lines — and the translations that SparkNotes conveniently glosses over:
“To Raise a Spirit” — He’s talking about getting an erection.
“Letting it stand there till she has laid itI” — Refers to staying erect until ‘completion’.
“Though rarest me to stop in my tale” — A cheeky homonym: “tale” and “tail”, alluding to the penis.
“Dial is now upon the prick of noon” — Shakespeare uses “prick” (a slang term for penis) when any other word for ‘point’ would have worked.
“Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down” — Essentially, Mercutio is advising Romeo to relieve his sexual frustration by having sex.
And those are just from Mrcutio’s early scenes. The man is relentless in his innuendos and keeps getting away with it! From my experience, straight men who are this obsessed with talking about penises don’t tend to be all that straight. Just imagine a burly construction worker constantly talking about his coworkers penis — Gary the foreman would probably raise an eyebrow or two.
But Mercutio’s sexual quilts don’t end here. These are just some of the most blatant examples, and there are plenty more to be found if you’re inclined to search. Mercutio’s language is layered with sexual undertones, and while we can view these through a queer lens, they could also just be the words of a bawdy playful character. Ultimately, as a figure in a play, how we interpret Mercutio depends on the choices made by the actor and the creative team.
That said, if you’re reading this, chances are you’re looking for reasons to portray Mercutio as gay. I say go for it! Let’s dig deeper into the archives and uncover the queer subtext that’s often overlooked. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that’s the beauty of art — it invites interpretation, and the stage is where we get to make those interpretations come to life.
In the end, the question of Mercutio’s sexuality remains open to interpretation, like much of Shakespeare’s work. Through his witty humour and his clear emotional bond with Romeo, there’s plenty of room to view Mercutio through a queer lens. Whether he’s merely a playful rebellious character secretly harbouring deeper feelings, what makes Mercutio so compelling is his complexity. We cannot say under any certain circumstances what Shakespeare’s intentions for this character were. Ultimately, the beauty of theatre is that each production offers a new opportunity to reimagine characters and explore different facets of their personalities. So if you choose to see Mercutio as gay — or even play him that way — you’re not just queering a classic, you’re adding a new layer to a timeless character. It’s this kind of exploration that keeps Shakespeare fresh and vibrant in our modern world.
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