What does Mercutio suspect is in the letter that Tybalt sends to Romeo's house?

In act 2, scene 4, Benvolio reports that Tybalt has sent a letter to Lord Montague's house. Mercutio replies, "A challenge, on my life" (2.4.9). Mercutio seems to assume that Tybalt would challenge Romeo to a duel, perhaps, because Romeo showed up, uninvited, at the big celebration held at the Capulet mansion the night before. Benvolio thinks that his cousin, Romeo, will answer the challenge in an honorable way, but Mercutio says that Romeo is "already dead" because he was killed by Rosaline's coldness and her failure to requite Romeo's love. Mercutio describes Tybalt as a "duelist" while he says that Romeo is "like a dried herring," limp and weak because of his love for Rosaline (2.4.25, 2.4.39). He does not realize, of course, that Romeo is no longer pining for Rosaline but has fallen deeply and quickly in love with Juliet Capulet, Tybalt's cousin.


Mercutio suspects that Tybalt's letter contains a challenge of mortal combat to Romeo. We don't know this for certain, but it would be entirely in keeping with Tybalt's character. He's a notorious hothead and trouble-maker, always itching for a fight. But by sending the challenge letter to Montague, Tybalt is indicating that an unseemly brawl in the street will no longer do; to settle the matter of honor between them, there must be a formal duel. A fine swordsman he may be, but as Mercutio slyly points out, Tybalt also likes to do things by the book:

Oh, he’s the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as you sing prick-song, keeps time, distance, and proportion. He rests his minim rests—one, two, and the third in your bosom. (Act II Scene IV)

Benvolio believes that Romeo will answer the challenge. Mercutio, however, is unconvinced. He doesn't think Romeo's up for a fight; he's already been killed by his crazy love-sickness for Rosaline. Cupid's arrow is much more dangerous than the tip of Tybalt's sword.

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