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Why won't Romeo fight Tybalt?

Romeo won't fight Tybalt, at first, because he secretly married Juliet, Tybalt's cousin, that morning.  Romeo now considers Tybalt to be a relation of his own, and he doesn't want to hurt anyone of Juliet's family now, despite the feud between his own parents and hers.  When Tybalt approaches Romeo and calls him a "villain," claiming that Romeo has injured his family's honor (for crashing their party the night before), Romeo says, "Tybalt, the reason...

Romeo won't fight Tybalt, at first, because he secretly married Juliet, Tybalt's cousin, that morning.  Romeo now considers Tybalt to be a relation of his own, and he doesn't want to hurt anyone of Juliet's family now, despite the feud between his own parents and hers.  When Tybalt approaches Romeo and calls him a "villain," claiming that Romeo has injured his family's honor (for crashing their party the night before), Romeo says, "Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee / Doth much excuse the appertaining rage / To such a greeting" (3.1.33-35).  In saying this, Romeo means that he has a reason to love Tybalt, though Tybalt doesn't know it yet, and this love is stronger than the anger he might feel at being addressed in such an insulting way.  When Tybalt continues to berate him, Romeo says, "I do protest I never injured thee, / But love thee better than thou canst devise, / Till thou shalt know the reason of my love" (3.1.39-41).  In other words, Romeo declares that he has not harmed Tybalt and actually loves him better than he can possibly understand right now.  Romeo implores Tybalt to be satisfied with his words, but he is not.

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