Mercutio challenges Tybalt, (“Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?”). Romeo steps in between them to stop the flight, but Tybalt reaches ีืder Romeo’s arm and stabs Mercutio. Tybalt flees before Romeo realizes what has happened. Mercutio curses both the Capulets and the Montagues by saying, “ A plague a both your houses” . He is led offstage, where he dies. Tybalt returns, and an angry Romeo kills him. This is the turning point of the play.