In Act 3, why does Romeo call himself "effeminate" and "fortune's fool"? William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" How does Benvolio explain what...

In , of
"," after trying to intervene in the argument betweenand , telling Tybalt that he now
loves, rather than hates him,  inadvertently comes between Tybalt and Mercutio, causing Mercutio
to be issued a grave wound.  For,  Tybalt has stabbed Mercutio under Romeo's arm.  When Mercutio
asks Romeo, "Why the devil came you between us!  I was hurt under your arm,"
(III,i,86),  Romeo replies, "I thought all for the best" (III,i,87).

As Mercutio cries that he will be "worms' meat,"carries him out.  Romeo
bemoans the fatal injury to his friend, Mercutio:

This
gentleman, 's near ally,/My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt/In my behalf, my reputation
stained/With Tybalt's slander--Tybalt, than an hour Hath been my knsman.  O sweet ,/Thy beauty
hath made me effeminate,/And in my temper softened valor's steel! (III,i, 92-98)

Ashamed, Romeo feels that he has become womanly by trying to talk
to Tybalt rather than pulling out his sword and fighting as Mercutio has done. Now, tragically,
Mercutio is dead.  With this news Romeo becomes incensed, sensing "This day's black
fate" which will be followed by more.  He shouts at the returning Tybalt, challenging him
to take back the insult of "villain" said in their earlier interchange.  But, Tybalt
tells Romeo that he will make him join his friend.  As they fight, Romeo kills Tybalt; Benvolio
urges Romeo to run, for the citizens have witnessed the scene:

The Prince will doom thee death/If thou art taken.  Hence, be gone,
away! (III,i,116-117)

The day's "black fate on more
days doth depend" has made Romeo its victim this time.  He shouts, "Oh, I am fortune's
fool!" (III,i,117), meaning he has been fooled by this fate that he has earlier recognized,
but did not know what it had in store for him.

This scene reiterates
and underscores the theme of fate in "Romeo and Juliet" as the well-meaning Romeo has
fallen into very bad luck in causing the death of both Mercutio and Tybalt.  With fate making
him a "fool," the "star-crossed" lover will soon be separated from his love,
and he will encounter other workings of fate, as well.