In Romeo and Juliet, Act 3, Scene 1, Tybalt arrives in a public square in Verona looking for Romeo, who has just crashed a Capulet ball. Tybalt is furious at Romeo for attending the ball, and he challenges Romeo to a fight. Romeo refuses to fight, but Mercutio, Romeo's friend, is enraged by Tybalt's challenge and accepts the fight on Romeo's behalf.
During the fight, Mercutio is mortally wounded by Tybalt. As Mercutio lies dying, he curses both Romeo and Tybalt. Romeo, distraught over Mercutio's death, loses his temper and immediately challenges Tybalt to a duel. In the ensuing fight, Romeo kills Tybalt.