Relationships

I noticed something last night at rehearsal. I've been thinking about Mercutio's relationships with Benvolio and Romeo. How is Mercutio thought of in Verona? What's his status? Last night, I found a clue. Capulet writes a guest list for the party at which the young lovers first meet. And on that list, Mercutio is listed before any of Capulet's relatives, including Tybalt (who is apparently the LAST relative listed).

Signior Martino and his wife and daughters;
County Anselme and his beauteous sisters; the lady
widow of Vitravio; Signior Placentio and his lovely
nieces; Mercutio and his brother Valentine; mine
uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters; my fair niece
Rosaline; Livia; Signior Valentio and his cousin
Tybalt, Lucio and the lively Helena.

Out of all the people on the list, Mercutio is the first one who appears elsewhere in the play. Tybalt is the last. This doesn't help much with respect to Benvolio and Romeo, but it does strongly suggest that Mercutio is seen in Verona as more than just a brawler and a rake. He's respected enough to be invited to the best parties, and not as an afterthought. And that, in turn, suggests that Benvolio and Romeo don't merely tolerate him, but that they probably have some degree of actual respect for him. How that's possible, given what we see of Mercutio, I haven't figured out yet.