Once you have proved that the statement is in fact false, you have to prove that the other person said the false statement with the intent of causing you some form of harm. Slander and Libel. There are two different types of defamation of character. The first is when someone verbally says a false statement about you.
In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt is the nephew of Lord Capulet and Juliet's older cousin. We can accurately describe the skilled swordsman as a tough, cocky and aggressive character who is always looking for a fight.
Mercutio is antagonistic toward Tybalt by suggesting that Tybalt is a follower of the new trends in swordsmanship, which he regards as effeminate. Like Tybalt, Mercutio has a strong sense of honor and can't understand Romeo's refusal to fight Tybalt, calling it, O calm, dishonorable, vile submission (III.1.72).