Contrast Between Love and Violence in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

for example: "thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, or a

The Opposing Themes of Love and Hate in the Play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet is conflict and love. Conflict and love are both shown through characterization in all of the characters. In the beginning, we see Juliet 's character as a little young child who obeys her family duties. When she meets, Romeo, her character is taken on a rollercoaster of emotions. Juliet 's character is the source of conflict and we see this through her developing actions. Romeo creates Juliet into this powerful young women. Romeo is so important to Juliet that she does not want to loose him. Conflict begins to arise when things actually take off. Once they are together on the balcony, is when they both realize that they are meant for each other. That true love is true and that they are destined for the stars. True love is

Romeo and Juliet is a story based on conflict. The conflict in the story is Capulet against Montague. From ancient times, the two families have held grudges against each other. As the book states. “Two households, alike in dignity...from ancient grudge break to new mutiny. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean (1.Prologue.1-4).” The grudge between the two families has led to fighting and even death.

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is set in 16th century Verona, Italy. A play that relays the story of two young lovers whose ill-fated deaths end an ancient family feud. The two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, come from families who disapprove of their love. Their situation complicates as the play progresses, with an arranged marriage and several deaths. Romeo and Juliet both fall to the consequences of their secret marriage. Even from the beginning, their decisions were rash; especially from Romeo. Shakespeare use of various tactics in developing Romeo’s character in the play. He shows that Romeo has an impulsive and emotional disposition. In the play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is irrational.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare incorporates the theme of conflict through many different characters and situations. The definition of conflict is “a fight, battle, or struggle; especially a prolonged struggle; strife” The play mainly focuses on the tragic lives of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet; the two characters belong to the Montague and Capulet households respectively, which have held ongoing grudges against each other for years. The play ends with both main characters committing suicide, to be together in heaven. As with many of Shakespeare’s works, the theme of conflict is a strong one. For a start, there is the ongoing conflict between the two families; the Montagues and the Capulets. The audience is unsure how this

Throughout Romeo and Juliet the theme of conflict is conveyed in many forms, mostly through physical violence; reflected in the era of the Renaissance where there was political turmoil and many European nations were at war. Shakespeare presents the theme in other forms as well; family versus family, sacred versus profane, parent versus child and language versus inner conflict. Conflict is a key in the structure of the play; it is highlighted in the beginning, middle and end. As an audience we are constantly being reminded of conflict which is reflected within the era the play was written in. The Renaissance was the 'rebirth ' of classical learning and was also the time when Science challenged many traditional Christian beliefs which resulted in Catholics fighting Protestants; the Gunpowder plot and the Spanish Armada. Shakespeare chose to dramatise conflict as it was the context in which he was writing plays. It is therefore arguable that this period was characterised by irreconcilable opposites in politics, religion and art. Nothing in the world can exist without its opposite- just as love cannot exist without hate, violence cannot exist without peace.

Romeo was a Montague and Juliet was a Capulet and the families’ feud meant that the two could never be together. This is shown in this quote, “My only love sprung from my only hate! / Too early seen unknown, and known too late!’ (5.3.295-299). In this scene, Juliet complains about Romeo being a Montague. She wishes that he wasn’t so that they could freely be together. Also, both families and their servants would always pick fights on the streets of Verona. One of these fights would result in Romeo being banished from Verona. In a scene of the play, Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin decides to pick a fight with Romeo and his friend Mercutio in the middle of the street. Romeo tries to stop the fight because he is now related to Tybalt through his marriage to Juliet. This is shown in the following quote where Romeo tries to keep the peace, “Draw Benvolio, beat down their weapons. / Gentlemen, for shame! / ... / Forbid this bandying in Verona’s streets” (3.1.381-384), but no one listens to him and Tybalt ends up killing Mercutio. Romeo has no choice but to kill Tybalt for revenge which leads to the Prince banishing Romeo. Without the feud, Romeo and Juliet would not have had to keep their love a secret and, the fight that resulted in Romeo’s banishment would never have happened. This is why the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues is responsible for Romeo

‘I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword, or manage it to part

First and foremost, the feud between the Capulets and Montagues. This feud plays a major role in all of the choices Romeo and Juliet make. If it wasn't for the feud between the two household Romeo and Juliet wouldn't feel like they need to keep their love a secret and that they should be enemies. Juliet confesses to herself “ O, Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo. Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or if

The Truth Behind Violence According to Derek Landy, a famous Irish author and screenwriter, “ Violence is never the answer, until it’s the only answer. This message stays true in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In this action pact play, there are two passionate lovers. On one hand, there is Romeo, belonging to the Montague family, and on the other hand, there is Juliet, belonging to the Capulet family.

In the story “Romeo and Juliet” there are a series of themes. The theme is the moral or universal idea of a story. The most relevant theme in this story is: “Emotions can often lead to violence.” This theme is reflected in the actions of the Capulet and Montague families as well as the events that follow. Some events that back up this theme is when Juliet fails to seek love to marry Paris and puts herself in a deep sleep the eve of the wedding.

Is Romeo and Juliet a Shakesperian play full of love at first sight or just rash and consequential decisions? In this play we meet two star crossed lovers who meet at a party on one night and then, almost instataneously, plegde themselves for each other and plan to marry, which then leads to six people dying including themselves. Romeo and Juliet should have taken it slow with their affairs in order to eliminate the violence and death that ensued from them falling in love, encourage a healthier road to peace in order to unite both families, and to better encourage a more joyful relationship, as mentioned by Friar Lurence.

and he says 'the bawdy hand of the dial is now upon the prick of noon'

Is love a special connection or is it something more physical? Throughout many centuries the perspective of love has always revolved around an association that the two people have in common. William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, we see how love is diverse; Romeo talked about Rosaline. He mentioned that he was very depressed and even offered her money to marry him. Today, love is a crave, something that people do not take much time to think on.