How Does Shakespeare Present Conflict In Romeo And Juliet

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Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, tells the tale of two young lovers whose lives end in great tragedy. What makes their story so tragic is that despite their love for one another, their families are mortal enemies. Conflict is a central ingredient in Romeo and Juliet's sad fate. Although their love for each other is strong, it cannot overcome the deluge of conflict that surrounds them. Ultimately they are defeated by the conflicts of person vs person, person vs self, and person vs society.

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

In the beginning of the story, the Montagues and Capulets break out fighting in the middle of the street and they are told to stop their fighting or else they will be banished. Juliet is a Capulet, and her father is hosting a party. Romeo longing for his love Rosaline decides to crash the party. When Romeo meets Juliet, he instantly falls in love. But almost instantaneously Tybalt recognizes Romeo’s voice. “This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. What! Dares the slave. Come hither, covered with an antic face, To fleer and scorn our solemnity? Now, by the stock and honor of my kin. To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.” (1.5.53-58) From this moment on, Tybalt is out for Romeo.

In this essay I will address how conflict is successfully used in Act 1 Scene 1 to prepare the audience for the rest of the play. It will firstly show how Shakespeare uses physical conflict between the two feuding families. Secondly I will demonstrate the idea that Shakespeare introduces emotional conflict through the character of Romeo, and his outpourings of love for Rosaline. Finally I will show that the character of Romeo demonstrates both physical or external conflict and emotional or internal conflict. The purpose of the prologue is to clearly outline the plot of the whole play in fourteen lines and it also allows the audience to be settled before the actual play

The play starts with Sampson and Gregory, two of Capulet’s servants, beginning a quarrel with two servants of Montague. This shows that from the working-class to the upper-class in the two families, they still hold a grudge against the opposite family. Tybalt arrives at the scene, speaking of his loathing of the Montagues, “I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee”. A furious riot develops with Lords Capulet and Montague joining in and officers clubbing both sides of the fight, only for it to be stopped by the neutral Prince Escales. The riot further emphasises the vast level of hate between the two families.

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.

As opposed to Benvolio Montague who tries to defuse the conflict, Tybalt is quick to draw his sword and challenge Benvolio into a fight. His hostility is clear through his words and actions, as shown in the dialogues “What, art thou drawn upon these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death … What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee.

Tybalt’s monstrous behaviour in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet fuels the feuding families’ hate and consequently results in the deaths of the doomed lovers. His violent dispositions, fierce devotion to the Capulets and irrational behaviour all contribute to the final fatalities of the hero and heroine. Tybalt's violence leads to chaos in between the two bickering families. Tybalt is to blame for their deaths as his violent tendencies had chain reactions. Tybalt's hatred for the Montagues is strong as he feels like they are a threat to the Capulets.

He is eager to defend his family name and honor. This hostile individual takes the conflict with the Montagues very seriously, and is often the instigator of conflicts. Frequently, he exhibits impulsive behavior. An example of Tybalt’s hostile attitude occurs when he and Benvolio are speaking, “What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee, coward!” (Act I, Scene I). Here Tybalt is the instigator. As Benvolio asks for peace, Tybalt refuses, never backing down from a possible fight. When the Capulets host a party, Tybalt is irate over Romeo being there, “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe. A villain, that is hither to come in spite. . .” (Act I, Scene 5). This is a prime example of Tybalt defending his family name, and the intensity in which he despises Montagues. One critical review describes Tybalt as, “. . . an individual who will not be dishonored in anyway, and will quarrel over any discrepancy.” (Andersen, 83). This pertains to Tybalt’s impulsive behavior that in some cases leads to rash

During Act 1 Scene 1, Shakespeare purposely uses the two servants Sampson and Gregory to make a statement about both the conflict between the two families and Veronese society.

Tybalt thinks it an honourable, righteous act to kill any Montague in order to protect the Capulet family name. He takes Romeo's presence as open-faced effrontery and a clear threat to the Capulet family. Lord Capulet orders him not to start a scandal: "I would not for the wealth of all this town here in my house do him disparagement. " Even this train of restraining and soothing comments do not succeed in calming Tybalt's petty and vengeful feelings of hatred for Romeo: "I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall" (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 92-93).

The effect the feud has on the play is that we can already see that

Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, is one of the most villainous characters in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ as he is the cause of multiple adversities such as Mercutio’s death and Romeo’s banishment. Tybalt is belligerent and quarrelsome and constantly picks fights and adds fuel to the fire that is the feud between the Capulets and Montagues. This occurs throughout the play. For example, when Tybalt makes his first appearance he incites the fight between the servants of the two houses, contrasting to Benvolio’s fleeting attempts to keep peace. Such hostility and antagonism causes the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt himself, as well as Romeo’s banishment. This is shown when Tybalt proclaims “I am for you,” challenging Mercutio to a fight as he draws his sword. Thus leading to the downfall of the two surly characters. These events are the stepping stones that lead to the tragedy of the star crossed lovers’ deaths. Had it not been for Tybalt’s inimical ways, the main tragedies of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ would not have occurred. This makes Tybalt one of the most villainous characters in the play.

Tybalt feels that he has no choice but to always fight the Montagues, in honour of protecting the dignity of his family. Early in the play, when Romeo attends the ball at the house of the Capulets, Tybalt sees him and says, “This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy” (1.5.53-54). Tybalt, without a reason, wants to start a fight against Romeo because of their feuding families. After Mercutio gets stabbed by Tybalt, he curses both the families because their rivalry leads to his death, Mercutio’s says, “A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me. I have it, And soundly too. Your houses!” (3.1.102-104). The family feud also results into a conflict between Tybalt and Romeo. Tybalt says, “Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him here, shalt with him hence” (3.1.126-127). Romeo decides to accept Tybalt’s duel in order to avenge Mercutio’s death and punish his enemy. The power and hatred of the family feud is so incredibly strong to the point where it forces Tybalt’s to fight the Montagues, which results into his inevitable