Conflict in Romeo and Juliet Opening Scenes
The opening scenes of Romeo & Juliet show a lot of conflict both between the opposing families and within each one. Perhaps Shakespeare was influenced for the tragedy by all of the conflict he had personally experienced, such as the death of his son and allegations of having an affair. This play is similar to other Shakespeare classics such as Macbeth; they both contain treachery and death.
Shakespeare presents the theme of conflict when servants of the two house holds are eager to fight each other, but do not want to throw the first punch:
Abraham: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sampson: No sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb sir.
Here the use of the word sir is ambiguous; while it is potentially a polite greeting, it is more likely to be a sarcastic comment. One might conclude that Sampson biting his thumb, but not at Abraham, is an attempt to provoke the Capulets into starting a "civil brawl"
In contrast, Shakespeare shows internal friction within the Capulet household between Juliet and Lady Capulet:
Lady Capulet: Marry that marry is the very theme
I came to talk of. Tell me daughter Juliet,
How stands your disposition to be married?
Juliet: It is an honour that I dream not of.
Here Lady Capulet is questioning Juliet, asking her if she wants to get married. Lady Capulet would like to marry Juliet off to someone like Paris, who has royal status. Juliet, however, has very opposing views; although she admits marriage is an honour, she personally does not wish to be married at this time in the play this is ambiguous because although many young women would have seen the advantages, and therefore jumped at the chance, of marrying Paris. Shakespeare shows us here that Juliet is still a little girl who does not know what she wants in life; and so has not contemplated marriage at all.
Another form of disagreement presented by Shakespeare is conflict within a person. This is shown when lady Montague wants to know the whereabouts of her son:
Lady Montague: O, where is Romeo? Saw you him today?
Right Glad I am that he was not at this fray.
One might understand from this extract that Lady Montague is a worrying mother, who is concerned for her son; she is however glad that he was not at the "fray" so wherever he is he, hopefully, should be safe and unharmed. Alternatively Lady Montague could be extremely fuming at Romeo for deserting the family; so she is being incredibly sarcastic when saying: "right glad", as really she is in a rage because Romeo has not held ...
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Lady Montague: O, where is Romeo? Saw you him today?
Right Glad I am that he was not at this fray.
One might understand from this extract that Lady Montague is a worrying mother, who is concerned for her son; she is however glad that he was not at the "fray" so wherever he is he, hopefully, should be safe and unharmed. Alternatively Lady Montague could be extremely fuming at Romeo for deserting the family; so she is being incredibly sarcastic when saying: "right glad", as really she is in a rage because Romeo has not held up the family's honour by the mere lack of his presence at the scene.
Again Juliet argues with Lady Capulet about marriage, however this time Lady Capulet is more forceful, and less polite, as she tries to influence Juliet into marrying Paris:
Lady Capulet: Speak briefly; can you like of Paris' love?
Juliet: I'll look to like, if looking liking move:
But no more shall I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.
Here, Lady Capulet is asking Juliet 'tell me briefly can you fall in love with a man like Paris?' it is not a very courteous way to ask your daughter if she will love a man she does not know ordering her to "speak briefly" this is rather rude. Juliet is not very keen on marrying a man she has never met however she does not mimic her mothers rude manor by just saying something like "no way!" instead she says, most innocently that she will try like Paris: "look to like". Looking to like is a rather ambiguous phrase to say because Juliet may be very curious and want to fall in love with a royal man like Paris however, she could just be saying that she will attempt to love Paris simply to get her mother of off her back.
I scene II, Shakespeare presents a new theme of conflict between Lord Capulet and Paris:
Paris: Of honourable reckoning are you both;
And pity 'tis you lived at odds so long.
But know, my lord, what say you to my suit?
Lord Capulet: But saying o'er what I have said before:
My child is yet a stranger in the world;
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years,
Let two more summers wither in their pride,
Ere we ma think her ripe to be a bride,
Paris: Younger than she are happy mothers made.
In this extract Paris is asking lord Capulet's permission to marry Juliet. Lord Capulet is not accepting Paris's proposal as he thinks his "child" is too young to get married; he thinks that she is too inexperienced, still a "stranger" to the world. However Lord Capulet does not fully deny Paris's proposal, as he says "let two more summers wither in their pride" meaning that in two years he will be happy to marry off Juliet as she should be ready. This however, is ambiguous because although Capulet may mean what he says; it is also possible that he is trying to buy time to find another groom for Juliet, as he does not like Paris. Paris replies to Capulet's point that Juliet is too young by saying "Younger than she are happy mothers made" this means that there are younger women out there who have not only been married, but have given birth, happily, also.
Again Shakespeare shows conflict within a family; however this time it is the Montague family:
Benvolio: At this same ancient feast of Capulet's
Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest,
With all the admired beauties of Verona:
Go tither; and, with un attainted eye,
Compare her face with some that I shall show
And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.
Romeo: When the devout religion of mine eye
Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires;
And these, who often drown'd could never die,
Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars!
One fairer than my love! the all-seeing sun
Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun.
In this scene Benvolio is trying to convince Romeo to go to the Capulet party. Romeo isn't interested until he learns that Rosaline, the women he loves, is on the guest list. But even better than that, according to Benvolio's last two lines, is there will be women far more beautiful than Rosaline; who would look ugly like a "crow" compared to the others looking like "swans". Romeo, in contrast, disagrees; he thinks it is impossible that anyone could be more fair than Rosaline. He says, "tears will turn to fire" before there is anyone more faire. He also says in his lasts sentence that the all-seeing sun has never seen someone more glamorous than Rosaline. This is ambiguous however because, in the end, Romeo goes to the party which means although he says there could be no one there, more beautiful that Rosaline. He must have some doubt in his mind as otherwise there would be no point in going to the party.
Romeo and his best friend Mercutio have conflicting views on love:
Romeo: Is love a tender thing? it is too rough,
Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.
Mercutio: If love be rough with you, be rough with love;
Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.
Romeo is a little distressed, because every time he falls in love he is always rejected and so he is fed up with love hurting him like the prick of a thorn. Mercutio, more of an optimistic than Romeo, is telling Romeo not to let love get him down and to treat love how it treats him. He states that if you "prick love for pricking" then you will overcome love and it will not be able to control you any longer; then you will be able to return to your normal self.
There is internal conflict within the Capulet family at the Capulet ball when Romeo is spotted:
Tybalt: 'Tis he, that villain Romeo.
Capulet: Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone;
He bears him like a portly gentleman;
And, to say truth, Verona brags of him
To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth:
I would not for the wealth of all the town
Here in my house do him disparagement:
Therefore be patient, take no note of him:
It is my will, the which if thou respect,
Show a fair presence and put off these frowns,
And ill-beseeming semblance for a feast.
Tybalt: It fits, when such a villain is a guest:
I'll not endure him.
Capulet: He shall be endured:
What, goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to;
Am I the master here, or you? go to.
You'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul!
You'll make a mutiny among my guests!
You will set cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man!
This is a good example of direct conflict when members of the same family have opposite views and are not afraid to express them or tell each other what to do. Tybalt has eyed Romeo, a Montague, at his family's Party; to him there is no greater dishonour. He has been insulted. So instantly he decides to challenge Romeo, lord Capulet sees him and, not wanting any trouble at his feast, demands to know what he is up to. When he discovers what Tybalt is about to do he commands him to leave Romeo alone: "let him alone" then he angers Tybalt by instructing him to stop frowning; put on a smile and mingle with the guests. Tybalt, with such a hate of the Montagues, argues with his uncle: "I'll not endure him". Capulet responds with opposite orders: "he shall be endured", this is an example of direct conflict.
In conclusion, this play, written for the Elizabethan audience, is a perfect example of good overcoming evil; as Romeo, who killed Tybalt in revenge ends up dead too. Although may not be seen as morally correct in 2007 it would have been at the time of the play. All of the conflict in the opening scenes are still present in today's modern world as young women fall in love with men, who their family do not deem fit to be a groom; and are forced to make the choice of abandoning their family's with their love to start a new family or put aside their feelings and stay with their family. The massive hatred between the two families is also seen every day in all parts of the world as gangs form and create rivalry such as the bloods and the crips. When these gangs are formed innocent lives are lost; these are reflected in the form of Mercutio and Juliet.
Kyle McGrath How does Shakespeare present the theme of conflict in the
opening scenes of Romeo& Juliet?
