Discuss how the theme of conflict is presented in ‘Romeo and Juliet’

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Jennifer Brown 10Z                 28/04/07

Discuss how the theme of conflict is presented in ‘Romeo and Juliet’

The central theme of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is conflict.  William Shakespeare uses a variety of devices to demonstrate this conflict which is presented on many levels in many different ways including actions, words, characters of main players, contrast in the sexes and ages and juxtapositoning of scenes.  In order to emphasise the conflict William Shakespeare uses many opposites: love and hate, life/marriage and death, fate/destiny and free will, age and youth, male and female and light and dark.  

The play opens with a prologue and this is where the conflict is first introduced and is evidently made clear to the audience that this will be a major theme throughout the rest of this play.  The main form of conflict in "Romeo and Juliet" is the longstanding feud between the two families.  “From ancient grudge break to new mutiny” this is the first reference to any form of conflict within this play.  Also in the prologue the first use is made of conflicting opposites this being fate against free will.  “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;” The quote shows that their deaths are predicted in the stars but through their own acts they take their lives.  This follows quite soon after we first hear about the two conflicting families in order to carry on the theme and to emphasise the feud between them.  Yet another contrast is made in the prologue and this is that out of something bad comes something good.  “And the continuance of their parents’ rage, / Which but their children’s end, nought could remove.” This ever more emphasises the importance of the conflict that is to come in the play.  

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In "Romeo and Juliet" there are two main forms in which conflict comes into the play.  These being physical conflict between people and the mental and emotional conflict of their feelings.  The main physical conflict within this play is the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.  This conflict between the two families is first shown in the first scene of the first act with servants from the conflicting families engaging in abuse which leads to physical conflict.  .  “Draw if you be men.” The next major form of physical conflict within the plot is the death of Mercutio ...

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