How is conflict potrayed in 'Romeo and Juliet'?

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 How is conflict portrayed in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’?

Shakespeare’s portrayal of conflict is evident in a variety of ways. The audience’s perception of the emotional and physical conflict relies on the language of the characters, character actions and the contrasting scenes reflecting the contrasting conflicts. Moral, emotional, religious, social and private force conflict are all expressed and explored through the play. How successful has Shakespeare been in investigation these forms of conflict for effect on the audience?  

Romeo and Juliet is a tragic drama that consists of several elements of comedy, romance and tragedy. The play was written by William Shakespeare allegedly between the years 1591 and 1596 and was first printed in 1597.

The story was already well established in the Elizabethan era and was introduced to the English audience by the poet Arthur Brooks from his adaptation of ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’. Several details and aspects of Shakespeare’s play have been directly incorporated from Brook’s poem and such appropriation of other stories and use of existing material is characteristic of Shakespeare.

The characterization and the constant use of contrasting images of disarray, love, admiration and connections with society, religion and family would appeal to the audience through its use of tragic downfall, human destruction and relation of mankind to tragic action.

The public or social institutions that either explicitly or implicitly oppose the existence of their love include families and the placement of familial power in the father, law and desire for public order, religion and the social importance placed on the masculine order. These societal institutions provide an obstacle for Romeo and Juliet and combine to create a profound conflict for the couple.

There are several conventions incorporated into Shakespeare’s plays, sonnets and texts. The tragic hero was commonly used and was a nobleman of prosperity and status. Generally, the character had some moral weakness or imbalance which eventually led to their emotional or physical downfall. Some examples of these are Macbeth and his ambition, Romeo and his emotions and Othello and his jealousy.

Another convention that was consistently used was a character that was responsible for restoring or maintaining order in the face of disruptive or anarchic behaviour (Prince Escalus and Theseus) and a figure that represented such disorder and disturbance (Mercutio, Tybalt, Bottom and Pluck). External influences such as fate and supernatural were also included, and the downfall of an innocent is apparent are several of his plays, including Mercutio’s, Banquo’s and Desdemona’s death.

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A philosophical aspect is also frequently used, involving issues and themes such personal identity, the importance of love in human existence and the power of language to help or hinder communication.

        The portrayal of conflict through the use of specific language is identifiable in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

The use of antithesis and oxymorons expresses and exaggerates conflict through its use of direct or exact oppositions and contradictory phrases. The contrast between light and dark is a consistent visual motif and is used to provide a sensory contrast and a suggestion of opposed alternatives. An example of such ...

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