Benvolio comes and stops the fight. Shakespeare instantly shows that Benvolio is a peacemaker. We are then introduced to Tybalt who is shown as a hot headed troublemaker. Benvolio says ' I do but keep the peace'. Tybalt shows a hatred for peace as strong as his hatred for Montague’s, and attacks Benvolio. The brawl spreads with members of each house joining in. Prince Escalus comes and commands the fighting to stop. He warns them ' if ever you disturb our streets again; your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace' this warning can affect anyone who starts a civil brawl, it’s not directed at the 'star cross'd lovers' in anyway but if may affect them. Finally, Shakespeare introduces Romeo but Shakespeare plays up on our expectations because we would expect Romeo to be lovesick over Juliet but instead he is in love with Rosaline.
In act 3 scene 1, Shakespeare uses verbal violence to start a fight which leads to the death of two characters. Benvolio is again portrayed as the peacemaker. When Benvolio and Mercutio see the couplets Benvolio suggests to mercutio that they should go indoors but mercutio replies ' by my heel, I care not'. This implies he has o fear of the Capulet’s. Tybalt asks to speak to one of them. Mercutio, who is annoyed, begins to provoke Tybalt but as soon as Romeo arrives Tybalt turns his attention to Romeo. This suggests that he may have been looking for Romeo and wants to speak to him. Tybalt calls Romeo a 'villain' and commands him to draw but Romeo refuses to be angered by Tybalt’s verbal attack because he is his kinsman. Romeo’s for Juliet has made him effeminate. The patriarchal society believed a man in too much love would lose his manliness like Romeo. Mercutio angrily draws his sword and fights Tybalt. Romeo attempts to restore the peace. Tybalt stabs mercutio. Mercutio dies curing both the Capulet’s and the Montague’s ' a plague o'both your house’. He sees the houses as the cause of his death. Romeo kills tybalt in revenge. Romeo says "o, i am a fortunes fool" referring to his back luck in being forced to kill his wife's cousin. This is when the princes warning affects the "star cross'd lovers" because Romeo is banished from Verona. Romeo blames fate to what has happened to him.
Finally, act3 scene5 is the last violent scene. In this scene Juliet refuses to marry Paris. Which was a risk, Juliet is still a woman in a male dominated society. Juliet says “I will not marry yet and when I do, I swear it shall be Romeo whom you know I hate". This quote shows how Juliet has changed since she has got married to Romeo. Her father Capulet is outraged with her replay and violently calls Juliet "You green-sickness carrion out, you baggage! You fellow face! This kind of verbal abuse would have been common if the young woman had refused to marry someone chosen by her father because it was a male dominated society and woman had very little rights. Capulet was also shocked because in the society it was seen as a woman’s dream to get married and had to respect their parents especially fathers. Capulet threatened to disown Juliet. Juliet could have taken her fathers offer to disown her and move to Mantua and live with Romeo. However this was not an option. Juliet as a woman and could not leave the society and her father had the right make her do as he wishes. Juliet's only option was suicide. The reason why Juliet refuses to marry Paris is because she is married to Romeo. Shakespeare ends the play with a very tragic ending.
Conclusion
Shakespeare successfully uses violence and Romance to engage the reader and have a tragic ending. Shakespeare uses the "Ancient grudge" to drive the action of the play as it leads to many of the violence. Also, Shakespeare uses wide range of techniques and violence and Romance very effectively to have a tragic ending. It is also evident that the play shows how prejudice leads to escalating violence.
