Conflict in Romeo and Juliet
The general theme of William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is how two young, ‘star crossed lovers’ fight against the historical conflict of their constantly feuding families, for their right to be together and love one another. The play is full of physical violence and civil disobedience.
Shakespeare, right at the beginning of the play, lets us know that conflict will feature largely when he says in the prologue ‘from ancient grudge breaks to new mutiny’ and ‘where civil blood makes civil hands unclean’
This immediately tells us that an old grudge will spark to life and as a consequence, fighting will break out and blood will be spilt.
The conflicting brawl between the two families is a constant obstacle for Romeo and Juliet. Such brawls are evident from the family servants to Lord Capulet and Montague themselves. Each, despite their difference in value, equally knows the importance of their own family’s honour and pride. Which, for is shown best in act 1 scene one when in a market a brawl begin between two Montague and two Capulet servants the capulets use language, while talking about montagues, such as 'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I
have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the
maids, and cut off their heads’ meaning when they have finished with the men of the montagues they shall kill the women. They are then confronted by two montagues, fighting breaks out between the four men. Benvolio a Kinsman of the Montague’s then steps in trying to stop the confrontation. In this act we see an example of a bigger, more honourable figure in Benvolio taking an almost neutral position. Tybalt and equally as hounerable figure to his respective family then confronts Benvolio drawing a sword against Benvolio’s, saying how he hates peace as much as he hates all Montague’s. The distinct contrast between two equally honourable men’s views on their family’s conflicts shows how out of hand and seemingly unsolvable the problem of the feud is. This act is also an example of shakespeares use of stage craft to immediately show in a big and powerful way the extent to which people are willing to fight for the conflict that exists between then two families. The drawing of swords is the first site we get of weapons, a sign of war, in the play. The fact that they are brandished by two very honourable and respected members of the two families is purposively made by Shakespeare not only is it a stereotype image for conflict in general but its also to make the audience realise that the higher members of the families are just as likely to act irresponsibly and take a life, as the servants on the street.
