The Prince describes their violent actions and harsh words well, when he calls them beasts. Animals, which cannot control themselves harming anyone in their way. When he describes them as:
“Profaners of this neighbour - stained steel.”
By saying that, he says that the weapons they use are stained with the blood of their neighbours. This could mean that they aim their weapons at their enemies but they harm everyone else around them. Their actions create huge amounts of pain to others. This is another example showing that their private family issues, develop into a violent public spectacle, which effects more then both the families.
He then threatens them with death if they create a commotion such as this again. For them to realise how much trouble and pain they have caused others, they must go through torture in order to learn their lesson, or even worse pay with their lives. The Prince is so fed up with their behaviour he has no other choice but to be firm with them. His last resort is to threaten them, because no other solution seems to work. This whole event at the beginning of the play immediately sets a tense as well as an invigorating tone to the play. Further more there is a huge amount of violence and hatred among the characters, and the amount of action from the start of the play gives the story more excitement.
During Act 1:5 Romeo and his friends decide to gate crash a Capulet party. Tybalt discovers there are Montague’s at this party and is determined to get rid of them once and for all. Lord Montague, who wants nothing to ruin his party, stops the furious Tybalt. At this point Tybalt is fuming and ready for revenge.
Tybalt: “It fits when such a villain is a guest: I’ll not endure him”
From this point in the story, Tybalt’s character has shown to be the most aggressive and selfish character in the play. The sound of a Montague’s voice it triggers him off. The name of a Montague causes him to go off in a rage, and if he had his way every single Montague would be killed. His solution to every matter is violence, and in this case it is to start a fight in the middle of their party. In contrast, Benvolio’s character is depicted well as the peacekeeper in this scene. Benvolio senses that there is trouble and immediately grabs Romeo in order to escape any danger. He is the only character in the play to put others before himself.
Benvolio: “Away, be gone, the sport is at the best”
Romeo: “Ay, so I fear, the more is my unrest”
Benvolio tries to persuade Romeo to leave as he has now realised the relationship between Romeo and a Capulet and senses trouble approaching. He realises that by gate crashing a Capulet party was a bad idea and now insists on leaving. Benvolio’s loyal character is also highlighted in Act 3:1. In this scene Benvolio and Mercutio are having a conversation in a public place.
A public place: enter Mercutio and his Page, Benvolio and Men.
Benvolio tries to persuade Mercutio to go indoors, as he knows that the Capulets are out on the streets. Benvolio knows that if the Capulets were to find them, a quarrel would soon begin. Mercutio ignores Benvolio’s plea to leave, and instead begins to mock him for his loyal ways. Mercutio teases him for running away from the Capulet’s to prevent the two families from fighting once again. He explains how Benvolio is the most argumentative out of the group and creates the most brawls. In this case Mercutio is actually characterising himself, but blaming it all on Benvolio.
Benvolio: “Am I like such a fellow?”
Mercutio: “Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack thy mood as any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved.”
From this conversation between Mercutio and Benvolio, it shows that the public conflict between the families has effected the relationship between these friends. The public conflict has created several small private conflicts between members of the families. These private conflicts are only small quarrels but have changed the way each character interacts with one another. An example of this is how the Montague’s are left running away from the Capulet’s, making Mercutio feel angry and annoyed. He takes out his anger on Benvolio, by twisting his words, and making Benvolio seem like the bad person. Mercutio’s insensitive character is shown when Tybalt arrives, and insists on seeing Romeo. Mercutio decides to annoy Tybalt, and provoking him to fight. In the end Mercutio’s harsh words do not effect Tybalt, making Mercutio angrier.
Mercutio: “And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a word and a blow.”
Tybalt: “You shall find me apt enough to that, sir and you will give me occasion.”
Mercutio’s character is very good at twisting other character’s words, and also making things more difficult for other people in various situations. In this part of the play Mercutio begins to play around with Tybalt’s wording. For example, Tybalt says:
Tybalt: “Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo.”
Meaning do you hang around with Romeo, Mercutio deliberately changes the meaning of the sentence, accusing Tybalt of calling them a company of hired musicians. Another example where Mercutio tries to create a public quarrel between the two is where he plays with the meaning of Tybalt’s name. His name was actually a popular cat name. Mercutio calls him the king of cats, and plays with the fact that cats actually have nine lives.
Tybalt: What would thou have with me?
Mercutio: Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives that I mean make bold withal, and as you shall use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight.
When Romeo arrives Tybalt, who is still furious with Romeo for gate crashing the Capulet party, tries to start a fight with him. Tybalt continually insults him in front of everyone. In the previous scene Romeo married Juliet and now Romeo is related to Tybalt. Tybalt not knowing this insists on starting a quarrel with Romeo, to have his revenge once and for all. Mercutio is certain that Romeo will not stand there and let Tybalt get away with his insults, but is shocked by Romeo’s decision not to fight and blames it on his coward ness. He questions Romeo about his actions and Mercutio draws his sword and forces Tybalt into fighting.
He believes that even if Romeo does not want to fight he must remain loyal to his friend, and stand up for their family honour. Being Romeo’s friend he does not want to listen to those harsh words any more. This tells us that the conflict between the two families affects not only family members but also everyone around it. Additionally it demonstrates that this private conflict has expanded into a huge public conflict between everyone close to the family. Anyone who belongs to each of these families must stay loyal to their family, and is part of this fight, whether or not they are related. When Romeo tries to stop the fight Tybalt’s sword injures Mercutio, who eventually dies, cursing both their families.
This scene involves both private and public conflict. There is a sense of private conflict; Romeo is confused about his position. He has to secretly decide and chose between his love for Juliet and honour for his family. It’s his love for Juliet, and now being related to Tybalt, which is stopping him from fighting. He has to keep his marriage a secret even from his friends. He suffers private conflict, being married to his enemy, makes the situation even harder.
The public conflict occurs over the “ancient” feud. This scene occurs because of the hatred between the two families fighting for their family’s honour. The two cases of private and public conflict actually overlap in Romeo’s position. As he is involved with the ancient feud between the two families and has the responsibility of protecting his family. He is also being pulled the other way by his private relationship with Juliet, a Capulet, an enemy.
Even though he is now married to Juliet, he still cannot escape the conflict between the two families, because it his duty to protect his family. He is trying not to use any violence against Tybalt and risking hurting Juliet’s cousin. When Mercutio fights against Tybalt, in Romeo’s position he is killed even after Romeo’s best intentions. Now that Mercutio is dead, Romeo cannot back out of the situation because he blames himself for the death of his friend. For Mercutio’s benefit Romeo is determined to take his revenge. Romeo’s excuse for not fighting is that he loves Tybalt like his own family, and that he not reason to fight Tybalt. While they fight he tries to explain that the Prince of Verona specifically explained that if they created another Public display of violence that each of them would be sentenced to death.
Romeo: Draw, Benvolio, beat down their weapons. Gentlemen, for shame forbear this outrage. Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince expressly hath forbid this bandying in Verona Streets.
When Mercutio is dying his lasts words, curse both the family’s houses. He says that because both families are to blame for the chaos and pain they have caused. He also blames both of them for injuring him. In this circumstance Romeo not wanting to fight shows that his love for Juliet is much stronger than the idea of fighting and killing his only enemy. Even though Tybalt is his enemy he is still Juliet’s cousin and he must live with that consequence. In this play it seems that love has a great hand then conflict. Two lines which signal the upcoming tragedy of Juliet’s and Romeo’s death and the resolution of conflict are:
Romeo: This day’s black fate on moe days doth depend, this but begins the woe others must end.
Meaning that the fatal consequences of that day’s event will hang upon what happens in the future. The setting of Act 3:5 is completely different to the other scenes in the play, because the scene takes place in the home of the Capulets.
Very early Tuesday morning: Juliet’s bedroom. Enter Romeo and Juliet aloft as at the window.
Here is a private scene between Juliet, and her parents. Romeo has just left; saying good-bye to Juliet, when Lady Capulet announces Juliet will be marrying Paris in two days time. The distraught and confused Juliet replies that she will not be marrying Paris, making Lord Capulet extremely angry. The argument between Juliet and her father would be categorised as a private conflict. This is because it involves only family members and does not effect anyone else outside the house or the public. What goes on in the house will not create any chaos and is not crime, which they should be punished for.
The conversation of the beginning at the play between Juliet and her mother is quite unusual, because they are both talking about two different situations. As Juliet cries her mother thinks she is weeping over the loss of Tybalt where she is actually crying over losing Romeo. She seems to agree with her mother, when Lady Capulet explains how Romeo got off free and how much pain he has caused this family. Juliet explains how Romeo has caused her heart pain. She wants her mother to think that he has caused her pain because he has killed her cousin Tybalt. She actually means that he has caused her heart pain because she will never see her husband again. She deliberately misleads her mother by saying she wants to get her hands on Romeo. Making her mother think that if she saw Romeo she would immediately kill him. Juliet actually means that she wants to get her hands on Romeo so she can be with and hold him again.
Lady Capulet: That is, because the traitor murderer lives.
Juliet: Ay, madam, from of these my hands: Would none but I might venge my cousins death!
This conversation between mother and daughter shows an example of private conflict, where both members are angry for different reasons. Juliet is angry because she has lost the only man she will ever love, where Lady Capulet fights for the death of her nephew.
While they both explain how they feel about Romeo, Lady Capulet describes how she wants Romeo killed. She threatens Romeo by explaining how she will send someone to Montana to finish him off, and get her revenge for the death of her nephew. Her anger for Romeo can be seen as both private and public. The public factor is because a Montague, their worst enemy has killed a member of her family. It can also be very distressing that the person that has killed her nephew has be set free, without any severe punishment. The private conflict occurs because someone has actually killed a member of her close family, someone she loved dearly has gone, leaving her emotionally distressed and angry for her loss. Seeing her mother’s anger for her own husband, Juliet is left in a very difficult position. The one person she loves is her, mothers sworn enemy. She sits there listening while her mother plots her husbands death not knowing how close Romeo and Juliet really are.
When Lady Capulet is finished explaining how much she hates Romeo, she tells Juliet that she has news that will bring Joy to her life, and stop her morning over her cousins death. She then explains to Juliet that her father has arranged Juliet to get married to Paris in two days time. Hearing that her parents have organised Juliet to get married to another man, makes Juliet feel horrified. She has no idea how she will be able to escape the wedding without her parents finding out that she secretly married a Montague. Julie pleads to her mother and father not to get married but this only anger’s Lord Capulet, who begins to throw harsh words at Juliet. When Lord Capulet first entered he was in a joyful mood thinking that Juliet would be very pleased at the news. He was certain that they would make a perfect match and that they would be very happy together. When he finds out that Juliet does not want to marry Paris his mood and emotions change rapidly. You can tell by this when he first enters explaining how wonderful Paris is. Later after hearing Juliet’s words he begins to tell her that she has no to her choice but to marry Paris or she will be out on the streets.
Capulet: For, by soul, I’ll ve’er acknowledge thee, nor what is mine shall never do thee good: thrust to’t, bethink you, I’ll not be forsworn.
The angry Capulet begins to insult her by calling her a crying fool and a whinging puppet. He then threatens her, by saying that if she does not do what he says then she will no longer be living in the same house as him. He is so angry with her because he has gone to all the trouble of finding a perfect husband for her, when she just ‘throws’ the offer back in his face. He thought more highly of his daughter, and is now very disappointed in her attitude and her actions towards the offer.
Capulet: But, as you will not wed, I’ll pardon you: Graze where you will you shall not house with me:
Juliet is very desperate as this point and decides to be to her mother for help. She threatens her mother by saying, if she does not help her then she will take her own life, and lay in the place where Tybalt’s body is. Instead Lady Capulet ignores her plea for help and replies by saying:
Lady Capulet: Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word: Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.
Exit
She means that she has nothing more to say to Juliet, she must do what her farther says or they’re through. This shows that as a mother she has very little feelings for her own daughter, making her a very careless and selfish mother. Hearing this from her mother and father leaves Juliet with no other person to turn to. She has lost her husband and now her whole family leave, Juliet realises she has one other person to turn to, her Nurse. She tells the Nurse how her parents want her to get married to Paris, or she will be thrown out on the streets. She explains how her faith and heaven have turned their backs on her. The Nurse replies to her plea by giving her some simple advice. She tells Juliet that Romeo won’t return to Verona again therefore, she should marry Paris.
Nurse: Or, if he do, it needs must be stealth. Then, since the case stands as now it doth, I think it best you married with the county. O, he’s a lovely gentleman!
Surprisingly, Juliet is not angry to what the Nurse advises her. She questions the Nurse to whether she speaks from the heart, and that what she says is only for her benefit. To avoid any suspicions Juliet agrees with what the Nurse says, making the Nurse think that Juliet has finally agreed to marry Paris.
Juliet: Well, thou hast comforted me marvellous much. Go in: and tell my lady I am gone, having displeased my father, to Laurence’ cell, to make confession and to be absolved.
In my opinion the conflict for Juliet in this scene is about whether Juliet obeys her parents wished by marrying Paris, or to stay faithful to Romeo, and be thrown out of her home loosing everything including her family. She loves Romeo very much but she does not know how she will survive without her family. I also believe that most of the conflict in this scene has is about a private conflict. This is because the main theme of this scene is about family honesty, and the way Juliet lies to her parents, and the idea of Juliet marrying Paris. From Juliet’s point of view this scene is both about public and private factors. The private situation is how she must secretly choose between Romeo and her family, and how she could lose everything for her love. The public factor is how she must explain to her parents why she does not want to marry Paris without mentioning her relationship with a Montague.
In conclusion I do not think that this play is as violent as some might say. I believe that the violence in some scenes only emphasises the emotions and characteristics of some of the characters. The play is based around several different elements, love, hate, sadness, and understanding. The fact that the death of two lovers was the only way the families stopped fighting showed how the families finally understood each other. The violence in the play only helped the understanding of the characters to make them realise what was actually going on. The death of Tybalt, the death of Mercutio and the death of Romeo and Juliet, always had consequences for the other characters.
In my opinion I also believe that public and private conflict cannot always be separated in this particular play. It is easy to tell in different scenes whether it is a public or private feud but they often overlap, making it harder to tell the difference. They often just mean the same thing instead of separating them into two different factors. An example to back up reason could be when Romeo is being forced into fighting with Tybalt. The public factor was that they are both enemies, a Montague and a Capulet. The private factor is that Romeo couldn’t fight because he is married to Tybalt’s cousin and that they are family. It is easy to tell which is private and public but both actually overlap in this situation because they are enemies, but they are actually both on the same side, being related to each other makes them on the same team, leaving them with no reason to fight.
In this situation I don’t think there is one particularly character to blame for the conflicts caused throughout the play. Although I do believe that both Lord Capulet and Lord Montague should be held responsible. This is because they are both in charge of both their families, where their members respect and listen to their orders. These two characters could have had the chance to sit down and talk about what was wrong and how they could of changed things, without any of the characters fighting or dying.