Although the conflicts are obviously very well spread throughout each family and each of the characters, Shakespeare concentrates us on certain characters right the way through the play more than others. Two of these characters are Romeo and Tybalt, who have an ongoing conflict throughout the play, that is stronger at times that the conflict between the whole of the two families. At times this can be verbal conflict and at other times public conflict, but most of the time it is physical, this is most certainly the most important conflict between these characters. In Act 3 Scene 1, when Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo kills Tybalt, we see this most obviously. Between Romeo and Tybalt there seems to be a feeling of huge dislike to one another that Shakespeare has created with their totally different characters that cannot be resolved. With Tybalts fieriness and Romeo’s placid nature, there just seems to be too many conflicts between these two characters in the play to correct. This is evident when we see the final fight between Tybalt and Romeo, which ends in Tybalts death, and the consequent banishment of Romeo from Verona. ‘ Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him….determine that.’ (Act 3 Scene 1 Lines 133-136). This shows that audience that Tybalt and Romeo cannot be civil to each other and they will end up killing each other or at least one will kill the other in the end.
This leads us on nicely to public conflict. Since the fight between Romeo and Tybalt happened in a public place, and most of the people in Verona would have found out about the death of Mercutio and Tybalt, it meant that the Prince had to do something that would punish Romeo appropriately. Plus since he had already warned both of the families about fighting from the beginning of the play, he had to keep his word on this, ‘ Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this….Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.’ (Act 1 Scene 1 Lines 80-102). Although according to his first speech he had said that any more fighting publicly would end in death, because of Tybalts aunt (Lady Capulets) wishes, Romeo was not killed, but banished. This is the first time that we see a semi-truce between the two families, although it is a result of death. And although it is the penultimate death before the end of the play, it still builds up the anticipation of conflict between the two families for the audience.
Physical conflict is also a large part of the play. Even though physical conflict is tied in with public conflict, it is extremely important to the progress of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. For example in Act 1 Scene 1, although it is a public conflict there is physical conflict between Sampson, Gregory, Benvolio, Romeo, Abraham and Tybalt. This is essential to the progress of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and the audiences understanding of the play on the whole, as it shows how awful the fighting and arguing is between the two families, that we first hear about in the Prologue. The conflicts in this scene are all inter-twined with each other and so the physical conflict starts with some rude gestures and speech between the two families,’ Do you bite your thumb at us sir?….Well sir.’ (Act 1 Scene 1 Lines 42-56). This also shows us of how small a matter can be before it is blown out of proportion and ends up in the physical conflict. A simple look or word can start a whole number of arguments off. Another example of this physical conflict is between Lord Capulet and Juliet, when they argue in Act 3 Scene 5. Capulet shakes Juliet whilst having verbal conflict with her and suggests that he would like to slap Juliet,’ Speak not, reply not, do not answer me. My fingers itch,’ (Act 3 Scene 5 Lines163-164).
This although no actual physical conflict goes on suggests it within speech, and also suggests that there may even be another type of conflict – private conflict.
Verbal conflicts are a huge part of the build up to physical and public conflicts. These verbal conflicts take place at many periods throughout the play. For example when Juliet and Lord Capulet argue over her marriage to Paris, and when Romeo and Tybalt argue before Mercutios and Tybalts death’s. Further examples of verbal conflict would be, ‘ Faith here it is. Romeo is banished,….If all else fail, myself have power to die.’ (Act 3 Scene 5 Lines 214-241). Although this is a very long example, it has a lot of meaning to it. The Nurse and Juliet have had a mother and daughter like relationship all the way through the play, and so the Nurse knows everything about Juliet and her marriage to Romeo. Know that verbal conflict has take place between the two, Juliet has no one left to trust, and feels alone, which relates back to the first conflict that I have spoken about – inner conflict.
In the play we come across some very obvious conflicts, such as verbal conflict, physical conflict, emotional conflict and inner conflict, but there are also some not so obvious ones in the language and imagery that Shakespeare has used. For example, the conflict between youth and age. This is clear when we can see the difference in opinion about marriage between Juliet, her mother and her father. Another time that is apparent is when Tybalt argues with his uncle about Montague’s being at their ball. When the two argue and Capulet over powers Tybalt, as he is older, Tybalt becomes angrier and this leads to anther conflict between youth and age.
This links in with the conflict of Shakespeares language. At points in the play Shakespeare uses conflicting images or oxymorons and words. For example, ‘Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical, Dove-feathered raven, wolven ravening lamb….an honourable villain.’ (Act 3 Scene 2 Lines 75-79). These add to the number of conflicts in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and the overall effectiveness or enjoyment of the play. Although they are not as clear as the other conflicts, for example verbal conflict and physical conflict. Examples of these are Shakespeares constant referral to light and dark (Act 2 Scene 2), youth and age (Act 1 Scene 5) as well as love and hate (Act 3 Scene 2). These all add to the full effect that the conflicts that Shakespeare has included in ‘Romeo and Juliet’, and therefore are extremely important to the play and the language.
Although the language is slightly complicated at times, in Shakespeares time, the plays would be very easy to understand, and therefore would be well appreciated by a wide range of people. These would range from peasants to the rich and important people. There understanding of these conflicts would enhance the peoples enjoyment of the play and they would be much enjoyed like a modern day soap opera. These controversial happenings that Shakespeare included in his plays, although popular to watch by the more common people, were not so appealing to the rich and important people, and were not enjoyed by these so much until a couple of hundred years after his death, although there was some exceptions to this.
All of these points and conflicts bring us back to, How is the theme of conflict presented in ‘Romeo and Juliet’? On the whole the conflicts in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ are presented quite clearly, although at times there are conflicts that are slightly more hidden in the language that Shakespeare has used in ‘Romeo and Juliet’. This adds to the overall effect of the play on the audience and is absolutely essential to the theme and plot of the play. The emotions and the feelings that the conflicts on stage and in the script produce are vital to the play as the audiences in Shakespeares time were keen on these types of tragedies and liked to watch the dramas unfold. Although they were written for these audiences, the conflicts and feelings still have some relevance today and this adds to our modern-day understanding of the play. This means that although that conflicts are presented in a Shakespearian time language and setting, the play can still be enjoyed and appreciated by many in the present day. The concepts of the conflicts that Shakespeare has used in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ still exist now days and so helps us enjoy the play much like people living in Shakespeares time would have. This means that the presentation of conflict in Romeo is excellent for the people of Shakespearian times as well as the present day.
