The Hostility Between the 'Montagues' and the 'Capulets' in Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare William Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet has a major theme of conflict. The main conflict in the play is the feud between the two wealthy families: the ‘Montagues’ and the ‘Capulets’. Shakespeare does not state the reason for the hostility between the two families. Shakespeare may have done this to indicate how long the feud has been going for. Shakespeare creates conflicts between characters in the play. One conflict is between ‘Tybalt’ and ‘Romeo’. This conflict is interesting because it is between two contrasting characters. Tybalt is very arrogant and has an aggressive attitude. While Romeo is quiet and quite peaceful. Another act of conflict between characters in the play is between Juliet and her father. This conflict engages the reader is because it is between the same family. This makes the conflict seem heartless. Conflict also occurs between individuals and authority. For example Romeo’s return to Verona causes confl...
The feud between the Capulets and the Montagues was the major conflict throughout the play. The family feud between the Capulets and the Montagues made living in Verona difficult for everyone. Quarrels burst out in the village, causing destruction of property and the rivalry forbid
Both the Capulet and Montague’s families are wealthy, noble and even founding families of Verona. Evidence of the family’s wealth is displayed when the Capulet’s have a classy party and Romeo meets Juliet for the first time. Proof of the two rival families superiority is even shown in the opening Prologue where the families are described by the line “Two households, both alike in dignity.” In the Elizabethan Era the word “dignity” can be interpreted to “Elevated rank, office,” or “station”. Hence both families are of high social status and in a position of power. Additionally in the prologue the families are described as ancient with this line “From ancient grudge break to new munity”. We can then determine that the Montague and Capulet families were Ancient and influential and the upper class in the social hierarchy of Verona. The Montages and The Capulet’s reputation and high values were the only thing the families and the people working for the houses cared about and their servants would never consider betraying their masters, the house they worked in was like their family. Servants working in the houses were considered normal when Shakespeare wrote Romeo And Juliet, in the Elizabethan Era most powerful or rich people had people of a lesser class working for them. An example of hierarchy in Romeo and Juliet is the Nurse and Balthazar the servant
Because of this conflict, confrontations occurred and insults were thrown. Hatred is bred which is evident when Tybalt, who is Lady Capulet's nephew, joins the fight against the Montague family. Tybalt hates Romeo and doesn't hesitate to let it be known.
...the intensity of the play, the very sweet and romantic scenes would have intrigued the audience and with the shock deaths at the end it would have saddened then because Shakespeare involved his audience and drew them in with his soft and subtle scenes to the heart wrenching scenes. When, after Romeo and Juliet die, the two families make friends. I would think the audience wouldn’t be surprised because in the prologue it said, “Doth with their death bury their parent’s strife.” This means that with Romeo and Juliet’s death it will end the family’s feud. In conclusion I would say that Shakespeare puts conflict in sense which represents both physical and verbal abuse. It is important to include both aspects because not every character is going to have either a constant physical or verbal fight. Romeo and Juliet without conflict are like Romeo and Juliet without love.
To begin, in the play Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare makes a point in emphasizing the feud between the Montagues and Capulets. The feud shows how they are all just living in the moment and not thinking about how this feud could affect others living presently and also in the future. They are not thinking rationally but instead are stuck on the fact that they both think they are better than one another. This makes them think they can not talk to one another or be nice but instead just pretend they don't exist. In the future, they may actually
From the very beginning of the story, Shakespeare asserts us how much hate the two family have for each other. In the opening scene in Verona, the two servant of different families, the Montagues and Capulets, start a fight between each other. Talking to Gregory, Sampson announce how he “will bite [his] thumb at [the Montague’s servant]” (1.1.44-5). This tells the reader that because the Montagues and Capulets dislike each other, so will anyone close to them. The quote shows that when someone is a close friend to someone, the friend will hold the same grudge as a way to show their loyalty to their friends. Lord Capulet and Lord Montague decide to resolve their conflict my beginning a sword fight in the street of Verona. Power by
In the prologue of the play, it is said, “From ancient grudge break to new mutiny” (I i 3) which means that the the two families, the Capulets and the Montagues, have been in a feud for an extremely long time, and the feud has recently caused fights and deaths. This is important because Romeo, a Montague, and Juliet, a Capulet, fall in love that is destined to end tragically. Their love contends with the hatred that their families share towards one another. They knew that the were not to see each other and that if their parents or families found out that it would not have ended good and the consequences would be
The Montagues and the Capulets feel remorseful in the end because they forgave each other after their children have died and I think they should be pardoned. They understood that holding grudges, to their extent, led to terrible outcomes and they surely feel terrible for having their children sacrifice their lives. Therefore, further punishing them would be pushing them over the edge. They would go crazy or commit suicide, anyways, you get my point. It would be too much for them, especially at their (advancing) ages.
‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare incorporates the theme of conflict through many different characters and situations. The definition of conflict is “a fight, battle, or struggle; especially a prolonged struggle; strife” The play mainly focuses on the tragic lives of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet; the two characters belong to the Montague and Capulet households respectively, which have held ongoing grudges against each other for years. The play ends with both main characters committing suicide, to be together in heaven. As with many of Shakespeare’s works, the theme of conflict is a strong one. For a start, there is the ongoing conflict between the two families; the Montagues and the Capulets. The audience is unsure how this grudge started; this reflects how tedious some ongoing grudges can be. This is a vital conflict to keep the structure of the story, as without this conflict Romeo and Juliet would not have encountered the problems they had with their marriage. However, there are different ways of putting this grudge across - through dialogue, such as Mercutio’s intell...
The Conflict Between Two Families in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet The play ‘Romeo And Juliet’ is a very dramatic one. The conflict between the two families is key to the play as a whole. If they’re where no. conflict. They would just be allowed to be together.
He is prepared to duel, as he believes it is in “honor of my kin, / to strike him dead I hold not a sin” (I.v.58-59). His vicious behavior towards the Montague’s is due to the prolonged feud and not because of a dishonorable act directed towards him. Evidently, Tybalt respects Lord Capulet and the family name. When he goes to inform the Montague’s intrusion, Lord Capulet dismisses the enemy’s presence, ordering Tybalt to “be patient, take no note of him” (I.v.71). Despite Lord Capulet’s calm approach towards the appearance of Romeo, Tybalt`s mind is clouded with hatred and only views Romeo as a threat. Tybalt’s angered reaction at the sight of Romeo, as well as his impulsive decision to warn Lord Capulet in hopes of getting rid of the enemy, is due to the ongoing feud between the Montague’s and Capulet’s and not because of any harm directly caused by
Through the flaws in the characterization of his characters, Shakespeare allows their weakness to manipulate and cloud their judgment. This fundamentally leads to the outcome of Romeo and Juliet, with each weakness presenting a conflict that alters the character's fate. Being especially true to the star-crossed lovers, William Shakespeare leads their perfect love into tragedy with these conflicts. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet, Friar Lawrence, and Tybalt all contribute to conflicts that enhance the plot. From destructive flaws in their characterizations, Juliet, Friar Lawrence, and Tybalt are all consequently controlled by their weakness, therefore affecting the outcome of the play.
Firstly, the Capulets and Montagues are at odds with each other. Members of each house and servants break into a sword fight, clashing with each other. Sampson says "Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow." (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 60). The feuding between the two families motivates Sampson to challenge the Capulets. Another example of how the two houses despise each other is what Romeo and his friends have to do to get into the Capulet feast. So they will not be recognized, Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio wear comic masks to hide their faces. Mercutio says, "Give me a case to put my visage in" (Act 1, Scene 4, Line 29). They do not want to be recognized because of the hatred between the two houses. Also, Romeo and Juliet are not supposed to be in love: "My only love sprung from my only hate! / Too early seen unknown, and known too late! / Prodigious birth of love it is to me, / That I must love a loathed enemy." says Juliet (Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 137-140). They are not supposed to love each other because it just so happens that each of their houses despise each other. It is unfortunate for Romeo and Juliet that their two families are against each other, because this means that they are not supposed to be married.
Both the Montagues and Capulets were upper-class families. Ultimately, the families’ hatred for each other rose from a strong aspiration to uphold their families pride, and neither family seems capable of overcoming the raging grudge that was amongst them. Within the patriarchal society, Juliet, as a young woman of the Capulet household, was ordered to marry Paris to attain their social status. The Capulets hosted a feast, arranging the official meeting of Juliet and
If you have ever read Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet you will have been astounded of how well Shakespeare characterizes the people in his book. The most admirable character in the book is Capulet. The rationale is that he shows affection to family and friends and also worries about the people he cares about. Lastly Capulet can forgive his enemies for what happened in the past.