Theme Of Family Feud In Romeo And Juliet

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Family feuds lead to tragedy for everyone involved. William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a prime example of this. In this play, an ancient family feud brews up, tragically taking the lives of two young lovers. If not for: (1) The hatred between the two families, (2) The secrecy within Romeo and Juliet’s relationship, and (3) The aggressive tendencies of Tybalt, all caused or exacerbated by the feud, Romeo and Juliet would not have met their tragic demises.
The feud between the Montagues and Capulets causes great animosity. Before the story even begins, it is revealed that the feud and resulting hatred will lead to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s play opens with these lines:
Two households, both alike in dignity In fair Verona, where we lay our scene
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean
From …show more content…

(Prologue, 1-6)
Line 3 is stating that a longstanding grudge (in this play, between the Capulets and the Montagues) will erupt into a violent feud. Lines 4-6 are stating that the blood of citizens will soil the hands of fellow citizens, there will be bloodshed in the streets, and it will lead to the deaths of two star-crossed lovers (aka Romeo and Juliet). At the very end of the story, after the lovers’ deaths, Prince Escalus says this:
“Where be these enemies? Capulet, Montague! / See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love” (5, 3 281-283). The Prince is blaming both the Capulets and the Montagues for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, as their parents’ feud lead to their deaths. He is also reminding them that Heaven (or God) has now had to intervene and give real consequences to make them consider changing their behaviors - consequence being the death of their children. Had the families not been at war, none of this would have happened.
Also, the secrecy involved due to the feud played a major role in the

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