Violence and Conflict in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Violence and Conflict in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Introduction

A boy and a girl, from families who hate each other bitterly, fall in

love, but everything goes wrong for them and they kill themselves

rather than be parted.

Most of the play takes place in 'fair Verona' an attractive little

city in the north of Italy. The action moves quickly from the city

streets to the hall of old Capulet's house, then to the orchard below

Juliet's balcony, to Friar Lawrence’s' lonely cell and finally to the

vault where the Capulet’s and the Montague’s view their dead children.

The play starts on a Sunday morning in the middle of July; less than

five days later - just before dawn on the following Thursday - it is

all over.

Historical background

“Romeo and Juliet was first performed in the Globe theatre in 1595. At

the time, Queen Elizabeth ruled England: she loved the theatre. An

audience in the 16th century would have enjoyed this particular play

because there are scenes of vulgar language and conflict between

feuding families.

First violent scene

Act one Scene one is the opening fighting scene where two of

Capulet’s servants, Sampson and Gregory, wander the streets of Verona

and come across two Montague servants. The Capulet servants show venom

toward the Montague’s

“A dog of the house of Montague moves me”

This shows that not only are the families at war; there is tension

also between the servants. The Capulet servants seem spiteful towards

any person from the other household and shall fight any that cross

their path. The Capulet’s men speak in a crude and vulgar tongue

“I will push Montague’s ...

... middle of paper ...

... a lovely gentleman!”

Juliet is enraged by this and kicks out her Nurse and prepares to

visit Friar Laurence. As the Nurse leaves, Juliet calls her, "Ancient

damnation!" this suggest that she now feels hatred towards the nurse

for siding with her father.

Conclusion

In my opinion this play is violent because it shows the conflicts of

families, when the reason is unknown. How proud they shall be in not

wanting peace amongst Verona, the way the houses treat each other, the

spite and cruelty they speak.

I feel that overall it illustrates love and hatred because two members

of the rivalry houses grew to love each other when their family’s

displayed such venom. It is sad to think that the Capulet’s and

Montague’s hated each other so much that they were willing to

sacrifice their children for their own pride.