Violence in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Violence in 'Romeo and Juliet', by Shakespeare shows how prejudice
leads to escalating violence. Prejudice leads to violence between the
feuding families, the Montagues and Capulets when a fight breaks out
and death occurs.
As we know, William Shakespeare wrote 'Romeo and Juliet' in 1595.
In the 1590's, the Elizabethan times, there was a lot of violent feuds
and duelling ruling the streets of London. This violence has and is
growing very quickly, as there were only 5 famous duels in the 1580's
followed by 20 famous duels in the 1590's. In 1595, Italy, the idea of
young lovers dying tragically was instantly appealing to the audience.
Today's society is far more violent than 20 - 30 years ago with
domestic violence between families on the increase. The theme in
'Romeo and Juliet' is therefore even more relevant today and it
remains a popular play.
In this play of forbidden love, there were a number of violent scenes.
These were in Act 1, Scene 1, Act 3, Scene 1 and Act 5, Scene 3.
Violence in Act 1, Scene 1
Act 1, Scene 1 is the very first scene of the play so this introduces
the story and the rivalry between the two families, the Montagues and
the Capulets.
This violence is between two characters from the Capulets, Sampson and
Gregory and two characters from the Montagues, Abram and Balthasar.
The scene starts with Sampson and Gregory having a play on words to
each other.
For example when they communicate to each other with the words 'we'll
not carry coals' (which means we'll not be insulted) and Gregory
replies 'No, for then we should be colliers' (people who carry coal).
Gregory and Sampson are having a humorous conversation here. They also
mock and tease each other. Where Sampson says 'A dog of the house of
the Montague moves me', Gregory says 'if thou art moved, thou runnest
away, to the wall'.
Meaning, the weakest or the 'weak vessels' go to the wall.
In the Shakespearean play, Romeo & Juliet, aggression is represented in different ways by the different characters in the play. Tybalt, Romeo, Benvolio, and the others all have their own way of dealing with hate and anger. Some do nothing but hate while others can’t stand to see even the smallest of quarrels take place.
...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.
As soon as you read the opening lines of Act3, Scene 1 you can tell
Romeo and Juliet is the tragic story of two young, “star-crossed” lovers from feuding families, destined for disaster. The Capulets and the Montagues have an ancient grudge on one another that has been passed down over generations. Unfortunately, Romeo and Juliet end up victims of their families’ vicious loathing. Romeo and Juliet’s story has several intertwining themes such as the aforementioned hatred between the Capulets and Montagues and the revenge Romeo strives for after his friend Mercutio’s death. Also, the love and passion between Romeo and Juliet and the loyalty of Romeo and his friends. Honour and revenge also feature frquently throughout the play including Juliet’s pressure to honour her family, and the revenge Romeo sees as his duty when Tybalt kills Mercutio.
Romeo and Juliet is a famous tragedy written by Shakespeare. The plot is based on an Italian tale but Shakespeare makes it more dramatic by developing specific characters, such as the Nurse and Mercutio. The plot is set in Verona in the sixteenth century. The Montagues and the Capulets are two distinguished families in Verona; however, they see each other as enemies. They are fighting all the time. Romeo and Juliet, who respectively are Montague and Capulet, fall in love at their first sight. In the end, two star-crossed lovers are dead. The Montagues and the Capulets reconciled by their children’s death and end the feud which has lasted generations.
which is found at the beginning of the play, in the prologue. It is a
Girls were seen as the property of their fathers – to be given away to
the play up well, in that it also shows that from all this violence it
‘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...
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a love story based in Verona in the 1500s. Romeo and Juliet’s families have been in a feud for years, despite that they still fall in love. Romeo and Juliet hide their love from their families and this destroys them in the end. Romeo is protagonist and tragic hero in this play. He is an passionate and impulsive character that makes him perfect for his part.
Act 3 scene 1 is one of the most important parts in the play; there
Without Act 2 Scene 2 the whole play makes no sense. This is the scene
Scene 2 act 2 is one of the most important scenes in the play. This is
For a love story, Romeo and Juliet has more violence and bloodshed than most TV mini-series. The play begins with a riot, ends with a double suicide, and in between has three murders. And all this takes place in the span of four short days. Of course, when you're dealing with love and passion, you're operating on an elemental level. The funny thing is that they have their roots in the same soil. It is common for love to turn to hate - in the blink of an eye.
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy of an ancient feud where the children of two families at war fall deeply in love with each other. Set in the 16th century William Shakespeare’s play has many different themes running throughout it, which include love, hate, death and conflict. The play opens with a fight but ends with suicide that creates peace between both families who unite from their losses. The conflict, violence and aggression in the play happen from revenge and an ancient family grudge. An audience from the 16th century would have enjoyed Romeo and Juliet because of the real life drama and tragedy the play goes through. The patriarchal society gave women absolutely no rights and they had to obey their man’s ordering a patriarchal system. The theme of conflict is revealed as the characters argue over Juliet’s disobedience.