The Theme of Conflict in Act 3 Scene 5 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

1103 Words3 Pages

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.

At the start of Act 3 scene 5 Capulet begins with a soliloquy, in which he describes his feelings of pity and confusion ‘How now a conduit girl?’ As Juliet expresses her grief Capulet becomes frightened for her sake. By the time we get to this scene Juliet has already married her Romeo which Capulet does not know about, this produces even more tension because Juliet is trying not to look guilty although she is forbidden to marry Paris. Capulet creates a dramatic effect on the whole soliloquy in pleading her to halt her tears ‘It rains downright’ he is stating that his daughter has been crying, perhaps too much.

At the start the atmosphere remains calm. Capulet is worried about his daughter’s grieving for the death of her cousin Tybalt; however this isn’t the real reason for the upset. Shakespeare uses metaphors to compare the difference between the grief and good emotions. Capulet links Juliet to a s...

... middle of paper ...

...ulet offends Nurse when she attempts to halt the harsh happenings against Juliet ‘Peace you mumbling fool’ even so Capulet has the power to say whatever he likes to his employees and I think he found Nurse’s outbreak to be rather rude .

In Conclusion conflict is experienced through-out this scene, particularly in Capulet’s language from his sarcasm, threats (both physical and verbal) and various insults towards both his daughter and Nurse which makes Juliet suffer from internal conflict. Act 3 Scene 5 reveals how women in the patriarchal society really did get treated, not having much power at all. I think that this scene motivates Juliet’s fate and structures the whole play.

I feel that this play has been so famous because of the links to the audience, and the universal themes of love and hate will cause empathy amongst the viewers for probably evermore.

Open Document