Romeo and Juliet is based on two main themes: Violence and conflict is one theme, the other is love. Both of these play an important role throughout the play. We are introduced to violence in the prologue of the play which shows just how central a role it plays. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes this is said only a few lines in a throws us into the violent world that the play is about.
The first scene we come across is a violent one, it is set in a public place in Verona, this is to show that the violence and the feud affects everyone. Sampson and Gregory are the first two characters to enter. They are the servants of the Capulet family. Immediately they begin to talk in an aggressive manor the first example of this is when Sampson says I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montagues this means that he will walk next to the wall which is seen as an aggressive action as it forces anyone that passes to walk nearer to the road and risk being splashed by mud. Instantly after this Sampson also says that I will push Montagues men from the wall and thrust his maids to the wall which is the first sexually aggressive statement we find, this quote also shows that the servants think that women are inferior to them and they can dominate over them. Throughout this fragment of speech Sampson and Gregory are trying to make themselves seem bigger and more masculine.
Soon after this Abraham and Balthasar who are two Montague servants enter the scene and straight away Sampson continues to be aggressive by saying my naked weapon is out; quarrel, I will back thee this shows that he is up for a fight, however it also shows some cowardice as he is not going to start the fight or go in on his own as he is saying he will back Gregory up. This is emphasized by Gregory when he says How? Turn thy back and run? This small argument continues and results in Sampson saying nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is disgrace to them if the bear it at that time the biting of the thumb was regarded as an insult and by saying which is disgrace to them if they bear it. He means that if they do not react they are disgracing themselves. Although this seems like and aggressive gesture it is actually not that brave, as the Capulets are still not instigating the fight they are waiting for the Montagues to react. For the next ten lines Abraham and Sampson argue about the biting of the thumb, this goes on for a prolonged amount of time as neither one wants to start the fight as they face the risk of arrest and death. Just before they begin to fight Benvolio of the Montague family enters. Benvolio is the peace keeper throughout the play and immediately he tries to stop the fight, he says part, fools [beats down their swords] put up your swords you know not what you do by this Benvolio means that they dont know what they are fighting for i.e. the feud. From this we learn that Benvolio is an intelligent, peaceful and calm character.
Tybalt, who is a Capulet, enters the scene just as Benvolio says this; which means that the statement is wasted as Tybalt is an extremely aggressive character. We are given evidence for this instantly when Tybalt says what, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio; look upon thy death. This is the most aggressive statement so far in the play as Tybalt is actually starting a fight and threatening to kill Benvolio. A hind is a female deer or servant so by saying heartless hinds he implies that Benvolio is cowardly and timid. Benvolio replies to this with another peace keeping statement as is custom to his nature, he says I do but keep the peace; put up thy sword, or manage it to part these men with me by this he means that Tybalt should stop fight. Tybalt throws this back in Benvolios face. By saying what, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues we now know just how aggressive Tybalt is; we see this in this quote as he speaks about hell and compares it to Montagues. This emphasizes his view of the Montagues especially as when the play was made religion was still very prominent and hell was the worst thing imaginable. The last important part of this scene that is relevant to violence and conflict is the princes speech in which he says that the next person to start a fight will be killed. Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.
The next important scene that involves conflict is Act 1 Scene 5. This scene is where Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio go to a Capulet party wearing masks so they are not found out to be Montagues. The reason they go to the party is to try and cheer up Romeo as he is still brooding over Rosaline. Almost immediately Romeo sees Juliet and falls in love with her. However the important part is when Tybalt realises that there is a Montague at the party because he recognizes the voice. He says this, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier boy this shows Tybalts violent character again as he doesnt even hesitate at starting a fight even though the prince has given his final warning. But, just in time Lord Capulet comes up to Tybalt and says Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone this is the only point in the play were Capulet tries to stop a fight, this is due to the fact that it is his party and he just wants to enjoy himself. Tybalt replies to this it fits, when such a villain is a guest. Ill not endure him but Capulet again forces Tybalt to hold back he says he shall be endurd. Tybalt heeds this warning however he says that he will find Romeo later and fight him. This shows that lord Capulet is not always violent and can ignore the feud however Tybalt cannot.
The next important scene is Act 3 Scene 1; this is the scene where Mercutio dies. It starts with Benvolio trying to stop a fight before one has even started, he says I pray thee, good Mercutio, lets retire. The day is hot, the Capulets abroad. This shows that Benvolio is always aware that there might be a fight. Mercutio replies to this by mocking Benvolio and joking about him being an extremely angry man and someone who would start a fight at the drop of a hat. He says thou art like one of these fellows that when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the table and says god send me no need of thee!. We know that Mercutio is joking about this as we have seen that Benvolio is a calm and composed character who doesnt like fighting. The next important part is when Tybalt enters the scene; Tybalt goes up to speak to Mercutio. Mercutio says and but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a word and a blow this gives us another clue about Tybalts personality as Mercutio automatically thinks that he will start a fight and not just talk to them. However Tybalt replies with you shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will give me occasion this contradicts what we know about Tybalt as he doesnt react he simply says that if Mercutio wants to fight he will fight, but he Is not there to start a fight, this shows that Tybalt is not always a violent character. Mercutio continues to joke with Tybalt and also mocks him. He says consort! What, dost thou make us minstrels? An thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords. Heres my fiddlestick; heres that shall make you dance. Zounds, consort! this shows us that Mercutio enjoys mocking Tybalt and it also shows that Tybalt only fights when he has reason to. Immediately after this Benvolio tries to stop a fight braking out however Romeo enters and Tybalt goes to speak to him. Tybalt wants to start a fight with Romeo because of him turning up at the Capulets party. However at this point Tybalt has married Juliet so he is actually part of Tybalts family and so cannot fight him. When Mercutio sees that Romeo will not fight he draws his sword and says to Romeo o calm, dishonourable, vile submission! by this he means that Romeo is vile and a coward for not rising up to Tybalts challenge, this shows us that violence is actually necessary to be respected and the feud is always prominent. At this point Tybalt starts to fight with Mercutio. Romeo tries to come between them and this results in Mercutio being killed. However even though Mercutio is dying he still continues to joke around up until the point were he says a plague a both your houses! this shows that Mercutio actually despises the feud. After this Tybalt leaves and the re-enters the scene; him and Romeo fight and Tybalt dies. This scene gives us two of the most important deaths throughout the play and is central to the violence and conflict theme. This scene affects the outcome of the rest of the play as the fights result in Romeos banishment. Romeo fleas the scene and then the prince enters. He asks Benvolio what happened and Benvolio tells the prince exactly everything that happened even though he is Romeos family. The prince decides that, because Tybalt killed Mercutio and he is Romeos friend Romeo should only be banished. He says and for that offence, immediately we do exile him hence. And this ends the scene.
The next important scene is Act 3 Scene 5; this is were Romeo and Juliet see each other for the last time, then Capulet agrees that Paris can marry Juliet , Juliet then has an argument with Capulet over her marrying Paris. At first this does not seem like a violent scene, however when Juliet and Capulet argue, Capulet is actually quite violent towards Juliet this shows that Capulet is violent even if it concerns his own family. When Lady Capulet tells Capulet that Juliet will not marry Paris Capulet says, how, will she none? Doth she not give us thanks? Is she not proud? Doth she not count her blest, from this quote we can see that Capulet is extremely angry with Juliet almost immediately and cannot see why she is refusing the offer. Juliet replies to this by saying not proud you have, but thankful you have: proud I can never be of what I hate, but thankful even for hate that is meant love by this Juliet means that she is not proud and she hates it however she is grateful of the offer. Capulet just thinks she is trying to mince her words though and says how how, how how, chopt-logic? What is this? Proud and I thank you, and I thank you not, this means that Juliet should stop mincing her words and just get ready for the wedding. Juliet continues to beg but Capulet just gets angrier and angrier; again emphasizing his violent character. He says hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch! I tell thee what: get thee to church a Thursday or never look me in the face. By this he means if Juliet doesnt marry Paris at the church on Thursday he will disown her. After this the nurse tries do defend Juliet however Capulet just gets extremely angry and storms out. This scene shows how violence is tied in with love and vice versa, this impacts our view on a lot of the play. It also shows how all the relationships within the play suffer from violence.
The last important scene is Act 5 Scene 3; this scene is set at the Capulets tomb, Paris enters to go and see Juliets body however at the same time Romeo has come to see the body. Romeo tries to get into the tomb however Paris tries to stop him, they fight and Paris dies, this is significant because it shows that Paris loves Juliet even though Juliet never loved him. After this Romeo enters the tomb and he sees Juliet who he assumes is dead so takes poison and kills himself Juliet then wakes up and upon seeing Romeo dead she kills herself. This scene is probably one of the most important of the play as everything concludes in this scene including the feud. The final line of the scene is the princes he says a glooming peace this morning with it brings, the sun, for sorrow, will not show his head. Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things. Some shall be pardoned, and some punished, for never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo. This line encapsulates the whole play.
In conclusion I think that violence and conflict has a very important role in the play however it could not stand on its own, love is equally important and without both the play would not work.
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