conflict and violence

• Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy with a substantial amount of conflict; Shakespeare uses conflict to build tension in the play, releasing it through ensuing violence
• Shakespeare shows two types of conflict: external (between the Montagues and Capulets) and internal (the mental struggle characters face)
• In the Capulet household, conflict arises between Lord Capulet and Tybalt in Act 1 Scene 5 during the "old accustom'd feast"
• Lord Capulet's language towards Tybalt is patronizing, calling him a "saucy boy" and asserting his authority in the household
• Further conflict in the Capulet household occurs in Act 3 Scene 5 when Juliet disobeys her father, leading to aggressive and violent reactions from Lord Capulet
• Lord Capulet's violent outburst towards Juliet, including phrases like "Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch!" and "fingers itch" to slap her, illustrates the violent nature within their family
• The play emphasizes external conflict between the Montagues and Capulets, with the prologue setting the scene for their ancient grudge and the impact it has on the lovers
• The importance of conflict is evident in Act 1 Scene 1, where violence between the Montague and Capulet servants sets the tone for the play's fast-paced and tension-filled storyline
• The Prince's speech highlights the disruptive effects of the Montague and Capulet conflict on Verona, showing how their violence has become a regular occurrence in the city
• The Prince in Romeo and Juliet foreshadows later events in the play when he declares that if there is conflict again, the members of the family will die, leading to more conflict
• Violence in Romeo and Juliet is a manifestation of conflict, with Act 3 Scene 1 being a significant accumulation of conflict resulting in the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt
• Act 3 Scene 1 juxtaposes the love and desire in Romeo and Juliet with violence and bloodshed, creating a tense atmosphere
• Shakespeare structures Romeo and Juliet following Freytag's Pyramid, placing the climax in the middle of the storyline to provide catharsis for the audience
• Juliet in Romeo and Juliet experiences internal conflict as she struggles between her love for Romeo and her loyalty to her family, leading to her desperate actions
• In Juliet's balcony soliloquy, she rationalizes her feelings and desires a way for Romeo not to be a Montague, showing her desperation to overcome the conflict
• Juliet's quote "That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet" illustrates the idea that names are meaningless, using a metaphor to show the duality of love
• After finding out about Romeo killing Tybalt, Juliet is conflicted, shown through the use of oxymorons like "serpent heart" and "beautiful tyrant" to portray her internal struggle
• The Prince's statement at the end of Romeo and Juliet, "Never was there a story of more woe than Juliet and her Romeo," emphasizes the consequences of conflict leading to pain and woe