Romeo and Juliet Conflict Essay Example

seals his tragic fate. While pursuing Rosaline, there is a significant risk of escalating the feud between their families, but when he sets eyes on Juliet and falls deeply in love, a greater dilemma presents itself. Upon overhearing Romeo's voice and realizing that Montagues are present at the party, Tybalt immediately wants to fight him, only to be stopped by his cousin Old Capulet. ‘Content thee gentle coz, Let him alone.'

Tybalt is extremely angry at Romeo for his prank and vows to seek revenge. He declares, 'I will withdrawal, but this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.' The conflict between Tybalt and Romeo simmers beneath the surface until later in the play when Romeo refuses to engage in a fight with Tybalt. Mercutio steps in to defend Romeo instead. Romeo's refusal to fight Tybalt stems from his loyalty and love for Juliet. Unfortunately, this leads to the death of Mercutio as he fights Romeo's battle for him.

Mercutio blames Romeo for his fatal injury because Romeo's love for Juliet not only ended their friendship but also caused Mercutio's death. As he is dying, Mercutio curses both households with the words "O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate and in my temper softened valor’s steel!", which will soon be fulfilled. Tybalt killing Mercutio sparks Romeo's anger and sets off the underlying conflict that ultimately leads to Romeo seeking revenge by killing Tybalt.

The Capulet’s are furious, fueling the fire of the ‘ancient grudge. ’ The conflict in the play is not only physical but also emotional. Romeo and Juliet are aware that being in love is improper,

but they are powerless to change it. ‘My only love comes from my only hate. I saw it too early, but recognized it too late. It is a remarkable contradiction to love someone I despise.’ They acknowledge that it is wrong in their minds, but their hearts insist it is right; they both struggle with a conflict between reason and emotion. ‘How can I move forward when my heart remains here?’

Romeo approaches Friar Lawrence to marry him and Juliet. The Friar, irresponsibly, agrees to marry them without much persuasion. He believes that if the two marry, their families will let go of their differences and replace hate with 'pure love'. The Friar's actions play a significant role in the outcome of the play, seemingly aligning with fate against the star-crossed lovers. Throughout the play, there is an ongoing struggle between fate and the two lovers, with the Friar unwittingly aiding fate by giving Juliet a potion that puts her in a coma-like state. Meanwhile, fate ensures that the letter explaining the situation never reaches Romeo, ultimately leading to their tragic demise. Juliet's nurse also plays a crucial part in the conflict between love and what is deemed right.

Despite knowing about Romeo and Juliet’s romance from the beginning, the nurse betrays the trust of the Capulets by concealing the secret relationship and assisting the lovers as their messenger. She appears to be the only one supporting them amidst societal opposition, but everything changes when Juliet’s father insists that she marry Paris.

The nurse tells the lovers to obey her father's orders, indicating a conflict stemming from the unequal roles of men

and women in society. In Romeo and Juliet's world, men have authority while women are expected to be obedient. This imbalance is evident when Old Capulet informs Juliet that she must marry Paris. Juliet opposes this decision and expresses her refusal to wed someone she despises. She tells her father, "I am not proud of what you have, but rather thankful that you have it. I can never be proud of something I hate".

Despite Capulet's emotions, she clearly indicates that she will comply with his wishes. She tells Juliet that she has no choice but to accompany Paris to Saint Peter's Church or else he will forcefully take her there, using harsh terms such as "sickly person," "rotting corpse," and "worthless baggage." This conflict also affects two other characters: Lady Montague, who dies from a broken heart before the families reconcile; and Juliet herself, whose pretended death leads to her mother's tragic demise. The exact cause of Lady Montague's sorrow is not disclosed, but it is suggested that Tybalt's death and Juliet's feigned death had a role in it.

The last individual is Paris, who is needlessly killed by Romeo while guarding Juliet's tomb. Over the years, the ongoing 'ancient grudge' between the Capulet and Montague families resulted in the loss of many lives. Sadly, it took the tragic deaths of the beloved children from both families to finally put an end to the feud. The Prince accurately describes this newfound peace as 'glooming peace,' emphasizing the sorrowful nature of its attainment. It is regrettable that lives had to be sacrificed in order to achieve this peace, as it extinguished not only

Romeo and Juliet's light but also the conflict between the two families.